“Rise, oh, king of the fishes,” called the magician in a terrible voice. “I have long been wishing to offer up a victim to you. Here is a youth for you. Accept him as my offering.” Then he slapped the canoe on the side and disappeared in the direction of the island.
A moment after the waters were disturbed, they broke in waves upon the island, and the head of a gigantic pike appeared. He came on toward Panigwun, his mouth open wide as if to swallow him. The youth did not lose his courage. He called upon his guardian angel, and then flourishing his knife he cried, “Man is the master of the fishes. You are my servant. Come here and take me on your back, and carry me to Mishosha’s island.”
At this command the pike came closer and floated beside the island. Panigwun stepped upon his back and the fish bore him away. So swiftly they went that they out-sped the canoe. When Mishosha reached the beach the youth was already there waiting to help him out. The magician looked at him with surprise and terror. “You here!” he muttered. “I am so forgetful; but I would soon have remembered you were on the island and have returned for you.”
“I thought I would save you the trouble,” answered Panigwun mockingly.
The next morning the magician again called Panigwun to go with him in his canoe. “And this time I will not forget you,” he promised.
Panigwun gave him a look of scorn but said nothing.
On and on the canoe bore them over the surface of the lake further than they had ever gone before. At last they came to an island upon which stood one stark pine, and far up near the top of it was a nest. “Look, my son, in that nest the eagles have their eggs. Do you climb up and get them for me.”
Still in silence Panigwun landed and began to climb the tree, but before he had more than reached the first branches the pine shot up to enormous height. Panigwun felt himself being carried further and further from the earth and toward the sky. From far below he heard the magician’s voice: “Rise, oh, eagles, and take the victim I have brought you. Ye are the king of the birds and it is proper you should receive offerings.” Then, striking his canoe upon its side he shot rapidly away over the lake.
Two enormous eagles rose and circled about Panigwun; their wings beat the air with a sound like thunder and they shrieked fiercely. For a moment the boy closed his eyes, dizzy with the height from the ground and the noise; then gathering his courage and commending himself to his guardian spirit, he drew his knife and flourished it.
“The eagle is the king of birds,” he cried, “but man is the king of the eagles. I am the master and you are the servants. Take me upon your wings and carry me to the magician’s island.”