ed the beaver; "I will go and ask the others."

Soon all the beavers showed their heads above the water, and looked to
see if he was armed; but he had left his bow and arrows in a hollow
tree at a short distance. When they were satisfied, they all came near.

"Can you not, with all your united power," said he, "turn me into a
beaver? I wish to live among you."

"Yes," answered their chief; "lay down;" and he soon found himself
changed into one of them.

"You must make me _large_," said he; "_larger_ than any of you."

"Yes, yes!" said they. "By and by, when we get into the lodge, it shall
be done."

In they all dove into the lake; and, in passing large heaps of limbs
and logs at the bottom, he asked the use of them; they answered, "It is
for our winter's provisions."[34] When they all got into the lodge,
their number was about one hundred. The lodge was large and warm.

"Now we will make you large," said they. "Will _that_ do?" exerting
their power.

"Yes," he answered, for he found he was ten times the size of the
largest.

"You need not go out," said they. "We will bring your food into the
lodge, and you will be our chief."

"Very well," Paup-Puk-Keewiss answered. He thought, "I will stay here
and grow fat at their expense." But, soon after, one ran into the lodge
out of breath, saying, "We are visited by Indians." All huddled
together in great fear. The water began to _lower_, for the hunters had
broken down the dam, and they soon heard them on the roof of the lodge
breaking it up. Out jumped all the beavers into the water, and so
escaped. Paup-Puk-Keewiss tried to follow them; but, alas! they had
made him so large that he could not creep out of the hole. He tried to
call them back, but to no effect; he worried himself so much in trying
to escape, that he looked like a bladder. He could not turn himself
back into a man, although he heard and understood all the hunters said.
One of them put his head in at the top of the lodge.

"_Ty-au!_" cried he; "_Tut Ty-au!_ Me-shau-mik--king of the beavers is
in." They all got at him, and knocked his skull till it was as soft as
his brains. He thought, as well as ever he did, although he was a
beaver. Seven or eight of them then placed his body on poles and
carried him home. As they went, he reflected in this manner: "What will
become of me? my ghost or shadow will not die after they get me to
their lodges." Invitations were immediately sent out for a grand feast.
T