At that time Lone Bird’s people lived along the shores of the Big Water that the White Eyes later renamed Lake Superior. This proud and strong maiden was the only child of her mother She Eagle and her father Dawn of Days.
Lone Bird’s parents loved her very much and wanted nothing more that to see their daughter happy—and married. They could not understand why their daughter found no interest in the countless number of young men who came to woo her. Some young and hopeful braves would travel for many moons just to catch a glimpse of this beautiful young woman. But to their dismay, she only ignored them. Some said that Lone Bird’s heart was as though it were made of the ice that floated on the Big Water.
Constantly her father would praise the hunting skill of this or that young brave, or the bravery of others. But still her heart found no home with any of them. He even lovingly admonished her by saying that no other maiden had so many suitors to choose from, and that any other maid would feel honored and proud at the parade of possible husbands to choose from.
But all that Lone Bird would say in reply was that she had the love of her parents and needed no other love. Dawn of Day, her father, did not understand—but he had a plan, and a very clever one—or so he thought.
The next day he gathered all the young braves who wished to marry his daughter and told them that a race would be run and the winner would be rewarded with his daughter’s hand in marriage. Needless to say, from that time until the day of the race there was much preparation, praying, and the consulting of personal spirits.
Many people came from far away to see the race. Mothers came to encourage their sons who were running in the race and to spy out perspective brides for them if they were not the one to receive Lone Bird as a bride. Some fathers came to seek proper husbands for their daughters, and of course, many maidens were anxious to entice those who might make acceptable husbands. Every one was gay and in a festive mood—everyone, that is, except one and she was not even there.
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