(1) kîtahtawê wêmistikôsiwak mâhamwak êkota wîcihôwin.¹

êkwa kayâs ê-mâhamoht oskinîkiw pêyak wîcihiwêw. êwako ê-pê-kîwêyit owîcêwâkana, kisâtam mâmihk, ê-wîwit êkotê, ê-otinât iskwêwa. mwêhci ê-nisto-pipohk, êkoyikohk kâ-sipwêhtêt, ê-masinahikêt mac-ôhôw. nêtê ita ê-âywêpicik mâna, êkotê ê-askamâkocik omaskêkôwa pêyak. mitâtasiyiwa owîkimâkana awa kisêyiniw, omaskêkôw, ê-manitôwit. kostik sakâw-iyinîsa, osâm ê-manitôwit, mêyosiyici iskwêwa, sôskwâc ê-otinât. êkâ tiyâpwêhtâkoci, sêmâk nipahêw. piyisk êkota ohci kostâw.

(1) At the time of which I shall tell, the White Men were going down the river for the Hudson's Bay Company. And when thus, long ago, they went down stream, a certain young man joined the Indians who were going along. Then, when his companions went home again, he stayed in the east, for he had taken a woman to wife there. Three years later Bad-Owl hired himself out to the Whites and went away from there. Down yonder, at a place where they always stopped to rest, a certain Swampy Cree was awaiting their arrival. That old man, that Mushkago, had ten wives, for he was of manitou nature. The Bush People feared him because he was of manitou nature: whenever there was a pretty woman, at once he would take her for himself. If people resisted him, at once he would kill them. In time thus, he came to be feared.

(2) êkwa awa oskinîkiw, "kêhcinâ wâpamâci ôhi niwîkimâkana nika-maskamik awa kâ-manitôwit. osâm miyosiw niwîkimâkan," ê-itêyihtahk.

(2) Then that young man thought, “Surely, if he sees my wife, that manitou person will take her away from me. For my wife is beautiful.”

(3) âsay ocawâsimisiwak nâpêsisa; tahkopisoyiwa.

(3) By this time they had a child, a boy; he was still in the swaddling bag.

(4) êkwa awa oskinîkiw, "êkoyikohk mâna kâ-takosihkik ayîsiyiniwak natimihk ohci," itêyihtam; "mahti nika-kakwê-wâpamâwak." "kîhkîhk awiyak nêhiyaw ta-masinahikêw," itêyihtam.

(4) Then the young man thought, “This is the time when the people from the west always arrive. I had better try to see them. Surely some Plains Cree will be in the river-gang,” he thought.

(5) pôti tâpwê wâpamêw owâhkômâkana nêhiyawa, âtiht êkota nêhiyawak ê-atoskêcik, êwako pêyak mac-ôhôw. êkwa ôki omaskêkôwak êkota ayâwak, awa ka-manitôwit kisêyiniw ê-pakosêyimot kîkway ta-miyiht, astisa ê-miyiht mâna, êhtasiyit owîkimâkana kiyikaw âtiht ayiwinisa ê-miyimiht, ôki wêmistikôsiwak ê-miyâcik, ê-kostâcik, ê-mac-âyiwiyit ôhi omaskêkôwa.

(5) And really it turned out that he did see some of his Plains Cree kinsmen, for a number of Cree were working with the gang, and one of them was Bad-Owl. And those Swampy Cree were there too, and the old man who had manitou power was there, hoping to be given something, for always he was given gloves, and each and all of his wives were given clothing; the White People gave him these things, because they feared him, for an ugly customer was that Mushkago.

(6) kîtahtawê kâ-pê-mâsihât awa omaskêkôw. êkota ayâw mac-ôhôw; sisonê sîpîhk ita ê-kîskatâwahkâyik, cîki êkota ayâw.

(6) Then at one time that Mushkago came to seize her. Bad-Owl was there; on the steep bluff at the edge of the river, close by there he was staying.

(7) kîtahtawê ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa kâ-wâpamât, "mâ kîhkîhkan! kiwâpamitin, piko ta-wîkimitân!" itêw.

(7) Presently, when he saw that young woman, “Dear me, it must come in spite of anything! I have seen you, and now there is nothing but I must marry you!” he said to her.

(8) namôya cêskwa pê-pakosihtâw kêkway, kita-miyiht. iyâyaw ôhi iskwêwa wî-kakwê-otinêw, ê-wî-kîwêhtahât. êkosi mâsihkêw. ê-pê-kîwêcik, ôma iyikohk kâ-wâpamâcik. êkosi awa iskwêw mawimôw.

(8) He had not yet come to beg for things. He was too intent on taking the woman for himself and taking her home with him. So he used force. Then on the way home, this far from them, they saw him. At that the woman began to wail.

(9) "nika-kitiskipitamâk nitawâsimisa awa kâ-wî-kîwêhtahit!" "osâm ê-kitimâkisiyit nitawâsimisa nika-kitiskipitamâk, nistêsê!" kâ-itiht awa mac-ôhôw.

(9) He will tear my child from me, this man who means to take me with him! My poor child he will tear away from me, 0 my brother,” Bad-Owl was told.

(10) "nistêsê, awa niwî-kitiskipitamâk nitawâsimisa!" ê-itiht awa mac-ôhôw, ê-oskinîkit, âsay ê-wîwit, êkosi sêmâk kisiwâsiw.

(10) When Bad-Owl was told, “Brother, he will tear my child from me!” being a young man and himself already married, at once he grew angry.

(11) "nîsta iskwêw kikî-nihtâwikihik!" "piko wâh-tôtaman kâ-tôtaman!" itêw.²

(11) “You too were born of a woman! It seems that you do anything that comes into your head!” he said to the other.

