WONDER TALES OF THE FOREST 127

and in the river for their fish. She made their fur blankets and clothing, and she cut down the great trees for their fire in the cold winter. She was their only child, and they lived alone in that part of the forest.

When the giant’s son saw how helpless the old people were, he said, “If you will only give me the maiden for my wife, I will care for you as long as you live. You shall never want for food; and when the cold snows of winter cover the forest, they shall be swept away from your door, and you shall have warmth and cheer in your Wigwam. But I must tell you that my father is a terrible Kookwes, and I shall need to protect you from him.”

The old people answered, “It is well,—son- in-laW.”

Then the young hunter returned to his home. He had spent the whole day with the beautiful maiden, and he had no fresh tracks to report to his father.

The next morning, he hurried off in another direction, and found the tracks of Indians, and as soon as his father had set off to find them, the son told his mother about the beautiful maiden in the forest.

“But you cannot bring her here, my son; your father would devour her,” the mother said.

“Only tell my father about her,” he pleaded.