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209 Fire Warning. or the Indian passing in Fire ("An Ojibway Legend)
"Anish - in a be" (indian) Bi-ma-sa-bo-nad. (passing in fire) The Bad Spirit gives to certain old indians the power to make charms that will kill any indian he may desire and then "Bad Indians" are at times transported by the Bad Spirit. through the air, in the shape of a Bear. and at night he is accompanied by fire.," A native told the writer that as he was [?crossing?] Lac du Flambeau at night on the ice it got quite late and was a pitch dark night. when suddenly he heard the most unearthly sounds and saw a great light. he turned and saw coming through the air the shape of a bear. illuminated with fire. he crouched down and the bear passed over him and he saw him disappear over the hill.. This the man said was true. Then old men who have communication with the Bad Spirit will sometimes kill some one to get his heart to make medicine.. Their medicines are kept in a bear skin stuffed down in the legs. and paws. and the skin is kept by the old man and handed down from generation to generation. This bad medicine bag is kept by the "Bad Medicine [?]" as he is called.) out of sight and it is only by accident that it may be seen. The legend is related of a child having been buried. at the village of Lac du Flambeau and at mid night this light was seen. rushing. through the air toward the grave yard. and next morning the corps of the child was found laid on top of the grass with the heart gone
On another occasion in the early part of the century a band of Ojibway from Lac du Flambeau were travelling to LaCrosse to get their Annuity In this land was an old couple and an only son. and as they Journied one night the old man died. and they buried him the next day. and Journied on. When they had camped for the night the mother of the son told the young man to go back along the trail; but not in it. to the spot where they had camped the night the old man died and hide himself where they had buried the old man. and watch and he did so: About mid night he heard first the cry of a wolf then the cry of a foxer and all manner of animals. and of birds and finally with the flash of light came the howl and presence of a hugh [sic] bear. which Jumped on the grave and commenced digging for the body. The young indian with his arrow shot the bear and behold it proved to be the old "Bad Medicine Man" who had been Journeying with the company and the young indian had killed him." When their "Bad Medicine Man" was in need of a portion of the heart of a corpse for a [?] Charm or other purpose will not hesitate to kill an indian to procure it. They usually victimize an old person or a child.