th
their hind feet, till the blood came, and how their hoofs were a
medicine to drive away all kinds of falling sickness, except that
occasioned by drinking the strong water that is made of women's
tongues and warriors' hearts[A]. He was going on to relate long
stories of the wars of the Elks with their inveterate enemies, the
Carcajous, when there arose, upon the outside of the camp, a great
noise, which prevented his proceeding. The sound was like that of a
dozen old women, engaged in scolding their husbands for their lack of
good fortune in the hunt. Soon a space was cleared, and that which
made the noise appeared in the midst, in the shape of a mighty hare,
whose tongue went faster than the wings of a wild duck escaping from a
fowler. Awe, and fear, and trembling, seized on the Ottawa woman, for
she knew that she stood in the presence of the god of her people, the
Great Michabou. Nor was that awe and fear diminished, when the angry
god spoke in a voice of thunder to the Great Elk, demanding why he had
enticed the son whom he loved into a marriage with the daughter of a
paltry Elk.

[Footnote A: An Ottawa, who was a great drunkard, on being asked by
one of the French governors of Canada what he thought the brandy of
which he was so fond was made of, replied: "Of women's tongues and
warriors' hearts; for," said he, "after I have drunk of it, I can talk
for ever, and fight the devil."]

The Great Chief, notwithstanding his seeming courage, trembled like a
leaf, while he answered, that it was not a match of his making.

"Now you lie," answered the god. "You know that you have dared to do
it, because it was told you by a wise Ottawa priest--no thanks to
him--that from the marriage of the Pig-face with a maiden Elk a being
should spring, who should destroy his father's father, and make the
Great Chief of the Elks a spirit to rule in his place."

The Great Elk, caught with a lie in his mouth, continued silent, as a
warrior who is stealing on his sleeping foe, while the Great Hare
continued:

"I cannot prevent the marriage, for that is accomplished, and what is
done cannot be undone, even by a god. But I can prevent the
consequences which you hoped would ensue. I can take away from the
beasts, particularly the Elks, the wisdom to devise stratagems to
effect their purpose of usurping my power; and I can take away their
speech, which will further spoil their sport."

Turning to the Ottawa woman, he bade her draw a thr