Then Bokwewa, finding himself no longer misshapen and awkward, but strong and straight, followed her into the lodge.

[Original]

XXIII. THE LITTLE BOY-MAN

A BOY remarkable for the smallness of his stature lived alone with his sister in a little lodge on a lake shore. Around their habitation were scattered many large rocks, and it had a very wild and out-of-the-way look.

The boy grew no larger as he advanced in years, and yet, small as he was, he had a big spirit of his own and loved dearly to play the master in the lodge. One day in winter he told his sister to make him a ball to play with, as he meant to have some sport along the shore on the clear ice. When she handed him the ball, his sister cautioned him not to go too.

He laughed at her and posted off in high glee, throwing his ball before him and running after it at full speed; and he went as fast as his ball. At last the ball flew to a great distance, and he after it. When he had run forward for some time, he saw what seemed four dark spots upon the ice straight before him.