Now the waters swelled immensely, and in a very short time the highest land was covered, and Wee-suck-ā-jāāk was tossed about by the wind and water. It appears that he had not the foresight either of taking with him sufficiency of provisions, for he became very hungry, and thus expressed himself to his crew.
[Wee-suck-ā-jāāk Tricks a Water Lynx and Beaver]
After some time he saw something on the water, very large and moving toward him. He thus addressed it, "Who or what art thou my younger brother?" (For he, being the first born, always addressed the rest of the creation, whether animate, inanimate, or rational or not, as his younger brothers.) "And whither art thou going?"
"Why, my elder (brother), I am a Water Lynx, and am sent by confrers in search of Wee-suck-ā-jāāk and to destroy him!
"Aye! Is it so indeed? And how or with what instrument do you intend to destroy him?"
"I have a large and very strong iron tail, with which if I smite his canoe he must perish!"
Wee-suck-ā-jāāk, seeing his danger, thought to get off by duplicity and dissimulation, and thus continued, "Indeed you must have a very extraordinary tail, my younger [brother] .... Come near and let me see it, how it is made."
The Lynx drew up, presented his tail. Wee-suck-ā-jāāk took hold as to look on it, and placed it on the gunnel of his canoe and with a stone cut it off saying, "Now go to thy friends, and tell them how Wee-suck-ā-jāāk has served thee."
He retired double quick, grieved, ashamed, and not with a little pain.
"Ha!" said the Water Lynxes on perceiving the situation of their companion, "Ha! Wee-suck-ā-jāāk is cunning, and too powerful. We must destroy him for our own safety. Come now. Who amongst us will volunteer, and go to destroy that enemy of ours?"