up his rattle, and without leaving his sitting posture, began to
sing the chant which at the close of every stanza has the chorus of
"Whaw Lay Le Aw." When he had devoted a long time to this chant, he laid
his rattle aside, and determined to fast. For this purpose he went to a
cave, and built a very small fire, near which he laid down, first
telling his wife that neither she nor the children must come near him
till he had finished his fast. At the end of seven days he came back to
the lodge, pale and emaciated. His wife in the mean time had dug through
the snow, and got a small quantity of the root called truffles. These
she boiled and set before him. When he had finished his repast, he took
his large bow and bent it. Then placing a strong arrow to the string, he
drew it back, and sent the arrow, with the strength of a giant, through
the side of his bark lodge. "There," said he to his wife, "go to the
outside, and you will find a large bear, shot through the heart." She
did so, and found one as he had predicted.

He then sent the children out to get red willow sticks. Of these he cut
off as many pieces, of equal length, as would serve to invite his
friends to a feast. A red stick was sent to each one, not forgetting
the Moose and the Woodpecker.

When they arrived, they were astonished to see such a profusion of meat
cooked for them, at such a time of scarcity. Manabozho understood their
glances, and felt a conscious pride in making such a display. "Akewazi,"
said he, to one of the oldest of the party, "the weather is very cold,
and the snow lasts a long time. We can kill nothing now but small
squirrels. And I have sent for you to help me eat some of them." The
Woodpecker was the first to put a mouthful of the bear's meat to his
mouth, but he had no sooner begun to taste it, than it changed into a
dry powder, and set him coughing. It appeared as bitter as ashes. The
Moose felt the same effect, and began to cough. Each one, in turn, was
added to the number of coughers. But they had too much sense of decorum,
and respect for their entertainer, to say anything. The meat looked very
fine. They thought they would try more of it. But the more they ate the
faster they coughed and the louder became the uproar, until Manabozho,
exerting his former power, which he now felt to be renewed, transformed
them all into the Adjidamo, or squirrel, an animal which is still found
to have the habit of barking, or coughing, whenever it sees