WONDER TALES OP THE FOREST 15 her and little Marten, her grandchild; and so all went well for a time. But before long poor old Pulowech came to the village in search of his wife. He, as the others had done, entered the lodge of Mrs. Bear , because it was the Indian custom for a stranger to enter the first lodge he came to. The children were glad to see him, and gave him food, and told him about their mother. The mother soon learned that an old man was with the strange children at Mrs. Bear 's lodge. She knew at once that he was her hus¬ band, Pulowech . She went to the chief, pre¬ tending to be very much afraid. "This strange old man who has just come here is an evil magician," she said. "If you allow him to remain here, he will bring a great pestilence upon us all. You must have him killed, and make a door blanket of his hide." The chief and all the others believed her, and were afraid of this evil magician, too. So they hastened to do as she had told them; and soon they had made a door blanket of poor old Pulowech 's hide. Now that she had rid herself of her former husband she had next to do away with the chil¬ dren. So presently she said to the chief: "My father, those two children who are at Mrs. Bear 's lodge are bringing sickness and famine to the town. Just such a thing hap-