d, whether man or animals. He affected to have the sagacity of all
animals, to understand their language, and to be capable of exactly
imitating it. And in his visits to men, it was his custom to return,
exactly, the treatment he had received. He was very ceremonious in
following the very voice and manner of his entertainers. The Woodpecker
had no sooner entered his lodge, therefore, than he commenced playing
the mimic. He had previously directed his wife to change his lodge, so
as to inclose a large dry tamarack-tree. "What can I give you?" said he
to the Woodpecker; "but as we eat, so shall you eat." He then put a long
piece of bone in his nose, in imitation of the bill of this bird, and
jumping on the tamarack-tree, attempted to climb it, doing as he had
seen the Woodpecker do. He turned his head first on one side, then on
the other. He made awkward efforts to ascend, but continually slipped
down. He struck the tree with the bone in his nose, until at last he
drove it so far up his nostrils that the blood began to flow, and he
fell down senseless at the foot of the tree. The Woodpecker started
after his drum and rattle to restore him, and having got them, succeeded
in bringing him to. As soon as he came to his senses, he began to lay
the blame of his failure to his wife, saying to his guest, "Nemesho, it
is this woman relation of yours--_she_ is the cause of my not
succeeding. She has rendered me a worthless fellow. Before I took her I
could also get raccoons." The Woodpecker said nothing, but flying on the
tree, drew out several fine raccoons. "Here," said he, "this is the way
we do," and left him with apparent contempt.

Severe weather continued, and Manabozho still suffered for the want of
food. One day he walked out, and came to a lodge, which was occupied by
the Moose (Moez). The young Mozonsug[27] saw him and told their father
Manabozho was at the door. He told them to invite him in. Being seated,
they entered into conversation. At last the Moose, who was a Meeta,
said, "What shall we give Manabozho to eat? We have nothing." His wife
was seated with her back toward him, making garters. He walked up to
her, and untying the covering of the armlet from her back, cut off a
large piece of flesh from the square of her shoulder.[28] He then put
some medicine on it, which immediately healed the wound. The skin did
not even appear to have been broken, and his wife was so little
affected by it, that she did not so much as