First he delighted the children by telling of the ground hog that saved his own life by teaching a new dance.
The next tale was about the first animals and how they came to live in the forests and on the plains.
After the story-teller had explained how sickness came into the world, Fleet Deer wanted to be a medicine man and find all the plants that cure disease.
And so they all listened to one tale after another until the midnight stars shone overhead and the embers grew white where the burning logs had sparkled.
Now you may read for yourselves the stories that were told in an Indian lodge on a winter evening.
THE GROUND-HOG DANCE
Seven wolves once caught a ground hog. "Now we'll kill you and have something good to eat," they said.
But the ground hog replied: "When we find good food we must rejoice over it, as people do in the green-corn dance. I know you mean to kill me, and I can't help myself, but if you want to dance I'll sing for you.