CHAPTER XXX.
STORY OF SHEE-SHEE-BANZE.
There was a young man named Shee-shee-banze (the Little Duck) paddling his canoe along the shore of the lake.
Two girls came down to the edge of the water, and, seeing him, the elder said to the younger, "Let us call to him to take us a sail." It must be remarked that in all Indian stories where two or more sisters are the _dramatis personae_, the elder is invariably represented as silly, ridiculous, and disgusting--the younger, as wise and beautiful.
In the present case the younger remonstrated.

"Oh, no," said she, "let us not do such a thing.

What will he think of us ?" But the other persevered, and called to him, "Ho! come and take us into your canoe." The young man obeyed, and, approaching the shore, he took them with him into the canoe.
"Who are you ?" asked the elder sister.
"I am _Way-gee-mar-kin_," replied he, "the great chief." This Way-gee-mar-kin was something of a fairy, for when surrounded by his followers, and wishing to confer favors on them, he had a habit of coughing slightly, when there would fly forth from his mouth quantities of silver brooches, ear-bobs, and other ornaments, for which it was the custom of his people to scramble, each striving, as in more civilized life, to get more than his share.
Accordingly, the elder sister said, "If you are Way-gee-mar-kin, let us see you cough." Shee-shee-banze had a few of these silver ornaments which he had got by scrambling, and which he kept stowed away in the sides of his mouth in case of emergency.

So he gave some spasmodic coughs and brought forth a few, which the girl eagerly seized.
After a time, as they paddled along, a fine noble elk came forth from the forest, and approached the water to drink.
"What is that ?" asked the spokeswoman; for the younger sister sat silent and modest all the time.
"It is my dog that I hunt with." "Call him to us, that I may see him." Shee-shee-banze called, but the elk turned and fled into the woods.
"He does not seem to obey you, however." "No; it is because you inspire him with disgust, and therefore he flies from you." Soon a bear made his appearance by the water's edge.
"What is that ?" "One of my servants." Again he was requested to call him, and, as the call was disregarded, the same reason as before was assigned.
Their excursion was at length ended.

There had been a little magic in it, for although the young girls had supposed themselves to be in a canoe, there was, in reality, no canoe at all.