# Myths and Legends Beyond Our Borders/The Curse of Success

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THE CURSE OF SUCCESS
NOT only did Hiawatha, or Manabozho, affect the shores of Lake Superior, but many spirits of good and evil inhabited the woods, and the Indians point to the birch-trees that have spoken and the rocks on which local gods have sat. A great boulder opposite La Pointe bowed to the young Otamigan who, believing it could have been moved only by his protecting god, never passed without laying on it an offering of tobacco. Here, in Kitchi Gami, the Big Water, swam Great Otter, the first thing to cross the world after this planet was made. At the first step in his journey he ​reached ice; at the next, swamp; at the third, water; at the fourth, flowers sprang about his feet. But most strong, most dreaded of the lake gods was the evil one, the Matchi Manitou, the great creature who lived at the bottom of the lake, sometimes taking a fish's form, sometimes appearing as a serpent. None but the wicked besought him, for he was full of guile. An instance of his dealing is found in the tale of the Indian who dreamed for eleven successive nights that a voice had commanded him to go to the lake edge, strike the water with a magic stick, and repeat certain words to it. Then he should find power that would enable him to secure health, wealth, and happiness. On the eleventh night he woke his squaw, saying, "Listen! Do you not hear drums clashing on the water?"
She did not hear any other sound than that of the surf lapping on the shingle.
"The drums are there. They call me," he exclaimed, and hurried from the lodge, while she, fearing that his mind was touched, crept after, cautiously, and watched him from the shadow. He bent over the lake and began a weird chant in words she could not understand, keeping time with blows of a medicine-stick upon the waves. At first the water merely splashed, but after a little it began to eddy, circling wider and wider, faster and faster, with deepening roar. Fish, frogs, waterfowl, and lizards were drawn into the whirlpool and were pulled down into its black throat; the rim ​of the whirl began to ascend the beach; it lapped about the man's feet and rose to his knees; the ceaseless rush of the tide made him dizzy, and he could barely hold his footing; yet still he sang and pounded, and demanded that the king of fish appear. At last the monster was compelled to obey the summons. His huge bulk heaved above the surface, and, fixing his baleful eyes on the man, he cried, "What do you wish with me?"
"Give me the magic power to be rich and well and happy."
"Happy! You shall be strong, rich, feared, a great hunter. What more do you need? You see on my head the charm. Take it. But you shall give me one of your children in exchange. It is agreed?"
The man reached forth his hand and took from between the creature's horns a red, flower-like object, that crumbled to dust in his grasp. "That," said the Matchi Manitou, " is power. Make twenty little boards, sprinkle the dust on each, give to each the name of a benefit you wish, and I will tell an opposite harm from which you shall be shielded. Whenever you need more power come back and summon me again. So long as we are joined in our work against all other men I shall hear you call and your power shall be renewed. Remember, each time I am called I have one of your children."
The great mass sank heavily in the vortex, and ​the lake was still. Floating off his little boards, the man wrapped up what powder he had left and plodded back to his tepee. His wife was dead, overcome with horror at what she had seen and heard. The curse of success had begun to work. For an hour the enchanter grieved, but there was little softness in his nature, and he hurried the funeral of the woman that he might begin his new career unchecked. In a day or two one of his children was drowned. The Bad God had taken his pay.
Though obscure till then, the man took on im-portance in his tribe. He increased in size and strength, and did such killing in war and the hunt that they made a chief of him. He read the future so clearly that he became the leading prophet. His spoils in war and his levies in peace so grew that he had to build the largest lodge in the country to hold his furs, his arms, his embroidered clothing, his wampum, his copper implements and ornaments, his store of maize, dried fruit, and meat, his carved pipes and tobacco. He had more dogs than any other man. He took two new wives. He painted his face and dyed his feathers with more brilliant colors than his neighbors had ever seen. His lodge-covering was gay with pictures. With each increase in strength he assumed more command, until at last he became a tyrant, obeyed, but only through fear, met with dark looks, followed with scowls. When he was absent people ​gathered in knots and whispered. He returned to the lake for new strength and new favors, and one after another his children disappeared. At the last he called to Matchi Manitou in vain, for he could offer no more sacrifice. He began to waste, fever laid hold on him, the wives he had bought as barter fled when they thought it safe to do so, for they had never loved him, his wealth began to melt under pressure of his needs, his proud spirit failed, and the common scorn was no longer whispered. Deserted, feeble, filled with pains, impotently raging at his fate, he resolved on one last appeal. He went to the lake, beat it with his medicine stick, and began his chant. Yes! he was heard! Again the water began to swirl; it rose about him, it swept him from his feet, it whirled him to the vortex, and with one despairing cry he was sucked into the depths.