f say why the Great Spirit gave Owanux the wisdom
which he denied to us?"

"That is a question I cannot answer, any more than why thy skin is red
and mine white; but the Christian religion was the means whereby the
change was effected."

"There is but one Great Spirit, who made all things," said Sassacus,
solemnly, "and we worship him as well as the white men. Lightnings are
the glances of his eyes; thunder is his voice; the sun is the fire
before his lodge, which he extinguishes when he sleeps, and the moon
and stars are the sparks which fly up into the air when it goes out."

"Thou hast indeed, in some sort, a religion, for He hath not left even
the most barbarous nations without some knowledge of himself, howbeit
it is not unto wisdom. But it is only with his true religion that he
has connected that acquaintance with himself, which makes men to
advance in all that is worthy to be known here, and happy hereafter."

"Our wise men say," replied Sassacus, "that for the spirits of brave
and just warriors there are happy hunting grounds, far away towards
the setting sun, which the Indian travels to, over the white path in
the middle of the sky, where deer, and elk, and bears never fail, and
where the hunter is never tired, nor very hungry."

"Alas!" said the Knight; "these are but figments of the
imagination--fond dreams as unsubstantial as morning mist, and
deceitful as the wandering fire, which lures the ignorant traveller
into the morass."

"O, wise chief," said Sassacus, "our tribes have also their
traditions, and I know not why they may not be as true as thine. We do
not think, as your powahs teach, that our traditions come from
Hobbamocki, while yours all proceed from the Master of life."

"Hobbamocki is thy name for the Evil Spirit?"

"My brother has said it. Would he like to know how he was created?"

"I listen," said the Knight.

"A long, long time ago," said Sassacus, "the Master of Life, Kiehtan,
went to a large flat island, in order to complete his work of
creation. He there created a multitude of animals, some of which were
so large that he was unable to control them. It is said that remains
of gigantic beasts are still to be found upon the island, which were
never finished. It was out of clay that Kiehtan formed the beasts,
while the inferior manitos looked on and rejoiced in his labor. He
made in the side of each animal an opening, whereinto he crept, and so
warmed it into life. It the animals pl