XIV. THE MAGIC PACKET
A POOR man, called Iena, or the Wanderer, was in the habit of roaming about from place to place, forlorn, without relations, and almost helpless. He had often wished for a companion to share his solitude; but who would think of joining his fortunes with those of a poor wanderer, who had no shelter in the world but such as his leather hunting-shirt provided, and no other household than the packet in which his hunting-shirt was laid away?
One day Iena hung up his packet on the branch of a tree, and then set out in quest of game.
On returning to the spot in the evening, he was surprised to find a small but neat lodge built in the place where he had left his packet; and on looking in he beheld a beautiful maiden sitting on the further side of the lodge, with his packet lying beside her.
During the day Iena had so far prospered in his sport as to kill a deer, which he now cast down at the lodge-door.
The maiden did not pause to take the least notice of the hunter, or to give him a word of welcome, but ran out to see whether it was a large deer that he had brought. In her haste she stumbled and fell at the threshold.
Iena looked at her with astonishment, and thought to himself, "I supposed I was blessed, but I find my mistake. Night-Hawk," said he, speaking aloud, "I will leave my game with you that you may feast on it."
He then took up his packet and departed. After walking some time he came to another tree, on which he suspended his packet, as before, and the following morning went for the second time in search of game.
Success again attended him, and he returned, bringing with him a deer. He found that a lodge had sprung up as before, just where he had hung his packet. He looked in and saw a beautiful maiden sitting alone, with his packet by her side.
She arose and came out toward the deer which he had deposited at the door, and he immediately went into the lodge and sat by the fire, as he was weary with the day's hunt, which had carried him far away.
The woman did not return, and wondering at her delay, Iena at last arose, peeped through the door of the lodge and beheld her greedily eating all the fat of the deer. He exclaimed:
"I thought I was blessed, but I find I was mistaken." Then addressing the woman, "Poor Marten," said he, "feast on the game I have brought."
He again took up his packet and departed. Then finding a tree, he hung it upon a branch, and the next morning again wandered off in quest of game.
In the evening he returned, with his customary good luck, bringing in a fine deer, and again found that a lodge had taken the place of his packet. He gazed through an opening in the side of the lodge, and there was another beautiful woman sitting alone, with his packet by her side.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, "it is the same as it was yesterday and the day before that. I am Iena, the Wanderer, and it is not the will of the Great Spirit that he should have a lodge, a woman, or the fat of the deer that he kills."
So saying he entered the lodge, but the woman rose cheerfully, welcomed him home, and without delay or complaining brought in the deer, cut it up as it should be, and hung up the meat to dry. She then prepared a portion of it for the supper of the weary hunter, who was thinking to himself, "Now I am certainly blessed."
And so it went on. He continued his practise of hunting every day, and the woman, on his return, always welcomed him, readily took charge of the meat, and promptly prepared his evening meal; and he ever after lived a contented and happy man.