through this place.' He sat down to rest himself, took out
his smoking apparatus, and gave a short time to reflection. When he had
finished, Kwasind had lifted away the largest pine trees, and pulled
them out of the path.

"Sailing one day in his canoe, Kwasind saw a large furred animal, which
he immediately recognized to be the king of beavers. He plunged into
the water in pursuit of it. His companions were in the greatest
astonishment and alarm, supposing he would perish. He often dove down
and remained a long time under water, pursuing the animal from island
to island; and at last returned with the kingly prize. After this, his
fame spread far and wide, and no hunter would presume to compete with
him.

"He helped Manabozho to clear away the obstructions in the streams, and
to remove the great wind-falls of trees from the valleys, the better to
fit them for the residence of man.

"He performed so many feats of strength and skill, that he excited the
envy of the Puck-wudj In-in-ee-sug, or fairies, who conspired against
his life. 'For,' said they, 'if this man is suffered to go on, in his
career of strength and exploits, we shall presently have no work to
perform. Our agency in the affairs of men must cease. He will undermine
our power, and drive us, at last, into the water, where we must all
perish, or be devoured by the wicked Neebanawbaig.'[42]

"The strength of Kwasind was all concentrated in the crown of his head.
This was, at the same time, the only vulnerable part of his body; and
there was but one species of weapon which could be successfully
employed in making any impression upon it. The fairies carefully hunted
through the woods to find this weapon. It was the burr or seed vessel
of the white pine. They gathered a quantity of this article, and
waylaid Kwasind at a point on the river, where the red rocks jut into
the water, forming rude castles--a point which he was accustomed to
pass in his canoe. They waited a long time, making merry upon these
rocks, for it was a highly romantic spot. At last the wished-for object
appeared; Kwasind came floating calmly down the stream, on the
afternoon of a summer's day, languid with the heat of the weather, and
almost asleep. When his canoe came directly beneath the cliff, the
tallest and stoutest fairy began the attack. Others followed his
example. It was a long time before they could hit the vulnerable part,
but success at length crowned their efforts, and Kwasind sun