Once there was a flood over all the world. ‘Save us, Manabozho,’ cried the Ox. The Beaver and the Moose and the tricky Raccoon cried for help; so did the Elk and the Wolf, the Fox and the Hopper, and all the rest.
Manabozho heard how the king of the fishes was treating the little fishes. He sent him word that he was to stop, but Me-she-nah-ma-gwai did not obey. ‘Very well,’ said Manabozho; ‘I shall punish this ruler.’
The sea serpents were angry with Manabozho because he had killed the king of the fishes. So they determined to have revenge on him.
Just then Ma-Ma, the large Woodpecker, lighted on a tree, and said to the Rabbit: ‘Manabozho, there is only one place where you can hurt the Shining Magician. That is on the crown of his head.’
One day the Ground Hog and the Badger and the Mole came to the Great White Rabbit. ‘Manabozho,’ they said, ‘we keep making burrows for ourselves in the ground, and hiding there away from the Sun. Why is this?’
The Gray Wolf said: ‘Paupukewis, try to remember that it is not a long tail which makes a good hunter.’
Paupukewis was so tricky himself that he thought the old Gray Wolf was going to hurt him in some way. So he kept one eye uncovered, and watched.
As the weather grew colder, many of the animals suffered greatly. But the pine trees and the cedars did not mind the cold. ‘Why are they so happy when we feel so uncomfortable?’ asked the animals. ‘Because they have the secret of fire,’ answered Manabozho. ‘If you can get it from them, you will be warm.’