PULOWECH AND THE ,SEA MAIDEN

NOE. upon a time there was a forest, where magicians and other evil spirits lived. These evil people made attacks upon the In- dians whenever they could, and destroyed them. Sometimes they would transform them into ani- mals, or rocks, or trees, or anything they chose. Now this forest was beside the ocean, where beautiful sea maidens lived; and the evil people of the forest were always watching to seize them and torture them. So the sea maidens were afraid to go about on the shore.

But there was one who defended them, and they did not know it. This was Pulowech, an Indian brave, who lived in a Wigwam near the forest.

Pulowech knew all about these evil people of the forest, and he was watching all the time to destroy them. And so they were afraid of him. If they saw him walking on the seashore, they would hide again in the forest. So when— ever Pulowech was near, the sea maidens were safe.

One day, in the winter, Pulowech was walk. 113