There was a certain tribe that had been almost exterminated by a hostile people in the west. The western warriors would swoop down on the settlements on the Lake (Ontario) and carry off many captives and scalps.
Now there was a boy who had no settled home. His parents were dead and his grandmother also. He was a wanderer and showed no special ability in anything.
Now this boy was named No´gwăgwă and he began to have dreams. He dreamed that a great false face came to him and said, “You must lead a war party beyond the Mississippi.” Then again he had a dream and the false face said, “You must lead a war party beyond the Mississippi. You must hold a war dance and gather your warriors.”
Now again he dreamed that the false face came to him in his sleep and said, “You must lead a war party across the Mississippi. You must hold a war dance and gather your warriors. Go in a fleet of canoes.” Now moreover he dreamed again that the false face said, “You must lead a war party beyond the Mississippi. You must hold a dance and gather your warriors. Go in a fleet of canoes. Sit in the first canoe but do not allow anyone to pass the middle for I will be in the front of the first canoe and give your expedition success. You can not fail.”
Now when the poor boy had heard the false face speak four times he believed his dream and proclaimed himself a war chief. Then all the people laughed. Now he notified all the boys of the village that he was a chief and would lead a party against the hostile nation in the west. Now many of the boys came and danced. The Nogwagwa said, “I have a power and can not fail. I have a magic friend.” After a while the people ceased to scoff and all the men joined his party. Now there were many canoes and Nogwagwa sat in the middle of the first canoe and would not allow anyone to pass by him. Now after seven days they reached the country of the enemy. The warriors wondered when the “friend” was to appear and could not believe that he sat in the prow of the first canoe. Now the enemy appeared and immediately there rose into view in the prow of the first canoe a gigantic false face. Now he was the mark of the enemy and they shot at him. He had a great shield and caught all the arrows and no one was killed but when Nogwagwa’s party shot their arrows they killed many people. Then the party disembarked and pursued the enemy far inland. The giant false face and Nogwagwa led the party and they killed the entire tribe of men and took their scalps. Then the false face disappeared and Nogwagwa led the party home. After that the boy, Nogwagwa, was his name, was a great chief and he was an influential man. So it is said this day that orphan boys without homes may become great chiefs.
57. HOW A BOY OUTWITTED A NIA’´GWAHE.
Great sickness had killed many men and Sondowĕk´owa, the beast of Death, had touched the father and mother of two children, who lived far back in a place in the forest away from the villages. The children, a boy and a little girl, were left alone to care for themselves.
The baby sister was swinging in a grapevine hammock one morning, when from over the hill came floating a song. The boy glanced out from the lodge and saw an old woman hobbling down hill and crooning as she went. He did not like the sounds in her song and turned uneasily back to his work.
Presently the old woman came up to the little girl and croaking an unfamiliar song held out a little bark bowl of pudding, inviting her to accept it. The child looked up and held out her hands to take it when her brother rushed out and forbade her.
“The woman is a witch,” he whispered to his sister. “If you eat her food it will charm you away!”