While
doing this he rested his neck upon the log, when the Indian with a blow
of his hatchet severed it. Then taking the head by one of the shining
yellow horns he bore it to his friend, who in the morning gave it to
the chief. And the old man said to himself, "This time I fear me I
shall lose my child."
Yet the young man had more to do; for the chief said, "I would fain see
my son coast down yonder hill on hand-sled." Now this lull was an
exceeding high mountain; the sides thereof were ragged with rocks and
terrible with trees and ice. Then two toboggins [Footnote: Toboggin: a
sled or sledge.] were brought out, one of them for the two strangers,
and this he that was Mikumwess was to direct. And on the other were two
powerful men, and these were both _boo-oinak_, [Footnote:
Magicians, the original of _pow-wow-in_. It is apparently the same
in meaning as the _angakok_ of the neighboring Eskimo.] who hoped
to see the former soon fall out, and then to run over them. And at the
word they went flying fearfully down the mountain, and yet ever faster,
as if to death. And soon he that sought the girl went whirling headlong
from the sled, and the two _boo-oinak_ gave a loud hurrah; for
they knew not that this had been done with intent by the Mikumwess,
that he might get them before him. So he put forth his hand, and,
seizing the younger man, turned a little aside, but in an instant went
on after; and erelong the sled of the _boo-oinak_ stopped, but the
other, bounding upwards from a mighty wall of ice, flew far over their
heads onwards; nor did it stop in the valley, but, running with
tremendous speed up the opposite hill and into the village, struck the
side of the chief's wigwam, ripping it up from end to end ere it
stopped.
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