The widow excused herself by saying that she did not think it necessary to tell him, inasmuch as he was a manito and must have known before he asked.
The manito was very pleasant with Monedowa, and after much other gentle-spoken discourse, he invited him to the racing-ground, saying it was a manly amusement, that he would have an excellent chance to meet there with other warriors, and that he should himself be pleased to run with him.
Monedowa would have excused himself, saying that he knew nothing of running.
"Why," replied the Mudjee Monedo, trembling in every limb as he spoke, "don't you see how old I look, while you are young and full of life? We must at least run a little to amuse others."
"Be it so, then," replied Monedowa. "I will oblige you. I will go in the morning."
Pleased with his crafty success, the manito would have now taken his leave, but he was pressed to remain and partake of their hospitality. The meal, consisting of one dish, was immediately prepared.
Monedowa partook of it first, to show his guest that he need fear nothing.
"It is a feast," he said, "and as we seldom meet, we must eat all that is placed on the dish, as a mark of gratitude to the Great Spirit, not only for permitting me to kill animals, but also for giving me the pleasure of seeing you and partaking of it with you." They ate and talked of this and that, until they had nearly despatched the meal, when the manito took up the dish and drank off the broth at a breath. On setting it down he immediately turned his head and commenced coughing with great violence. The old body in which he had disguised himself was well-nigh shaken in pieces, for he had, as Monedowa expected, swallowed a grain of the birch-bud, and this, relished by Monedowa because of his bird nature, greatly distressed the old manito, who partook of the character of an animal, or four-footed thing.
He was at last put to such confusion of face by his constant coughing that he was forced to leave, saying, or rather hiccoughing, as he left the lodge, that he should look for the young man at the racing-ground in the morning.
When the morning came, Monedowa was early astir, oiling his limbs and enamelling his breast and arms with red and blue, resembling the plumage in which he had first appeared to Minda. Upon his brow he placed a tuft of feathers of the same shining tints.