“White Oak does not grow near water; I must go further,” said Menabozho.
Soon his moose head struck another tree. “O my brother, what is your name?” asked Menabozho.
“My name is Basswood,” said the tree.
“Basswood grows near water,” said Menabozho. [[233]]
He ran along a little further and fell over the bank into a river, and he swam with the strong current down the stream. He knew there were many Indians in a teepee village near that river, and they would help him.
Menabozho kept the moose head out of the water and made a great noise. He heard the Indian boys whoop and knew they had seen him. The hunters got their canoes and came out to him with their tomahawks, for they thought it was a moose and they would get much fat meat.
The Indians broke the moose head with their tomahawks and found Menabozho. He was always good to the Indians, and many times he helped them in their hunting.
“It is a good trick,” they all said; then Menabozho laughed, and they were glad to see him.
The chief made a great feast in his teepee. Menabozho told many stories, but he did not tell how the wolves, the trees, and the moose head all played tricks on him.
Ooranah, Chippewa Indian, near Ashland, Wis. [[234]]