u do as I have told you the splasher will be killed and you
must then take his hide and wear it always. The skin that the splasher
wears will make you a lucky man. It will make anybody lucky and you
may tell your people that it is so.

"'Now go, for it is nearly day and we must sleep.'

"The young-man took his bow and arrow and the stick the white Beaver
had given him and started on his journey. All the day he travelled,
and far into the night. At last he came to a river and on the bank he
saw the great cottonwood-tree, just as the ghost Owl had told him. At
the tree the young-man turned down the stream and in the dark easily
found his way along the bank. Very soon he heard a great splashing in
the water near him, and--zipp--he let the arrow go at the sound--then
all was still again. He stood and looked and listened, but for a long
time could see nothing--hear nothing.

"Then the moon came out from under a cloud and just where her light
struck the river, he saw some animal floating--dead. With the magic
stick the young-man walked out on the water, seized the animal by the
legs and drew it ashore. It was an Otter, and the young-man took his
hide, right there.

"A Wolf waited in the brush for the body of the Otter, and the
young-man gave it to him willingly, because he remembered the meat the
Wolf had given the Coyote. As soon as the young-man had skinned the
Otter he threw the hide over his shoulder and started for his own
country with a light heart, but at the first good place he made a camp,
and slept. That night he dreamed and all was well with him.

"After days of travel he found his tribe again, and told what had
happened. He became a great hunter and a great chief among us. He
married the most beautiful woman in the tribe and was good to her
always. They had many children, and we remember his name as one that
was great in war. That is all--Ho!"

OLD-MAN STEALS THE SUN'S LEGGINGS

Firelight--what a charm it adds to story-telling. How its moods seem
to keep pace with situations pictured by the oracle, offering shadows
when dread is abroad, and light when a pleasing climax is reached; for
interest undoubtedly tends the blaze, while sympathy contributes or
withholds fuel, according to its dictates.

The lodge was alight when I approached and I could hear the children
singing in a happy mood, but upon entering, the singing ceased and
embarrassed smiles on the young faces greeted me; nor coul