Bald Eagle smiled. “That is fine, my son, but now we must have the withes to tie the ends of the frame together.”
Sleeping Bear squatted upon the ground and began to cut thin strips from the basswood. He worked very carefully until he had cut a very, very thin strip from the sapling. Then he cut another and another, until he had a good supply. Picking them all up, he walked to where his father was working and proudly he said:
“Here, father, are the strips you can use for withes.”
Without looking up, Bald Eagle said, “That is fine, my son. How many have you cut for me?”
“I have cut about thirty,” said Sleeping Bear.
Bald Eagle looked up. Reaching toward his son’s outstretched hands, he grasped the basswood strips.
“These will make very fine fishing lines, my son, but they are much too thin for withes. You must make them thicker, so that they will hold the frame in the position we want.” Handing the strips back to Sleeping Bear, Bald Eagle smiled and continued to work upon the frame of the wigwam.
Sadly, Sleeping Bear turned and headed back into the forest to find more basswood saplings. As he walked along, he was not thinking about the basswood, but about how foolish he had felt when his father told him that the strips he had cut were too thin. He kicked at the pebbles and was very angry with himself. He did not realize that he had walked quite a distance from the village, until suddenly it got very dark.
Looking up, Sleeping Bear realized that he was close to the swamp area and that he must have come quite a distance. Slowly, he turned and started back along the trail looking to either side for basswood saplings. Finally, he saw two or three set back in the forest a short way. Leaving the trail, he reached the saplings and started to cut them down and trim them. He had out two when there was a low growl behind him. Turning, he saw a bear standing on his hind feet and testing the air for scent with his snout.
Sleeping Bear was suddenly very frightened. Crouching low to the ground, he began to edge his way toward the path again. Soon he reached the path. Then he began to run until he was safe in the camp once again. Dashing up to his father he stood a minute catching his breath, and then he blurted out the story of the bear.