He soon heard the tinkling music, and looking up saw once more the silvery boat floating down from the sky.
When it touched the earth the star maidens sprang out and began their dance. But one of them saw the old stump.
“That was not there before!” she cried, and running from the circle she looked closely at it.
“Let us return!” said the youngest maiden, but the others replied, “But look! Here are field mice running about. Let us chase them!”
The little mice ran in all directions, and the maidens ran after them, laughing, and threatening them with their silver wands.
And the one that the youngest maiden chased ran far from the others. Then, just as the maiden reached him, and would have struck him with her wand, the little field mouse changed suddenly to the form of a man,—and it was Waupee.
He caught the maiden in his arms, and he told her how she had won his heart by her loveliness, and begged her to stay with him.
The other maidens, frightened at the sight of Waupee, sprang into their boat, and it rose and bore them away.
Then the youngest maiden wept, but Waupee comforted her, for he was strong and brave, and a mighty hunter. And her heart was won, and she went with him to the village.
So Waupee was wedded to the Star Maiden, and she was the loveliest maiden in all the tribe.