282 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES

One day in mid-summer, the Indians came upon a trail in the forest. They followed it until it brought them out to a beautiful river. It wound along the bank of the river, until it came to a place where the river spread out into a broad, peaceful lake. They followed the trail, which led at last to a point of land far out in the middle of the lake. From the top of a hill they saw smoke coming up through the trees, and at last they reached a large, well-built wig- warn.

The Indians entered the Wigwam, and saw a man of middle age, with a calm, strong face, seated on the right side of the fire, in the master’s place. On the other side, there sat a woman, doubled over with age, and very feeble. There was another mat spread out on the floor, as though a third person had a seat there. The master of the Wigwam received the guests kindly, but did not ask them whence they had come, or whither they were going, as is the In- dian custom.

After a time they heard the sofind of a pad— dle, and the noise of a canoe drawn from the water, and after that, footsteps outside. Pres— ently, a well-dressed Indian brave of beautiful form and features entered with his weapons, showing that he had come from the hunt.

“Keejoo,” he said to the old woman, “there is game without.”