Told by Peter York.
In olden times people used to believe that if a person fasted for a
period of about ten or twelve days he would learn something about bears
or lions, or something very strong, and if he dreamed of any of these
animals he would be just as strong.
One time a man had a dream that he could fight with the Wintigoes any
time. He could be just as big and just as strong, and during one winter
time he knew that the Wintigo was coming to eat them (i.e. his family).
He said to his wife “The Wintigo is coming to-night, and is going to
eat us, and if my dream fails we shall be eaten by the Wintigo.” The
night came and the man went out to meet the Wintigo a little way off.
The wife listened for a little while, then she heard trees flying all
over and she saw two great, big men biting each other and hitting each
other with great, big trees, and also with their hands. This kept on
for a long time, till all at once it went past, and she watched if her
man would come home. After a while he came out of the woods just as
small as he was when he went out to fight. He said, “I won the battle
for the first time since I had my dream. You come over with me and I
will show you where I finished the Wintigo.” They both went out till
they came to the place where they saw, as if somebody had been
underbrushing, so fierce was the battle that all the underbrush and
small trees were knocked or trampled down. At the far end of this place
they saw a great big man lying down dead, with his big kettle and a
great big knife, for the Wintigo was going to kill and eat these
people. So the man and wife went to work and gathered up wood and made
a big fire and burned the Wintigo to ashes.