So then it befalls Abistanooch as it might any other; one day he comes
to a far and lonely lake in the mountains. He steps softly; he treads
like a cat. Behind a rock are grape-vines. He hears giggling and young
girls are splashing together in the water; they are jumping in the lake,
and these are water-sprites who avoid dwellers on the earth. He sees
their clothes which lie on the bank and he picks out the one he wants.
Marten slyly creeps up--no one sees him--as is Marten's fashion, until
he can seize in his hand their clothes, for he is gifted with magic
power.
* * * * *
With regard to these female water-sprites, when men take their clothes,
then they will be able to subdue them. Marten knows the custom of
fairies and other airy beings (or supernatural persons) because in their
clothing, there is where their power lies.
Marten does this; he runs along the shore; he whooped. The
water-sprites, when they hear him, are angry; they follow him who has
stolen their robes. The one Marten desires overtakes him first. Then as
she approaches, he taps her very slightly on the head. Thus the ancient
Indians conquer witches. So then they are married. She is very much
astonished to be married so suddenly. So she faints. Quietly he carries
her off. To those others Marten gives back their charmed clothes.
Now Moose is a good man and good natured; when he comes and sees Marten
married, he hears the tale. He says: "It is well; it is not difficult;
it is as if I were married already." So he goes to the pond in the
mountains, in the rocks, among the grape-vines; he then sees the
maidens, as it were, jumping about and splashing; they are sporting like
mad fishes in the water. He, being inflamed at once, takes the clothes
of these poor water-sprites and he starts to run off.
The one whom he desires most overtakes him first; so he resolves to
finish what he is going to do; he takes a big club; he smites her on her
little head. So he kills this one accidentally (or: he kills her
suddenly). Then Moose is not married.
Marten's wife wants to return and see her people. Marten suggests that
he fetch a sister (and) that they marry. So he goes as he went before to
the mountains, to the rocks to the pond behind the grape-vines.
* * * * *