sing occupation of
tormenting the wicked. There is nobody dies now that belongs to me."

[Footnote A: Dittany, used by the Indians as a remedy for various
diseases.]

"What wouldst thou have me do?" demanded the Great Spirit. "Makusue is
a good servant, and a very honest priest. I cannot allow him to be
harmed. But that thou mayst not altogether want business, I will allow
thee to torment, for three suns and three sleeps, the souls of all the
Knisteneaux that belong to me--the souls of the wicked remain thine.
But thou shalt kindle the flames to burn them in the low and marshy
grounds only."

"It is well," answered the Evil Spirit. "I will see that the fire
shall be kindled in the low and marshy grounds only."

So the Evil Spirit, much pleased with his bargain, returned to the
land of the Knisteneaux to watch for the souls of their dead, and the
Great Spirit winged his way back to the Mountain of Thunder.

When it was told Makusue of the agreement which the Great Spirit had
made with the Spirit of Evil, grief for his people filled the heart of
the good priest. At nightfall he repaired to the hill, with olay upon
his hair, and addressed his master thus:

"I have served thee long, and thou didst say faithfully, yet thou hast
given the souls of my people that I have brought to thee into the
hands of the Evil Spirit, to be tormented for three suns and three
sleeps."

"I know that I have done this," answered the Master. "Is it not well!"

"Thou canst not do otherwise than well," answered the priest; "and yet
why should those be punished, even for so short a period, whom thou
hast deemed worthy to live in the Happy Hunting-Grounds for ever
after?"

"What thou sayest has reason with it, Makusue," answered the Great
Spirit. "It was not well advised in me to grant so great a favour to
the Matchi Manitou. But it is said, and cannot be recalled."

"But it may be evaded," answered the cunning priest.

"How?" demanded the Master.

"Thou hast told the Evil Spirit that he may torment the souls of the
Knisteneaux for three suns and three sleeps, taking care to kindle the
fire in the low and marshy grounds only."

"I have."

"Let the souls of the dead, as thou hast said, repair to those spots,
but let them first take a form which it shall not be in the power of
the Evil Spirit to torture. Let them repair thither in the form of fog
or vapour."

"It is well," answered the Great Spirit. So he bade the spirit of each
Kn