"Wait! I shall go and see." And shortly after he returned. "They are now all asleep at such a place. The weather will be calm tomorrow, and though the distance is great, yet will you see them tomorrow night, for they are as anxious as yourselves."
Another one said, "Since then ye Spirits pretend to know everything and are vexed when we call any of your sayings in question, come tell me how long shall I live? Shall I yet see two more winters?"
"Ha!" (laughing replied the same voice) "Two winters? I see you all yet alive two winters hence. Every soul that sits here and considerably more; and some of you I see crawling with old age!"
[Showing the Turtle Spirit]
With some of the Spirits, as I've already said, the bystanders (or setters, for they are seated on the ground round about) are very familiar. The Turtle is one of them. He is very humorsome, and their jokes with him were such (for I've heard this myself) as I should have been ashamed to hold even with a bawd. It was pure ribaldry. But they durst not doubt him when he speaks seriously, for he is very powerful, and makes himself respected when he thinks it necessary.
"Who is that now speaking?" said one of the Indians. (This I was told.)
"It is Mihkenach," said the conjurer.
"If it be him, prove it. Take him in your hand and show him to us." Now the conjurer was a very great medicine man. He took the turtle upon his hand, raised the covering of his box, and called them to look. Every one was astonished at his beauty. He was very small, scarcely more than two inches long. When all had gazed enough, the conjurer drew him in.
The Turtle was very quiet while out, but as soon as he got in exclaimed, "Oh! how afraid I was when I saw the children look so eagerly. I was afraid some of them would have attempted to take me in their hands and let me fall, perhaps in the fire." and laughed heartily.