[Illustration: Flying head and woman sitting by the fire]

Drum and rattle and enchantments were deemed more effective than arrows
or clubs. One evening, after they had been plagued a long time with
fearful visitations, the flying head came to the door of a lodge occupied
by a single female and her dog. She was sitting composedly before the
fire roasting acorns, which, as they became cooked, she deliberately took
from the fire and ate. Amazement seized the flying head, who put out two
huge black paws from under his streaming beard. Supposing the woman to be
eating live coals he withdrew, and from that time he came no more among
them.

And they were also invaded by a still more fearful enemy, the Ot-nea-yar-
heh, or Stonish Giants. They were a powerful tribe from the wilderness,
tall, fierce and hostile, and resistance to them was vain. They defeated
and overwhelmed an army which was sent out against them, and put the
whole country in fear. These giants were not only of great strength, but
they were cannibals, devouring men, women and children in their inroads.

[Illustration: Stonish giant chasing indians.]

It is said by the Shawnees that these giants were descended from a
certain family which was journeying on the east side of the Mississippi.
After some of them had crossed the river on a vine it broke, which left
the main body on the east bank of the river. Those who were on the west
side of the river went toward the northwest. Being abandoned in their
wanderings, and being vagrants, without any knowledge of the arts of
life, they forgot the rules of humanity. They at first began to eat their
game in the raw flesh, which led them finally to become cannibals, and