hted up a fire, and refreshed themselves by
eating. They then commenced conversing about the sound of the spirit's
sheshegwun, which they had heard for several days. Suddenly the
instrument commenced; it sounded as if it was subterraneous, and it
shook the ground: they tied up their bundles and went toward the spot.
They soon came to a large building, which was illuminated. As soon as
they came to the door, they were met by a rather elderly man. "How do
ye do," said he, "my grandsons? Walk in, walk in; I am glad to see you:
I knew when you started: I saw you encamp this evening: sit down, and
tell me the news of the country you left, for I feel interested in it."
They complied with his wishes, and when they had concluded, each one
presented him with a piece of tobacco. He then revealed to them things
that would happen in their journey, and predicted its successful
accomplishment. "I do not say that all of you," said he, "will
successfully go through it. You have passed over three-fourths of your
way, and I will tell you how to proceed after you get to the edge of
the earth. Soon after you leave this place, you will hear a deafening
sound: it is the sky descending on the edge, but it keeps moving up and
down; you will watch, and when it moves up, you will see a vacant space
between it and the earth. You must not be afraid. A chasm of awful
depth is there, which separates the unknown from this earth, and a veil
of darkness conceals it. Fear not. You must leap through; and if you
succeed, you will find yourselves on a beautiful plain, and in a soft
and mild light emitted by the moon." They thanked him for his advice. A
pause ensued.

"I have told you the way," he said; "now tell me again of the country
you have left; for I committed dreadful ravages while I was there: does
not the country show marks of it? and do not the inhabitants tell of me
to their children? I came to this place to mourn over my bad actions,
and am trying, by my present course of life, to relieve my mind of the
load that is on it." They told him that their fathers spoke often of a
celebrated personage called Manabozho, who performed great exploits. "I
am he," said the Spirit. They gazed with astonishment and fear. "Do you
see this pointed house?" said he, pointing to one that resembled a
sugar-loaf; "you can now each speak your wishes, and will be answered
from that house. Speak out, and ask what each wants, and it shall be
granted." One of them, who w