Long, long ago, a tribe of Indians lived on a beautiful island in the
Great Lakes.
An enemy attacked the Indians, and they were driven from home. They
wandered far away and settled on the shore of a small lake.
Brave Heart, a strong and powerful Indian, remained to guard the
beautiful island.
One morning Brave Heart stepped into his canoe. He was planning to
paddle around the island. The canoe glided swiftly along by the tall
trees that grew near the water.
At last Brave Heart had gone beyond the trees. He saw a vast plain. He
paddled to the shore and drew his canoe up the beach.
Then Brave Heart started to walk across the plain. Suddenly a little man
stood in front of him. The stranger was dressed in green, and he wore a
green cap with red feathers in it.
"Ho, ho, Brave Heart!" cried he. "You are very strong, are you not?"
"Yes," said Brave Heart, "I am as strong as any man. But who are you?"
"I am Red Plume," replied the little man. "Stay and smoke the peace pipe
with me."
Presently Red Plume said, "I am small, but I am strong. Let us wrestle
together, to see which of us is the stronger. If I fall, you must say,
'I have conquered Red Plume.'"
Then Brave Heart wrestled with the little man. He found that Red Plume
was indeed very strong. He felt himself growing weaker each moment. But
at last he succeeded in tripping the man.