The strong sun of March still THE TEN VIRGINS There were once two brothers who loved one maiden, and it appeared that the younger brother was the favorite. One day, the jealous elder invited his brother to go hunting with him upon an No sooner had they touched shore than the elder said: "Do you go to the other end of the island, and I will drive the Deer toward you!" The other obeyed; but although he waited a long time on the further side, no Deer appeared, nor did he see anything of his brother. At last he returned through the woods to the spot where they had landed; and behold! the canoe with his brother was almost out of sight on the blue waters of the lake. The young man, thus abandoned, wandered about the island for many days, living upon the game which he found there in abundance. He had grown very lonely and tired of his solitary life, when one day a strange old man with long, white hair appeared on the shore. "My son," said he, "you look unhappy! Tell me if there is anything you wish for." "I want nothing except to cross the water to the mainland," replied the young man, "but I have no boat nor the means of making one." "Get upon my back, and I will take you over in safety," returned the patriarch. Accordingly he took him upon his back and swam across the lake with his burden. Now the young man was grateful to his rescuer and he no longer cared to return to his own people and to the brother who had betrayed him, therefore he went with the old man to his wigwam to hunt for him. One day, when he was out hunting as usual, he thought he heard the far-off, musical sound of girls' laughter from the depths of the forest. He turned in the direction of the sound and soon came They at once made him join their company, saying that they had needed just one more to complete their number. The ten hastened on, and presently they overtook ten beautiful young damsels. Night fell, and they all went into camp together on the shore of the great lake. The girls were very friendly and chatted pleasantly with the young men during the evening, until each party retired to sleep under a hurriedly made arbor of green boughs. Very early in the morning the youths awoke; but lo! their companions had vanished, and they could see only the flash of a distant paddle where lake met sky at the far-off horizon line. [Page 227 There was no boat, and they were There they beheld the great white wigwam in which dwelt the ten virgins with their grandmother, who was a wicked old witch. As soon as she saw the young men she took up handfuls of ashes to throw into their faces, and one after another fell senseless at her feet. Last of all came the fortunate younger brother. He had borrowed the weapons of the old man with whom he lived, and |