her. The man of the red feather was strong and
active, but at last he was thrown to the earth.

[Illustration]

"I have thrown you! I have thrown you!" shouted Manabush.

"You have gained a great gift for your people," said Mondamin, "for I
am the spirit of the corn."

Even as he spoke, a wonderful change took place. Gone was the man who
had wrestled with such strength. His garments had turned into green
and yellow corn husks, and his body to a ripe red ear of corn. But the
red plume was still waving.

Again the voice of Mondamin was heard from the ground. "Take from me
my covers. Scatter my kernels over the plain. Break my spine and throw
it all about you.

"Make the earth soft and light above me. Let no bird disturb me, and
let no weed share my resting place. Watch me till I stand once more
tall and beautiful. Then you shall have food for your people."

Manabush obeyed all that the voice had commanded. On the way back to
his canoe he killed a deer, but he said no word to his companions of
his strange adventure with the man of the red feather.

When the new moon hung like a bow in the west, he visited the field
alone. What were the wide grass-like blades making green the plain?
What were the vines that sent their runners all about?

Carefully he tilled the field. The stems grew strong, and the broad
leaves gleamed in the sunshine. Still he kept the secret, spending
many hours in watching for his enemies.

When summer drew near its close, Manabush paddled his canoe to the
shore nearest the wrestling ground. He found the corn clad in green
and yellow, with red plumes waving. And great yellow pumpkins were
ripening on the green vines.

As he picked the ripe red ears he heard a voice from the field,
saying: "Victory has crowned your struggles, O Manabush. The gift of
corn is to your people, and will always be their food."

THE MAGIC CANOE

One night, as Manabush was lying on the ground in the thick woods, he
heard strange voices. "This is no common enemy," he said to himself.
But he lay motionless and listened.

The evil spirits were plotting to take his life. By his magic power he
was able to defend himself from their attacks, and they slipped away
unseen.

In the morning he went to the open shore. There he saw a canoe drawn
up on the beach. Coming near, he found a man in the bow and another in
the stern. They had been changed into stone images as a punishment for
their wicked deeds.

The can