Then again he captures a water-sprite; he fetches her off, so they
marry.
Then Moose is very much dissatisfied. He says to Marten that he should
give him this last one (or the first one) as his wife. Marten will not
consent. Moose begs him hard; still Marten refuses him. Moose must have
one or Marten must get him one. He replies that Moose may go to Hell, if
this pleases him. Moose gets very angry; he takes a big club; he chases
Marten. So they become foes.
* * * * *
Marten answers him gently, in that he makes flint-headed arrows; he
shoots them at Moose's scalp. After this they fight continually for many
days. So they spend every evening making weapons; in the morning they
shoot them at each other.
These water fairy wives are not used to this sort of fighting. So they
try to separate themselves. One morning Marten and Moose are trying to
kill each other. So Marten's wives take flight afar. Then it happens at
sunset that the voice of Cheebeelakw, the air person, is heard afar off;
the moon rises on high; all things above are lonely (alone?);
Abistanooch's two brides are lying above an oak opening in the woods; as
they lie, they look up at the stars and wait as children do.
* * * * *
One says to the other: "If these stars now were men, which one would you
marry? I should take the red twinkling light." "I should take in
marriage the yellow one, because I like the big stars." They are only
jesting thus. However, in the morning, when they awake, they find
themselves married again according to the Indian custom only at a word.
She who wanted the shining yellow one, as she opens her eyes, there is
her husband, a handsome man; he says to her: "Take care; (you) will
upset my warpaint." This other who said "I like the red one," as she
wakes and stirs; she hears someone say; "Take care, you will upset my
eye medicine." This is the smaller star, the one she wanted; he is a
very weak looking old man; little and twinkling are his eyes. Thus as
they desire, so they come upon it (get it).
* * * * *