(Chippewa, 1895)
enabozho killed a large moose when hunting. He put the meat in boxes made of birch bark and hid the boxes by a sweet-water tree, which the white men call a maple tree.
There was much moose meat, and it would last many weeks. There was much moose fat, so Menabozho made more birch-bark boxes and hid the fat in them near an oak tree. He hung the mooseskin in the branches of the tree.
Menabozho sat on the ground and ate much moose meat; while he was eating he heard a noise over his head and saw that two trees were pulling each other. A tall tree had fallen into the top of a small tree, and it was caught. The wind tried to pull the tall tree away, but the little tree held it tight, and the branches made a noise like something alive. Menabozho did not like to hear such a loud noise when he was eating. [[231]]
He climbed into the little tree and tried to pull the tall tree away. His arm was caught between the two trees, and he was like a bear in a trap. The two trees pinched Menabozho’s arm very hard.
While he was in the trap trying to get loose, a wolf came along under the trees; she had two young wolves with her.
“Look out!” said Menabozho; “don’t go near that sweet-water tree. There is nothing for you in these woods.”
The old mother wolf knew Menabozho and his tricks. She found the birch-bark boxes and called to her little ones.
“Come down and eat, Brother Menabozho,” said the old wolf. She knew she was safe, for the trees held him close.