he bridge across the water as he spoke. But when the Bad One
was in the midst of the stream, the boy wished it to become small; and
the Bad One fell into the water and was drowned, and the world was rid
of him.

[U.S.. Bureau of Ethnology.]

How Ball-carrier Finished His Task

After Ball-Carrier had managed to drown the Bad One so that he could not
do any more mischief, he forgot the way to his grandmother's house, and
could not find it again, though he searched everywhere. During this time
he wandered into many strange places, and had many adventures; and one
day he came to a hut where a young girl lived. He was tired and hungry
and begged her to let him in and rest, and he stayed a long while, and
the girl became his wife. One morning he saw two children playing in
front of the hut, and went out to speak to them. But as soon as they saw
him they set up cries of horror and ran away. 'They are the children of
my sister who has been on a long journey,' replied his wife, 'and now
that she knows you are my husband she wants to kill you.'

'Oh, well, let her try,' replied Ball-Carrier. 'It is not the first time
people have wished to do that. And here I am still, you see!'

'Be careful,' said the wife, 'she is very cunning.' But at this moment
the sister-in-law came up.

'How do you do, brother-in-law? I have heard of you so often that I am
very glad to meet you. I am told that you are more powerful than any man
on earth, and as I am powerful too, let us try which is the strongest.'

'That will be delightful,' answered he. 'Suppose we begin with a short
race, and then we will go on to other things.'

'That will suit me very well,' replied the woman, who was a witch. 'And
let us agree that the one who wins shall have the right to kill the
other.'

'Oh, certainly,' said Ball-Carrier;' and I don't think we shall find a
flatter course than the prairie itself--no one knows how many miles it
stretches. We will run to the end and back again.'

This being settled they both made ready for the race, and Ball-Carrier
silently begged the good spirits to help him, and not to let him fall
into the hands of this wicked witch.

'When the sun touches the trunk of that tree we will start,' said she,
as they both stood side by side. But with the first step Ball-Carrier
changed himself into a wolf and for a long way kept ahead. Then
gradually he heard her creeping up behind him, and soon she was in
front. So Ball-Carrier to