pipe. His grandfather saw the pigeons fly out of
the lodge door, and he felt very sad. For he knew that his little
grandson was a young man now, and would soon be leaving him. Then he
went in, and they talked together for a long time. He told the young
man all about the six giants who had killed his brothers and sisters,
and White Feather said, "I shall go at once in search of them and kill
them, because they were so cruel to all our tribe."

"No, do not go yet," said the old grandfather. "Wait awhile until you
grow a little more and are stronger."

The young man promised to wait for a few months.

One day he was again hunting in the woods, when he passed near the
wooden man. He heard him speak and say:

"White Feather, listen to me. In a few days you must go in search of
the giants. They live in a high lodge in the centre of this wood.
When you reach there, you must ask them to race with you, one at a
time. Take this vine," handing him at the same time a thin, green
vine. "It is enchanted, so they will not be able to see it. When you
are running, throw it over their heads and they will trip and fall."
White Feather thanked the old man, and took it home and showed it to
his grandfather.

A few days later he set out in search of the giants. He had not
journeyed far when he saw their lodge. When they saw him coming, they
called out, "Oh, here comes White Feather. Here is the little man who
is going to do such brave deeds." But when he came closer to them,
they pretended they liked him, and told him how brave he was. They did
that to make him think they were friends, but he did not believe them,
as he knew they were his enemies. He asked them if they would race
him, and they said, "Yes."

"Begin with the smallest of us," said the biggest giant. So they
began. They had to run to a peel-tree and back again to the
starting-point. This point was marked by an iron club, and whoever won
the race was to take up the club and kill the other one with it. When
they had nearly reached the peel-tree, White Feather threw the vine
over the youngest giant's head. He tripped and fell. Then White
Feather ran up and seized the club and killed the giant. The next day
he raced the second youngest, and killed him in the same manner. Each
day he did this, until only the biggest giant was left. Now this giant
was the most dangerous of them all. He knew that, if he ran, White
Feather would kill him, too, so he ma