the young men in the village wanted to have her for wife, and were
all eager to fill her skin bucket when she went to the brook for
water.

There was a young man in the village who was industrious and a good
hunter; but he was poor and of a mean family. He loved the maiden
and when she went for water, he threw his robe over her head
while he whispered in her ear:

"Be my wife. I have little but I am young and strong. I will
treat you well, for I love you."

For a long time the maiden did not answer, but one day she
whispered back.

"Yes, you may ask my father's leave to marry me. But first you must
do something noble. I belong to a great family and have many
relations. You must go on a war party and bring back the scalp of
an enemy."

The young man answered modestly, "I will try to do as you bid me.
I am only a hunter, not a warrior. Whether I shall be brave or not
I do not know. But I will try to take a scalp for your sake."

So he made a war party of seven, himself and six other young men.
They wandered through the enemy's country, hoping to get a chance
to strike a blow. But none came, for they found no one of the
enemy.

"Our medicine is unfavorable," said their leader at last. "We