I all at once heard far ahead of me cries of "Heh! Heh! Heh!" (or "Hayh!", or "Haih!") sudden, quick, coming in the air, and directly towards me.
"Oh! Now," said I, "I am gone!"
Indeed he came. I cringed and laid myself as low in my canoe as possible. But he came straight to me, took me up and threw me in the water, all the time crying, "He! He!" I then endeavoured to take out my fire-bag; but this he would not let me do. Having then no alternative, I was obliged to make for the shore as well as I could, he all the time crying in the same manner just above my head, as if he intended absolutely my death. However, I reached the shore, though with the greatest difficulty. Then I took some dry grass which I rubbed and bruised 'till it became soft and put it under my arm pits and crumpled myself into a small heap and remained 'till the sun began to warm when I swam back to my canoe. He kept hovering over me all night and until the Sun was pretty high, always making the same cry. Though when he found me so benumbed with cold on my debarkation, he laughed, "Ha! Ha! Ha!"
Today (Apr. 4th) he asked me for a needle and thread to sew the sleeve of his capot which this ghost! had torn in his endeavours to carry him off the other night. Whilst he was sewing, "How he has vexed me," said he, "by tearing my old coat. But I am afraid of him."
[Making Offerings at a Hunting Camp]
He related me another story of them as follows.
I went out one time a hunting beaver with a friend of mine. It was a long distance from our lodges. We killed six beavers, and slept out. I awoke in the night and was much astonished to observe a man seated on the opposite side of the fire, resting his head on both hands, with his elbows on his knees apparently in a very pensive, sullen manner. He had but skin and bone—not the least particle of flesh; and this one had hair on his bony head.
I gently pushed my friend and told him to look at that stranger. We were both extremely agitated in consequence of our fear, and were at a loss what to do.
Having no alternative I arose. Conceiving he came to ask for something to eat, I took a beaver, cut it in two and presented him the half of it. He did not deign to look at it. I was much afraid. I then bethought of cutting it into mouthfuls, which after presenting him, I threw into the fire. Thus I did with the whole, and when done, he arose and walked off peaceably in the air.