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Updated: June 25, 2025
As he opened his eyes, in a dreamy way, he saw the kettle near him. Some of the fish he observed were in the bowl. The fire flickered, and made light and shadow; but nowhere was Wassamo to be seen. He waited, and waited again, in the expectation that Wassamo would appear. "Perhaps," thought the cousin, "he is gone out again to visit the nets."
The very next day the old Sand-Spirit, who was very much pleased with the turn affairs had taken at his entertainment, addressed Wassamo: "Son-in-law, I have made up my mind to allow you another holiday as an acknowledgment of the handsome manner in which you acquitted yourself of your embassy.
A perfect silence fell upon the company. They gazed with eager eyes fastened on Wassamo, as he waded out into the water, waving his hands. They saw him descend, more and more, into the depths. They beheld the waves close over his head, and a loud and piercing wail went up which rent the sky.
One day, when the season had commenced for fish to be plenty, the mother of Wassamo said to him, "My son, I wish you would go to yonder point and see if you can not procure me some fish; and ask your cousin to accompany you." He did so. They set out, and in the course of the afternoon they arrived at the fishing-ground.
Nothing remained on the place of his lodge-fire but the mis-kodeed, a small white flower with a pink border, which the young visitor, Seegwun, the Spirit of Spring, placed in the wreath upon his brow, as his first trophy in the North. Wassamo was living with his parents on the shore of a large bay, far out in the north-east.
One of them, whom he heard addressed as the Old Spirit-man, spoke to Wassamo. "My son," said he, "know it was those foolish girls who brought you hither. They saw you at the fishing-ground. When you attempted to approach them you fell senseless, and at the same moment they transported you to this place. We are under the earth. But be at ease. We will make your stay with us pleasant.
He told his son-in-law that he and his wife should go once more to visit his people. "It is merely," said he, "to assure them of my friendship, and to bid them farewell for ever." Some time afterwards Wassamo and his wife made this visit. Having delivered his message, he said "I must now bid you all farewell for ever."
Having both hands thus at liberty, he began to take out the fish. Suddenly he heard a laugh. "Cousin," said he, "some one is near us. Awake, and let us look out." His cousin, however, continued asleep. Again Wassamo heard the laughter, and, looking, he beheld two beautiful girls. "Awake, awake," said he to his cousin.
Netawis accompanied them to the shores of the lake, and would have gone with them to their strange abode, but Wassamo sent him back. With him Wassamo took offerings from the Indians to his father-in-law. The old spirit was delighted to see the two return, and he was also much pleased with the presents Wassamo brought.
Wassamo in the mean while had lost the sound of his cousin's voice in the rich simmer of the kettle; and when its music pleased his ear the most, as announcing that the fish were handsomely cooked, he lifted the kettle from the fire. He spoke to his cousin, but he received no answer.
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