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Chippewa nation； and young men from other tribes traveled hundreds
of miles for an opportunity to make love to her； and try to win her
for a wife。 It was all to no purpose。 She would accept no one；
only him whom her father would select for her。 The turtle was very
homely； but as he was prudent and wise； the father chose him； and
she accepted him。
The young men of the tribe were very jealous； but their jealousy
was all to no purpose。 She married the turtle。 The young men
would make sport of the chief's son…in…law。 They would say to him：
〃How did you come to have so flat a stomach？〃 The turtle
answered them； saying：
〃My friends； had you been in my place； you too would have flat
stomachs。 I came by my flat stomach in this way： The Chippewas and
Sioux had a great battle； and the Sioux； too numerous for the
Chippewas； were killing them off so fast that they had to run for
their lives。 I was on the Chippewa side and some of the Sioux were
pressing five of us； and were gaining on us very fast。 Coming to
some high grass； I threw myself down flat on my face； and pressed
my stomach close to the ground； so the pursuers could not see me。
They passed me and killed the four I was with。 After they had gone
back； I arose and lo！ my stomach was as you see it now。 So hard
had I pressed to the ground that it would not assume its original
shape again。〃
After he had explained the cause of his deformity to them； they
said： 〃The Turtle is brave。 We will bother him no more。〃 Shortly
after this the Sioux made an attack upon the Chippewas； and every
one deserted the village。 The Turtle could not travel as fast as
the rest and was left behind。 It being an unusually hot day in the
fall； the Turtle grew very thirsty and sleepy。 Finally scenting
water； he crawled towards the point from whence the scent
came； and coming to a large lake jumped in and had a bath； after
which he swam towards the center and dived down； and finding some
fine large rocks at the bottom； he crawled in among them and fell
asleep。 He had his sleep out and arose to the top。
Swimming to shore he found it was summer。 He had slept all winter。
The birds were singing； and the green grass and leaves gave forth
a sweet odor。
He crawled out and started out looking for the Chippewa camp。 He
came upon the camp several days after he had left his winter
quarters； and going around in search of his wife； found her at the
extreme edge of the village。 She was nursing her baby； and as he
asked to see it； she showed it to him。 When he saw that it was a
lovely baby and did not resemble him in any respect； he got angry
and went off to a large lake； where he contented himself with
catching flies and insects and living on seaweed the remainder of
his life。
THE MAN AND THE OAK
There once lived a Sioux couple who had two children； a boy and a
girl。 Every fall this family would move away from the main camp
and take up their winter quarters in a grove of timber some
distance from the principal village。 The reason they did this was
that he was a great hunter and where a village was located for the
winter the game was usually very scarce。 Therefore； he always
camped by himself in order to have an abundance of game adjacent
to his camp。
All summer he had roamed around following the tribe to wherever
their fancy might take them。 During their travels this particular
year there came to the village a strange girl who had no relatives
there。 No one seemed very anxious to take her into their
family； so the great hunter's daughter； taking a fancy to the poor
girl； took her to their home and kept her。 She addressed her as
sister； and the parents； on account of their daughter； addressed
her as daughter。
This strange girl became desperately in love with the young man of
the family； but being addressed as daughter by the parents； she
could not openly show her feelings as the young man was considered
her brother。
In the fall when the main village moved into a large belt of timber
for their winter quarters； the hunter moved on to another place two
days' travel from the main winter camp； where he would not be
disturbed by any other hunters。
The young man had a tent by himself； and it was always kept nice
and clean by his sister； who was very much attached to him。 After
a long day's hunt in the woods； he would go into his tent and lie
down to rest； and when his supper was ready his sister would
say； 〃My brother is so tired。 I will carry his supper to him。〃
Her friend； whom she addressed as sister； would never go into the
young man's tent。 Along towards spring there came one night into
the young man's tent a woman。 She sat down by the door and kept
her face covered so that it was hidden from view。 She sat there a
long time and finally arose and went away。 The young man could not
imagine who this could be。 He knew that it was a long distance
from the village and could not make out where the woman
could have come from。 The next night the woman came again and this
time she came a little nearer to where the young man lay。 She sat
down and kept her face covered as before。 Neither spoke a word。
She sat there for a long time and then arose and departed。 He was
very much puzzled over the actions of this woman and decided to
ascertain on her next visit who she was。
He kindled a small fire in his tent and had some ash wood laid on
it so as to keep fire a long time； as ash burns very slowly and
holds fire a long time。
The third night the woman came again and sat down still nearer his
bed。 She held her blanket open just a trifle； and he； catching up
one of the embers； flashed it in her face； jumping up she ran
hurriedly out of the tent。 The next morning he noticed that his
adopted sister kept her face hidden with her blanket。 She chanced
to drop her blanket while in the act of pouring out some soup； and
when she did so he noticed a large burned spot on her cheek。
He felt so sorry for what he had done that he could eat no
breakfast； but went outside and lay down under an oak tree。 All
day long he lay there gazing up into the tree； and when he was
called for supper he refused； saying that he was not hungry； and
for them not to bother him； as he would soon get up and go to bed。
Far into the night he lay thus； and when he tried to arise he could
not； as a small oak tree grew through the center of his body and
held him fast to the ground。
In the morning when the family awoke they found the girl had
disappeared； and on going outside the sister discovered her brother
held fast to the earth by an oak tree which grew very rapidly。 In
vain were the best medicine men of the tribe sent for。 Their
medicine was of no avail。 They said： 〃If the tree is cut down the
young man will die。〃
The sister was wild with grief； and extending her hands to the sun；
she cried： 〃Great Spirit； relieve my suffering brother。 Any one
who releases him I will marry； be he young； old； homely or
deformed。〃
Several days after the young man had met with the mishap； there
came to the tent a very tall man； who had a bright light encircling
his body。 〃Where is the girl who promised to marry any one who
would release her brother？〃 〃I am the one；〃 said the young
man's sister。 〃I am the all…powerful lightning and thunder。 I see
all things and can kill at one stroke a whole tribe。 When I make
my voice heard the rocks shake loose and go rattling down the
hillsides。 The brave warriors cower shivering under some shelter
at the sound of my voice。 The girl whom you had adopted as your
sister was a sorceress。 She bewitched your brother because he
would not let her make love to him。 On my way here I met her
traveling towards the west； and knowing what she had done； I struck
her with one of my blazing swords； and she lies there now a heap of
ashes。 I will now release your brother。〃
So saying he placed his hand on the tree and instantly it crumbled
to ashes。 The young man arose； and thanked his deliverer。
Then they saw a great black cloud approaching； and the man said：
〃Make ready； we shall go home on that cloud。〃 As the cloud
approached near to the man who stood with his bride； it suddenly
lowered and enveloped them and with a great roar and amidst flashes
of lightning and loud peals of thunder the girl ascended and
disappeared into the west with her Thunder and Lightning husband。
STORY OF THE TWO YOUNG FRIENDS
There were once in a very large Indian camp two little boys who
were fast friends。 One of the boys； 〃Chaske〃 （meaning first born）；
was the son of a very rich family； and was always dressed in the
finest of clothes of Indian costume。 The other boy； 〃Hake〃
（meaning last born）； was an orphan and lived with his old
grandmother； who was very destitute； and consequently could not
dress the