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 stump of a tree. In and out, about the stump, a dozen field mice were playing.

"Now you must help me, little brothers," said Waupee. He lifted the stump and set it down near the magic circle in the field. The little field mice continued to play about it as before. Waupee changed himself into the form of a field mouse, and began running about with the others.

He soon heard the tinkling music, and looking up saw once more the silvery boat floating down from the sky.

When it touched the earth the star maidens sprang out and began their dance. But one of them saw the old stump.

"That was not there before!" she cried, and running from the circle she looked closely at it.

"Let us return!" said the youngest maiden, but the others replied, "But look! Here are field mice running about. Let us chase them!"

The little mice ran in all directions, and the maidens ran after them, laughing, and threatening them with their silver wands.

And the one that the youngest maiden chased ran far from the others. Then, just as the maiden reached him, and would have struck him