im. And so a whole year
passed away.

At the end of that time he came back from hunting one night and found
some wood by the door and a fire within. The next night there was not
only wood and fire, but a piece of meat in the kettle, nearly ready for
eating. He searched all about to see who could have done this, but could
find no one. The next time he went to hunt he took care not to go far,
and came in quite early. And while he was still a long way off he saw a
woman going into the house with wood on her shoulders. So he made haste,
and opened the door quickly, and instead of the wooden doll, his wife
sat in front of the fire.

Then she spoke to him and said, 'The Great Spirit felt sorry for you,
because you would not be comforted, so he let me come back to you, but
you must not stretch out your hand to touch me till we have seen the
rest of our people. If you do, I shall die.'

So the man listened to her words, and the woman dwelt there, and brought
the wood and kindled the fire, till one day her husband said to her, 'It
is now two years since you died. Let us now go back to our tribe. Then
you will be well, and I can touch you.'

And with that he prepared food for the journey, a string of deer's flesh
for her to carry, and one for himself; and so they started. Now the camp
of the tribe was distant six days' journey, and when they were yet one
day's journey off it began to snow, and they felt weary and longed for
rest. Therefore they made a fire, cooked some food, and spread out their
skins to sleep.

Then the heart of the man was greatly stirred, and he stretched out his
arms to his wife, but she waved her hands and said, 'We have seen no one
yet; it is too soon.'

But he would not listen to her, and caught her to him, and behold! he
was clasping the wooden doll. And when he saw it was the doll he pushed
it from him in his misery and rushed away to the camp, and told them all
his story. And some doubted, and they went back with him to the place
where he and his wife had stopped to rest, and there lay the doll, and
besides, they saw in the snow the steps of two people, and the foot of
one was like the foot of the doll. And the man grieved sore all the days
of his life.

IN THE LAND OF SOULS (21)

(21) From the Red Indian.

Far away, in North America, where the Red Indians dwell, there lived a
long time ago a beautiful maiden, who was lovelier than any other girl
in the whole tribe. Many of the young b