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managed to get home to tell their sad story were mortally wounded； and
died soon afterward。 There was only one old man and several small boys
left to hunt and provide for this unfortunate little band of women and
children。
〃They lived upon teepsinna （wild turnips） and berries for many days。
They were almost famished for meat。 The old man was too feeble to
hunt successfully。 One day in this desolate camp a young Cree maiden
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for such they weredeclared that she could no longer sit still and see her
peo… ple suffer。 She took down her dead father's second bow and quiver
full of arrows； and begged her old grandmother to accompany her to Lake
Wana… giska； where she knew that moose had oftentimes been found。 I
forgot to tell you that her name was Manitoshaw。
This Manitoshaw and her old grandmother； Nawakewee； took each a
pony and went far up into the woods on the side of the mountain。 They
pitched their wigwam just out of sight of the lake； and hobbled their
ponies。 Then the old woman said to Manitoshaw：
〃'Go； my granddaughter； to the outlet of the Wanagiska； and see if
there are any moose tracks there。 When I was a young woman； I came
here with your father's father； and we pitched our tent near this spot。 In the
night there came three dif… ferent moose。 Bring me leaves of the birch
and cedar twigs； I will make medicine for moose；' she added。
Manitoshaw obediently disappeared in the woods。 It was a grove of
birch and willow； with two good springs。 Down below was a marshy
place。 Nawakewee had bidden the maiden look for nib… bled birch and
willow twigs； for the moose loves to eat them； and to have her arrow ready
upon the bow…string。 I have seen this very place many a time；〃 added my
uncle； and this simple remark gave to the story an air of real… ity。
〃The Cree maiden went first to the spring； and there found fresh tracks
of the animal she sought。 She gathered some cedar berries and chewed
them； and rubbed some of them on her garments so that the moose might
not scent her。 The sun was al… ready set； and she felt she must return to
Na… wakewee。
〃Just then Hinhankaga； the hooting owl； gave his doleful night call。
The girl stopped and lis… tened attentively。
〃'I thought it was a lover's call；' she whispered to herself。 A singular
challenge pealed across the lake。 She recognized the alarm call of the
loon； and fancied that the bird might have caught a glimpse of her game。
〃Soon she was within a few paces of the tem… porary lodge of pine
boughs and ferns which the grandmother had constructed。 The old
woman met her on the trail。
〃'Ah； my child； you have returned none too soon。 I feared you had
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ventured too far away； for the Sioux often come to this place to hunt。 You
must not expose yourself carelessly on the shore。'
〃As the two women lay down to sleep they could hear the ponies
munch the rich grass in an open spot near by。 Through the smoke hole of
the pine…bough wigwam Manitoshaw gazed up into the starry sky； and
dreamed of what she would do on the morrow when she should surprise
the wily moose。 Her grandmother was already sleep… ing so noisily that
it was enough to scare away the game。 At last the maiden； too； lost
herself in sleep。
〃Old Nawakewee awoke early。 First of all she made a fire and
burned cedar and birch so that the moose might not detect the human
smell。 Then she quickly prepared a meal of wild turnips and berries； and
awoke the maiden； who was surprised to see that the sun was already up。
She ran down to the spring and hastily splashed handsful of the cold water
in her face； then she looked for a moment in its mirror…like surface。
There was the reflection of two moose by the open shore and beyond them
Manitoshaw seemed to see a young man standing。 In another moment all
three had disappeared。
〃'What is the matter with my eyes？ I am not fully awake yet； and I
imagine things。 Ugh； it is all in my eyes；' the maiden repeated to her… self。
She hastened back to Nawakewee。 The vision was so unexpected and so
startling that she could not believe in its truth； and she said noth… ing to the
old woman。
〃Breakfast eaten； Manitoshaw threw off her robe and appeared in her
scantily cut gown of buckskin with long fringes； and moccasins and
leggings trimmed with quills of the porcupine。 Her father's bow and
quiver were thrown over one shoulder； and the knife dangled from her belt
in its handsome sheath。 She ran breathlessly along the shore toward the
outlet。
〃Way off near the island Medoza the loon swam with his mate；
occasionally uttering a cry of joy。 Here and there the playful Hogan； the
trout； sprang gracefully out of the water； in a shower of falling dew。 As
the maiden hastened along she scared up Wadawasee； the kingfisher； who
screamed loudly。
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〃'Stop； Wadawasee； stopyou will frighten my game！'
〃At last she had reached the outlet。 She saw at once that the moose
had been there during the night。 They had torn up the ground and broken
birch and willow twigs in a most disorderly way。〃
〃Ah！〃 I exclaimed； 〃I wish I had been with Manitoshaw then！〃
〃Hush； my boy； never interrupt a story… teller。〃
I took a stick and began to level off the ashes in front of me； and to
draw a map of the lake； the outlet； the moose and Manitoshaw。 Away off
to one side was the solitary wigwam； Nawakewee and the ponies。
〃Manitoshaw's heart was beating so loud that she could not hear
anything；〃 resumed my uncle。 〃She took some leaves of the wintergreen
and chewed them to calm herself。 She did not forget to throw in passing
a pinch of pulverized tobacco and paint into the spring for Manitou； the
spirit。
〃Among the twinkling leaves of the birch her eye was caught by a
moving form； and then an… other。 She stood motionless； grasping her
heavy bow。 The moose； not suspecting any danger； walked leisurely
toward the spring。 One was a large female moose； the other a yearling。
As they passed Manitoshaw； moving so nat… urally and looking so
harmless； she almost forgot to let fly an arrow。 The mother moose
seemed to look in her direction； but did not see her。 They had fairly
passed her hiding…place when she stepped forth and sent a swift arrow into
the side of the larger moose。 Both dashed into the thick woods； but it
was too late。 The Cree maiden had already loosened her second arrow。
Both fell dead before reaching the shore。〃
〃Uncle； she must have had a splendid aim； for in the woods the many
little twigs make an arr