One day a famous old war chief came to her father’s teepee with gifts. Leelinaw ran to the grove, for she did not love the old war chief. Her father took his gifts, and she was to be the old war chief’s bride. Her heart was very heavy. The stranger went away for a time. Leelinaw came back and said: “His voice and his people are strange to me. Leelinaw will go with him, for her father commands her to do it; but first let your child have one more day in the grove by the Big Sea Water.” The mother knew her child’s heart, and the father said it should be as Leelinaw had asked. She ran back to the grove and leaning against a tall tree told to it her sorrow. A voice came to her heart from the rustling leaves. She understood the tree’s language. It said: “Lean on me, Leelinaw; I am strong. I will help you. Stay here in the pleasant forest by the Big Sea Water. All the trees will miss you, but I love you best of all. Stay with us forever.” The gentle voice of the leaves comforted Leelinaw. She went back to the teepee. In the morning she dressed herself in the robe of white deerskin which her mother had made. She took some wild rice in her hand and went away. She did not come back at sunset; then her parents believed that the war chief had carried away his bride; but the next day he came asking for Leelinaw or his gifts. The parents called the men of the village together and searched through the forest. The father gave back his gifts to the war chief, for Leelinaw could not be found. Three moons had gone when two Indians in their birch-bark canoe saw Leelinaw sitting by the Big Sea Water watching them. Beside her stood a tall brave with green feathers in his hair. The two Indians in the boat called to the two on the shore. Leelinaw waved her hand to them. Then they could see her no more, but two tall pines stood in the place where she and the brave had been resting. No trees had been there before. Then the two Indians went to the village and told the father and mother of Leelinaw. “The little people have done this thing,” said the parents. “Let us take gifts to the two pine trees.” They did so, and the pine leaves sang sweet songs to them, but the parents thought it was only the summer wind. XXIV. THE WHITE STONE CANOE (Chippewa) An Indian girl died on her wedding day. She was married to a young chief of the Chippewas. The chief was brave, but his heart was not strong enough to bear this loss. There was no more peace for him from that hour. He went often to her burial wigwam, the wigwam of the dead. He forgot war and hunting. He pushed aside his war club and his hunting arrows. He had heard his people say that there was a path that led to the Happy Land of Souls. He told his people he was going to find this path and seek this Happy Land. He made ready his bow and his arrows. He set out on his journey, and his dog followed him. He did not know which way to go at first. He only knew that he must go toward the south.