color. They had brought axes with them to
chop down the stump. As they began chopping, they heard a noise like
groans coming from within the stump. They were very frightened and
thought it was a bear. Just as they were turning to run away Wesakchak
called to them.

"It is no bear," said the first woman. "It is the wise man, Wesakchak,
who is coming to visit us."

"It is, indeed, he," said the second woman. "We must chop him out."

So they set to work with their axes, and in a little while had chopped
open the stump and set him free. They were overjoyed when they saw it
was really Wesakchak whom they had freed, and they took him with them
to the village, where all came forth to welcome him.

III. THE GRAY GOOSE

Many years ago, when Wesakchak was the only man upon the earth, there
was a being, the Evil Spirit, who did not love him. This spirit was
very wicked, and when he saw how much the animals loved Wesakchak, he
made up his mind to carry out a cunning scheme, for he wanted to become
the master of the animals himself, and it made him very jealous to see
how they obeyed Wesakchak.

But the North Wind, when it was passing by his wigwam, heard the Evil
Spirit say what he was going to do. The wind passed on, and when it
came to the birch-tree, it told her. She told it to her leaves, and
they rustled in the wind, as they listened to the terrible plan. "Oh,
North Wind," said the birch-tree, "will you carry my leaves to the
wigwam of Wesakchak, and they will tell him of his danger?" So the
North Wind took the dried leaves of the birch-tree and carried them
many miles, until they reached the wigwam of Wesakchak. There it
dropped them at his door.

Wesakchak was sitting by the fire, and he heard the rustling leaves.
"Listen!" they said to him, "We have a message for you." Then they
told him of the terrible plan the North Wind had overheard. It was in
the spring the Evil Spirit was going to carry out his purpose.

Wesakchak hunted all winter in the forest. When spring came, he was
near the edge of the woods one day, and as he stepped out into the
prairie, he heard a little rustle at his feet. He looked down and saw
some leaves of the birch-tree. "Remember the message we carried to
you, O Master," they said. Wesakchak answered, "Yes, I remember. It
is now spring, and I shall go back to my wigwam for my bow and arrows.
Then I shall go in search of the Evil Spirit, my enemy."

The next day Wesak