WONDER TALES OF THE FOREST 137

and his magical power had warned him that the Avenger was coming. So, by his magic, he gathered all the water in the country about, every drop, and held it in bark dishes in his Wigwam. For he thought:

“NOW the Avenger cannot pass through this country without water; so he will go away, or, if he tries to journey through, he will die of thirst.”

But Kitpooseagunow was determined to de- stroy this evil magician.

“Send the child to the Wigwam of Able- gemoo,” he said, “and bring me water.”

The child was sent, and he returned with a little bowl of muddy water. Kitpooseagunow threw this out, and sent him again. And again the boy brought back muddy water.

“This is all they would give me,” he said.

Kitpooseagunow was about to throw this away, when the old woman said:

“Do not throw the water away, but let the child have it. He has great thirst.” So Kitpooseagunow gave the water to the child; and then he said:

“I must go to the Wigwam of Ablegemoo my- self, I see.”

Then Kitpooseagunow went to the lodge of Ablegemoo. When he reached it, he found that the great Wigwam was filled with many women—the wives of the chief—who were try-