pt one big cake which
the flood had left on the bank of the river.

The sun had been shining on this piece of ice for many days, but it
would not melt. There were signs of spring everywhere except in this
one spot.

A brave warrior had been watching this piece of ice. He said to
himself, "That is the Ice King, I am sure. I must conquer him."

He raised his big war club and struck the Ice King, crying, "Come on,
Ice King! Do your best. Freeze me if you can. I will show you that I am
as strong as you are."

He struck again and again, and the Ice King began to shrink. Pieces of
ice floated down the river. At last he became so small that the Indian
picked him up and tossed him into the river.

"There!" cried the Indian, "off with you! Never dare to come back here
again."

The Ice King whirled about and screamed, "I go now, but I shall come
again. Look for me next winter. I will show you then which of us is the
stronger."

The Indian hunted and fished all summer, but when autumn was near he
began to think of the threat of the Ice King. "He will keep his word,"
said the Indian, "and I must get ready to fight him."

The Indian placed his wigwam among the trees, where it was well
sheltered from the winds. Near it he heaped up a large pile of dry
wood. Then he caught some large fish and tried out their fat so that he
might have plenty of oil. He made thick clothes for himself out of the
skins of animals. During the summer he had gathered much wild rice, and
now he dried meat. While he was getting ready, the weather was becoming
colder.

At last all was done, and the Indian said, as he sat by his blazing
fire, "Let the Ice King come. I am ready for him."

That night the Ice King froze the little pools of water. After a few
days the lakes and rivers were frozen. It was very cold.

One night when the Indian was sitting by his fire, the Ice King stepped
to the door of the wigwam. He walked boldly to the fire and sat down
opposite the Indian.

How cold the Ice King's breath felt! It nearly put out the fire. The
poor Indian shivered, but he said to himself, "The Ice King shall not
conquer me." He jumped up and threw dry wood on the fire. Then he
poured oil upon the wood. The fire blazed up. The Indian put on more
wood and more oil. The fire roared and crackled.

The Ice King began to feel too warm. He moved back a little way. The
fire became hotter. The Ice King moved farther back. He began to sweat
and to grow small