"Who is this stranger, that he should have her? I want her myself."
The chief bade him be quiet, and not to disturb or quarrel with one who was enjoying their hospitality.
"No, no," he exclaimed, rushing forward as in act to strike.
Maidwa sat unmoved and paid no heed to his threats.
He cried the louder—"I will have her, I will have her!" whereupon the old chief, being now vexed past patience, took his great war-club and tapped this clownish fellow upon the head, which so far subdued him that he sat for some time quite still; when, after a while, he came to himself, the chief upbraided him for his folly and told him to go out and tell stories to the old women.
When at last Maidwa was about to leave he made rich presents and invited a number of the families of the chief to go with him and visit his hunting-grounds, where he promised them that they would find game in abundance. They consented, and in the morning a large company assembled and joined Maidwa; and the chief, with a party of warriors, escorted them a long distance. When ready to return, the chief made a speech and besought the blessing of the Good Spirit on Maidwa and his friends.
The two companies parted, marching away over the prairie, each on its own course, their waving feathers glittering in the morning sun, their war-drums sounding afar.
After several days' travel, Maidwa and his friends came in sight of his home. The others rested within the woods while he went alone in advance to see his brothers.
He entered the lodge. It was all in confusion and covered with ashes. On one side was his elder brother, sitting among the cinders, with his face blackened, and crying aloud. On the other side sat the younger, Jee-kewis, also with blackened face, his head covered with stray feathers and tufts of swan-down. This one presented so curious a figure that Maidwa could not keep from laughing. He seemed to be so lost and far-gone in grief that he could not notice his brother's arrival. The eldest, however, lifted up his head and recognized Maidwa, then jumped up and shook hands, kissed him, and expressed much joy at his return.
Maidwa, as soon as he had received his brother's greeting, made known that he had brought each of; them a wife. And now Jeekewis, hearing a wife spoken of, roused from his torpor and sprang to his feet, crying loudly: