THE ORPHAN BOY WHO BECAME A WRESTLER. 45 
21. THE ORPHAN BOY WHO BECAME A WRESTLER.* 
A boy lived alone with his old grandfather. His mother and father 
died when he was only a baby, and there was no one to care for him 
but his grandfather. They lived together, and the old man cared for 
the child as best he could until he had become old enough to play 
around. The grandfather was looking forward to the time when he 
could make bows and arrows for the boy and teach him to hunt, but 
before that time came the old man died and the boy was left alone. 
He went from lodge to lodge and begged, and whatever the people 
gave him he ate and was grateful. At night he returned to his lonely 
lodge and cried, for hé was poor and alone and afraid. The boys of 
the village came to his lodge to see him, and they teased him and 
laughed at him because he was sad and did not know how to play as 
they did. He was brave and did not lose courage. When he was 
larger he made himself a bow and some arrows and went out to hunt. 
He brought back small game at first and was happy, because he no 
longer had to beg. 
One time when he was out alone far in the timber he heard a voice 
singing and calling to him to wait. He waited and a strange boy came 
running through the bushes. The stranger was homely, but so full of 
fun and energy that the poor orphan boy determined to make him his 
friend. They played together, and finally they tried to see which was 
the stronger. The stranger looked much stronger than the orphan, 
but, to his surprise, he found that he could easily throw him. The 
orphan boy could not understand how he could throw the strong- 
looking boy so easily, for all the boys in the village made fun of him 
because they could so easily throw him. The strange boy arose and 
smiled and said: ‘‘I have given you my power. I ama wonderfully 
strong man. I have given that power to you. Now you can go back 
to your village and throw any one you please. I have been watching 
you and seeing how the boys teased you. I have decided to give you 
power. Now you are one of the strongest men in the world and can 
throw any one.’’ 
The stranger disappeared. The boy lay down to rest, for it had 
grown dark and he could not find his way home. The sun arose and 
the boy waked and started onto hunt. He killed three deer and started 
home withthem. His load was heavy and he could not go fast. When 
he was far from home darkness cameagain. Helay down on some soft 
grass to rest until daylight. Soon he heard a voice, and looking up he 
saw the same stranger who had appeared to him the night before. The 
* Told by Wing. 
