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Dry wood was abundant and a bright fire was soon burning, and then, when the water was boiled and the tea made, the lunch basket was opened and the meal was much enjoyed by all. "Now, Souwanas," said Minnehaha, "we are all ready for the story at the same time, and if your pipe goes out I'll hand you a burning stick with which you can light it again."
Souwanas was greatly amused at her jealousy of him, especially since he was told by one of the Indian maids that the children had been overheard gravely debating between themselves which was the better story-teller, Mary or Souwanas. When peace again reigned some illustrated volumes from the library were given to Souwanas for his inspection.
And they were not disappointed, for loved ones far away in more favored lands had remembered these little ones in their Northern home, where the Frost King reigns, and many and varied were the gifts which they now received. "I am going to take Souwanas some of my candies," said Sagastao. "And I am going to give him a nice red silk handkerchief," said Minnehaha.
"Do you know any Nanahboozhoo stories in which he tells anything about beavers or muskrats?" asked Sagastao. "Yes, indeed," replied Souwanas; "in nearly all the stories that are told about the forming of the new land after the great flood both the beaver and the muskrat are mentioned, as well as the other animals." "Tell us one of the stories," urged little Minnehaha.
But long ere Souwanas had ended Jack had returned from the home with a note to say that dinner would soon be ready, and that no one could be more welcome than Souwanas. "But what about the red eyes of the ducks?" said the two children, whose appetites for stories were simply well, like those of other boys and girls.
The dead loons in the canoe did not look as attractive as they had appeared when swimming and diving so gracefully in the lake. Souwanas was quick to notice their depression of spirits, and he there and then resolved that he would never again shoot any living thing in their presence, and he faithfully kept his resolve.
So Souwanas pledged himself to make the story as short as he could without spoiling it, and then, after a few more whiffs from his beloved calumet, he began: "It was long ago, when there were fewer people in the forests and on the prairies than now. They did not have as many comforts as they have now, and one of the rarest things among them was fire.
"What is it to be about to-day?" asked the old man, as the children, full of eager anticipation, drew a couple of chairs up before him. After some discussion Souwanas decided to tell them the Nanahboozhoo story of how he lessened the power of the rattlesnakes to do harm. "Nanahboozhoo, in starting off one day from his grandmother's wigwam, had put on the disguise of a fine young hunter.
Blunt little Sagastao spoke up at once: "Minnehaha and I have talked it over, and have decided that unless you tell us better stories, and ones which you know all about, we're going to run away to the wigwam of Souwanas." This was humiliating and distressing news.
On this present visit, however, Souwanas, while as usual eager again to inspect this book, was observed to look at it in a very different spirit. The explanation came out later, when he had the children around him indeed almost the whole household listening to a new Nanahboozhoo story which he had secured from some famous old Indian whom he had met while far away on his long hunting excursion.
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