THE WINDMAKER

MACMILLAN'S LAKESIDE SERIES

THIRTY INDIAN LEGENDS

BY

MARGARET BEMISTER

TORONTO
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.
1917

COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1912, BY
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD.

PREFACE

For the most part the legends here told are drawn from original sources. Many of the stories are printed for the first time; others have been adapted from well-known authorities. The author wishes to acknowledge in this latter connection help received from the collection, "The Indian in his Wigwam." Thanks are also due to Mr. G. H. Dunn, St. Andrew's Locks, Manitoba, for the "Sleep Fairies"; to Mr. C. Linklater, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, for the "Adventures of Wesakchak"; to Mr. J. S. Logie, Summerland, British Columbia, for "The Chief's Bride"; to the Okanagan chief, Antowyne, for the other Okanagan legends; and to a paper read before the Royal Society of Canada by Mr. G. M. Dawson, for "The Old Stump."

The last story in the book, "A Battle with the Sioux," although not a legend of the Indians, has been inserted as a true picture of Indian life and customs, and an interesting account of their contact with and relation to the white men.

WINNIPEG, CANADA,
    September 15, 1912.

CONTENTS

THE GIANT BEAR
THE SUMMER MAKER
THE SLEEP FAIRIES
SHINGEBISS
THE QUEER LITTLE ANIMAL
THE DORMOUSE
THE WINDMAKER
MOOWIS
THE DAUGHTERS OF THE STAR
KOTO AND THE BIRD
THE HUMPBACKED MANITOU
THE TRIBE THAT GREW OUT OF A SHELL
THE STORY OF THE INDIAN CORN
THE MAGICIAN OF LAKE HURON
THE FAIRIES' CLIFF
THE STONE CANOE
THE WHITE FEATHER
THE LONE LIGHTNING
THE ENCHANTED MOCCASINS
THE FIVE WATER-SPIRITS
THE CANOE BREAKER
THE OLD STUMP
THE CLIFF OF SINIKIELT
THE STRANGE DREAM
BIG CHIEF'S CONQUEST
THE RED SWAN
THE WHISPERING GRASS
THE LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND

THE ADVENTURES OF WESAKCHAK
   I. THE WONDERFUL BALL
  II. A WONDERFUL JOURNEY
 III. THE GRAY GOOSE
 IV. LITTLE BROTHER RABBIT
  V. THE BALD-HEADED EAGLES

A BATTLE WITH THE SIOUX

PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY

THIRTY INDIAN LEGENDS

THE GIANT BEAR

In the far north there was a village where many warlike Indians lived. In one family there were ten brothers, all brave and fearless. In the spring of the year the youngest brother blackened his face and fasted for several days. Then he sent for his nine brothers and said to them:

"I have fasted and