give his own consent, and the young bird listens to the voice of its
parent."

"Let the great chief say what he would have, and the arm of
Wampum-hair shall be strong to do his will. For the sake of Leelinau
he would please her father."

The Sachem paused, and gazed with pleasure on the kindling features
of the young man. He was a wise chief, and desired the good of his
people. In those days the panthers, driven from the north by a severe
winter, infested the country in great numbers, and threatened to
destroy the game, on which the Indians depended for subsistence.
Although many had been killed, there still remained enough to ravage
the land and do serious injury; and they had become so cunning by
being frequently hunted that they almost uniformly succeeded in
eluding the chase. It would be a public service, though a difficult
undertaking, to exterminate the ravenous animals. He therefore said:--

"Let Magisaunikwa bring me a conaus made of the scalps of panthers,
and another for Leelinau, and he shall have the strong word of a chief
to whisper commendations of the hunter in the ears of the maiden."

"It is well. The words of the great chief are pleasant, and my ears
drink them up as the thirsty sand the drops of rain. The feet of
Wampum-hair are swift; his arrows are true, and they shall pierce the
screaming panther."

That same day, so eager was the young hunter to commence the chase, he
started for those parts of the forest where the game was most likely
to be found. Many were the beasts destroyed by him, so that a little