Folk-Lore and Legends: North American Indian | Page 9

to lead them by short journeys, and all things
turned out as he had said.
While the people lived there a messenger came to Pauppukkeewis in
the shape of a bear, and said that the bear-chief wished to see him at
once at his village. Pauppukkeewis was ready in an instant, and getting
on the messenger's back was carried away. Towards evening they
ascended a high mountain, and came to a cave, in which the bear-chief
lived. He was a very large creature, and he made Pauppukkeewis
welcome, inviting him into his lodge.
As soon as propriety allowed he spoke, and said that he had sent for
him because he had heard he was the chief who was leading a large
party towards his hunting-grounds.
"You must know," said he, "that you have no right there, and I wish
you to leave the country with your party, or else we must fight."

"Very well," replied Pauppukkeewis, "so be it."
He did not wish to do anything without consulting his people, and he
saw that the bear-chief was raising a war-party, so he said he would go
back that night. The bear-king told him he might do as he wished, and
that one of the bears was at his command; so Pauppukkeewis, jumping
on its back, rode home. Then he assembled the village, and told the
young men to kill the bear, make ready a feast, and hang the head
outside the village, for he knew the bear spies would soon see it and
carry the news to their chief.
Next morning Pauppukkeewis got all his young warriors ready for the
fight. After waiting one day, the bear war-party came in sight, making a
tremendous noise. The bear-chief advanced, and said that he did not
wish to shed the blood of the young warriors, but if Pauppukkeewis
would consent they two would run a race, and the winner should kill
the losing chief, and all the loser's followers should be the slaves of the
other. Pauppukkeewis agreed, and they ran before all the warriors. He
was victor; but not to terminate the race too quickly he gave the
bear-chief some specimens of his skill, forming eddies and whirlwinds
with the sand as he twisted and turned about. As the bear-chief came to
the post Pauppukkeewis drove an arrow through him. Having done this
he told his young men to take the bears and tie one at the door of each
lodge, that they might remain in future as slaves.
After seeing that all was quiet and prosperous in the village,
Pauppukkeewis felt his desire for adventure returning, so he took an
affectionate leave of his friends and people, and started off again. After
wandering a long time, he came to the lodge of Manabozho, who was
absent. Pauppukkeewis thought he would play him a trick, so he turned
everything in the lodge upside down and killed his chickens. Now
Manabozho calls all the fowl of the air his chickens, and among the
number was a raven, the meanest of birds, and him Pauppukkeewis
killed and hung up by the neck to insult Manabozho. He then went on
till he came to a very high point of rocks running out into the lake, from
the top of which he could see the country as far as eye could reach.
While he sat there, Manabozho's mountain chickens flew round and

past him in great numbers. So, out of spite, he shot many of them, for
his arrows were sure and the birds many, and he amused himself by
throwing the birds down the precipice. At length a wary bird called
out--
"Pauppukkeewis is killing us: go and tell our father."
Away flew some of them, and Manabozho soon made his appearance
on the plain below.
Pauppukkeewis slipped down the other side of the mountain.
Manabozho cried from the top--
"The earth is not so large but I can get up to you."
Off Pauppukkeewis ran and Manabozho after him. He ran over hills
and prairies with all his speed, but his pursuer was still hard after him.
Then he thought of a shift. He stopped, and climbed a large pine-tree,
stripped it of all its green foliage, and threw it to the winds. Then he ran
on. When Manabozho reached the tree, it called out to him--
"Great Manabozho, give me my life again. Pauppukkeewis has killed
me."
"I will do so," said Manabozho, and it took him some time to gather the
scattered foliage. Then he resumed the chase. Pauppukkeewis repeated
the same trick with the hemlock, and with other trees, for Manabozho
would always stop to restore anything that called upon him to give it
life again. By this means Pauppukkeewis kept ahead, but still
Manabozho was overtaking him when Pauppukkeewis saw an