Larry Buege

Chogan and the Winnebago Merchant Larry Buege

Twelve year old Chogan is enjoying his sleep when his ten year old sister awakens him to share a nightmare. Kanti is trapped in a rabbit hole so dark she cannot see her fingers. She hears their friend Takoda moaning in the distance. Since no one fits in a rabbit hole, Chogan dismisses her dream. But the nightmares return. Takoda begs for help from the depths of the rabbit hole, convincing Kanti that the spirit world is reaching out to her. Takoda's life is in danger, and she must rescue Takoda with or without Chogan's help. Unfortunately, Kanti lives along the southern shore of Lake Superior, and Takoda lives far away in the land without trees. When a traveling band of Winnebago merchants arrive in her village, Kanti trades a fish net for safe passage to the land with no trees. She secretly departs the following morning. Since Grandfather is away on a three-day journey, Chogan must find Kanti and bring her home. But Chogan is having similar dreams. When he finds the Winnebago merchants he joins Kanti. He has always wanted to see those purple hills. If Takoda's life really was in danger, his journey would be justified. Along the way Chogan and Kanti are attacked by an angry buffalo, become lost in the land with no trees, and are kidnapped by a band of Sioux Indians. Their adventure will provide many tales to tell around future campfires, but to save Takoda's life they must still face Kanti's "Rabbit Hole."