Part XVIII: The Draft of Kwasind Summary

Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.

  • As you can tell by the title, it looks like Hiawatha is about to lose his other best friend. Do you remember the mischievous group of little people called the Puk-Wudjies? Iagoo told a story about them back at Hiawatha's wedding feast. But, oh well, these people decide that they don't like Kwasind one bit and they want to get rid of him.
  • Somehow, the Puk-Wudjies have figured out that Kwasind has a weak spot on the crown of his head, and the only thing that can hurt him there is… a pinecone. Yup, that's what the poem says. So, you know, it must be true.
  • The Puk-Wudjies gather a bunch of pinecones and wait on some high rocks to ambush Kwasind as he passes by in his canoe. And, silly as it sounds, they throw pinecones at the dude's head and manage to kill him.
  • Kwasind dies and falls over the edge of his canoe into the river.
  • People in the village never forget how strong Kwasind was. Whenever the wind shakes the branches on the trees, they all say that it is Kwasind gathering his firewood.