When he returned in the evening from hunting, she was always glad to see him, and while he rested himself and smoked, she would cook his meat for him, and seem anxious to make him comfortable.

But he had never seen her eat; and when he would tell her that he did not like to eat alone, and beg her to sit down and eat with him, she would say she was not hungry; and then employ herself about her wigwam, as if she did not wish him to say any more about it.
Chaske made up his mind that he would find out what his wife lived upon.
So the next morning he took his bow and arrows, as if he were going out on a day's hunt.

After going a short distance from the lodge, he hid himself in the trees, where he could watch the motions of his wife.
She left the lodge after a while, and with an axe in her hand she approached a grove of poplar trees.

After carefully looking round to satisfy herself that there was no one near, she cut down a number of the small and tender poplars, and, carrying them home, ate them as if she enjoyed them very much.

Chaske was infinitely relieved when he saw that his wife did eat; for it frightened him to think that she lived on nothing but air.