At the door of this lodge stood an old chief with hair like the snow on the mountain. His eyes shone like the fire in a cave, for his eyebrows were thick and white. He held a staff in his hands, and a long robe of skins was thrown over his shoulders.
The young Chippewa began to tell his story. The old chief stopped him.
“I have expected you,” he said, “and have just come to my door to welcome you. The one you seek rested in my lodge. The sun has set but three times [[153]]since she left. Come in; when your feet have found rest I will show you where to find her.”
The Chippewa sat down in the lodge and rested. “I am ready,” he said very soon, and the old chief led the Chippewa to the door. There they stood and looked at the great prairies below.
“That is the Land of Souls,” said the white-haired chief; “my lodge is the gateway. Only your soul can go into that land. Leave your body here; leave here your bundle, your bow and arrows, and your dog. You will find them all safe here when you come back.”
The Chippewa obeyed. The dog guarded his master’s burdens, while the freed traveler leaped forward as if flying. He had no guide.
Everything kept its natural color and shape, except that all things were more bright, more beautiful than ever before. There were animals near him, but even the little rabbit showed no fear.
One strange thing he noticed from the first. His going was not stopped by trees nor rocks, for nothing hindered him. He could go through whatever was in his path. They were only the souls or shadows of trees. He was only a shadow himself in a land of shadows.
Soon he reached a large lake; he saw a green island in the center of it. The white-haired chief had told him when he left the lodge that he would find this lake, and on its shore he would meet his lost bride. [[154]]
He saw no one, but a beautiful canoe of shining white stone was tied to a rock at his feet, and a shining paddle lay in it. He stepped into the canoe and lifting the paddle turned round. He saw his bride in another stone canoe at his side.