WONDER TALES OF THE FOREST 115

had managed to seize one of their hair-strings.

This hair-string had magical power, and Pulowech knew that the sea maiden could not live without it. So he carried it to his Wigwam, and tied it around the post at the head of his bed.

In the morning, when Pulowech awoke, he saw, sitting quietly on the mat by the door of the Wigwam, a beautiful sea maiden.

“Why do you come here?” he asked.

“I have come for my hair-string,” she an- swered.

And then Pulowech persuaded her to stay and be his wife.

They lived very happily together and the sea maiden never spoke of longing for her old home in the ocean.

Whenever Pulowech went away from the wig- wam, he would say, “Do not let any one into the Wigwam while I am gone.” And the maiden always did just as he said.

One day, when Pulowech was setting out on a hunting trip to be away many days, he said, as usual, “Do not let any one into the Wigwam, —no matter who it may be. If you do, great harm will come to you.” And the sea maiden promised that she would not open the door for any one.

That night there came a great storm. The ocean roared, and the wind blew, and the forest