Here they performed one or two wonderful feats. But in [these] Nayhanimis had the advantage most confessedly. The North pierced his body through, and [did] another extraordinary thing I cannot well recollect. But the other [did] more and recovered not only more suddenly but more perfectly.
At last the North put a bet and said, "Let us see for this last act. I will cut off my head, and if I cannot replace and recover perfectly, the same as I am at present, then my house and all I have shall be yours. But if I succeed, and you cannot, then all your possessions shall be mine."
Nayhanimis consented for he was secretly desirous of humiliating the self-sufficient spirit of North. They tried. North failed, but Nayhanimis completely succeeded. He deliberately severed his head from his body, put it down on the ground beside him very composedly, and then replaced it, when it became as though nothing had happened. But this was owing to the power and virtue of his plume which, however, the others knew nothing of.
It appears that the North also recovered but by the assistance of his friends, of whom he had a numerous train. North was faithful to his promise. [He] gave him his house which was beautiful and spacious, but mostly underground, or at least in the side of a mountain. All [North's] friends turned out, put in Nayhanimis and gave him the full possession.
But he was no sooner in than they secured all the outlets: doors [and] windows. And [they] set it on fire to destroy one whom they found so much more powerful than themselves! Nayhanimis, finding this to be the case, was not in the least dismayed, but took his smoking bag and thus addressed it. "Now thou, Badger, our mutual safety depends upon thy obedience and expedition. Thou art made to pass through the earth as [quickly] as upon it. These fools think to destroy us, but thou must show that we are superior to them."
During the conflagration they were enjoying the scene and exulting in the idea of having at last succeeded in destroying so formidable an adversary. But what was their consternation when they saw him come to them without even one hair of his head singed! They were appalled with astonishment, and had not the power of utterance.
At last, recovering a little, they endeavoured to pass it off as a joke and turn it to his own advantage, by silencing at one blow the envy and malice of all his enemies, pretending to be staunch friends of his. But he was not thus to be duped. Yet he showed a superiority of sentiment and generosity, equal to his powers and abilities, by giving them (though contemptuous if you please) pardon. So much for this Part.
[Nayhanimis Wars with the Hairy Breasts]
Thus did matters pass on for yet a few years. The Indians began to multiply and inhabit the world. But the Hairy Breasts, a jealous, envious, and at best foolish people, could not well behold their prosperity. They made war upon them (the Indians) by stealth and destroyed numbers. Their affairs bore a most dismal aspect—[The Hairy Breasts wished for] no less than the total extinction of the whole race.
At last Nayhanimis pitched off with his wife, her father, and another one. There were four of them. He found a Beaver lodge. Here some of the Hairy-Breasts came up with him: compliments at first, afterwards sneers, taunts and revilings—but so ambiguously [given] that no hold could be taken.