“Let us return!” said the youngest maiden, but the others replied, “But look! Here are field mice running about. Let us chase them!” The little mice ran in all directions, and the maidens ran after them, laughing, and threatening them with their silver wands. And the one that the youngest maiden chased ran far from the others. Then, just as the maiden reached him, and would have struck him with her wand, the little field mouse changed suddenly to the form of a man,--and it was Waupee. He caught the maiden in his arms, and he told her how she had won his heart by her loveliness, and begged her to stay with him. The other maidens, frightened at the sight of Waupee, sprang into their boat, and it rose and bore them away. Then the youngest maiden wept, but Waupee comforted her, for he was strong and brave, and a mighty hunter. And her heart was won, and she went with him to the village. So Waupee was wedded to the Star Maiden, and she was the loveliest maiden in all the tribe. The next year Waupee and his bride were made still happier by the coming of a baby boy, and the White Hawk was the proudest father in all the tribe. But after many moons had passed, the Star Maiden grew lonely for her father, and for the scenes of her star home in the sky. And so, one day, she took her little son by the hand and led him to the magic circle in the grass of the prairie. In the center of the circle she placed a boat which she had woven from the grass and rushes of the meadow, and she and her little son stepped into it. Then she sang the song of the silvery bells which had been always in her heart, and the boat of woven rushes began to rise. [Illustration: “WAUPEE HEARD THE STRAINS OF THE MAGIC SONG”] Up and up it went until it carried the Star Maiden and her son far away to the Sky Land. Waupee, far away at the chase, heard the strains of the magic song and ran to the spot, but he was too late. He saw the boat with its occupants disappear among the clouds, and then he sat down upon the prairie, covered his head with his blanket, and mourned. And no one in all the tribe could comfort him. The Star Maiden and her son were welcomed by her father, and for some time they were happy. Then the boy began to long for his father, the White Hawk, who was so strong and brave. And his mother, too, secretly longed for Waupee and the home he had made for her. One day her father, who had noticed, said to her, “Go, my daughter, back to the Earth country. Tell your husband that I want him to visit me in the land of stars, and bring him here to dwell with you and your son. But before he comes have him shoot one of every kind of bird and beast, and bring a specimen of each to our Sky Land.” So the Star Maiden gladly took her son and stepped into her boat. Then singing the magic song which was always in her heart, they were carried back to Earth.