(12) pasikôw, ê-ati-nâtât. mêkwâc maskawisîw awa mac-ôhôw. otinêw ôhi kisêyiniwa; sakipitonênêw; itohtahêw kîskatâwahkâhk. ê-âta-nakît awa kisêyiniw kâ-manitôwit, wêpinâw; nipîhk pakastawêhwâw; kôkîpayiw. otinam mac-ôhôw cîkahikan.

(12) He rose to his feet and made for him. In those days Bad-Owl was strong. He took hold of the old man; he gripped him by the arms; he walked him over to the steep bluff. In vain the old man who was a manitou tried to stop; he threw him down; he threw him into the water; under he went. Bad-Owl picked up an axe.

(13) ê-pê-kapâyit, "kikisiwâhitin cî?" itêw.

(13) When the other came to land, “Have I made you angry?” he asked him.

(14) "êhâw, nitôtêm, namôya kikisiwâhin! ayis nitôtamâson!" itik.

(14) “Yah, Fellow-Tribesman, you have not made me angry! I brought it on myself!” the other told him.

(15) "êkosi kiwî-nipahitih, ki-kisiwâhitân."

(15) “You see, I was going to kill you, if I had incurred your anger.”

(16) "êha, nitôtêm, ayis nitôtâson." "kisîm êcika ani!" "nama nânitaw nititêyihtên ôma kâ-tôtawiyan," itik.

(16) “Yes, Fellow-Tribesman; I brought it upon myself. So this woman is your sister! I do not mind what you have done to me,” he told him.

(17) êkwa ôki atâwêwikamikohk, pêyak ê-okimâwit sêkisiw, osâm ê-kostât ôhi kâ-pakastawêhomiht.

(17) Then of those people in the trading post, the one who was at the head became frightened, for he feared the man who had been thrown into the water.

(18) êkwa ômisi itwêw: "haw, sipwêhtêk!" "konita awa tômaskatihkway ka-kostâwâw," itwêw.³

(18) So he said, “Now, go away from here! Like fools you will be fearing this greasy old scab,” he said.

(19) êkosi sipwêhtêwak.

(19) Accordingly they set out.

(20) "nâway nika-apin," itwêw mac-ôhôw.

(20) “Let me sit in the rear of the canoe,” said Bad-Owl.

(21) "êha," itâw.

(21) “Very well,” he was told.

(22) hâw, êkwa ê-pôsicik, ê-nimitawahahkik, ômisi itwêw awa kâ-manitôwit: "kêyiwêhk kika-aswêyimin, nitôtêm, ôma kâ-tôtawiyan," itwêw; "osâm êkwêyâk kiya kâ-tôtawiyan." "ôma kê-ati-pa-pimohtêyêk nipîhk, kika-ati-ay-aswêyihtên." "êwakoni miyâskamani, êkota mîna kika-aswêyihtên; nôskinîkîm kika-wâpamâw." "êwako miyâskamani, ita kapêsiyini, nicêmisis êkwa kika-wâpamâw." "miyâskawâci, oski-pipohki, êkota êkwa nôskinîkîm kika-aswêyimâw; êwako ana nama ka-kî-miyâskawâw," itik ôhi omaskêkôwa kâ-manitôwiyit.

(22) Then, when they had embarked to go west on the river, that one who had manitou power spoke as follows: “Just the same. you will look out for me, Fellow-Tribesman, in view of what you have done to me,” he said; “You are the first to treat me that way. As now you go on your river voyage, you will continue to be on your guard as you go along. And if you pass the things that will be on your way, also, you will be on your guard; you will see my servant. And if you pass this, there where you camp you will see my little pet beast. And if you pass him, then yonder you will look out for my servant; and this last one you will not pass,” he was told by that Mushkago who was a manitou.

(23) katisk ê-nêyâyik ê-awasêwêskahkik, kîtahtawê kêkway pahkihtiniyiw ospiskwanihk. ômisi ê-tôtahk, pôti ôhi amiskosîsa. ati-ahêw. tahki kâh-kiyipa otihtikôw kêkway, awa omaskêkôw ê-itisahahk. piyis mistahi kêkway, nanâtohk manicôsa, kiyikaw pîwâpiskwa, kiyikaw mistikohk ê-ohtinamiyit kêkway, êkâ ê-pikwâskâkot awa mac-ôhôw, kahkiyaw mêstâskwêsin awa omaskêkôw. nama wî-naskwâw awa mac-ôhôw.

(23) As soon as they had passed the first sharp bend in the river, suddenly something fell on his back. When he did like this, it turned out to be a beaver-bug. He threw it away. Unceasingly, at short intervals things reached him, things which the Swampy Cree had sent. But, in time, when Bad-Owl was not pierced by the many things, by the various insects, by the metal things of every kind or by all the things which the other took from trees, then at last that Swampy Cree had used all his weapons. Bad-Owl did not care to retaliate.

(24) kîtahtawê, ê-mêkwâ-pimiskâcik sîpîhk, kîtahtawê kâ-pê-nôkwaniyik nipiy ê-pê-cimatêyik.

(24) Presently as they were canoeing along the river, there suddenly appeared an upright wall of water.

(25) êkwa awa otatâwêw, "mac-ôhôw, nimâkohik awa kâ-wî-otihtikoyahk." "kîspin sâkohtâyini, pêyakwasâkay mihkwêkin kika-miyitin, êkwa ôma iskotêwâpoy," itêw.

(25) Then the trader said, “Bad-Owl, I dread this which is about to come upon us. If you can deal with it, I will give you enough red flannel for one dress, and this whiskey,” he told him.

(26) "êha." "namôya ana pisiskiw; pistôs ana." "êkosi nikî-wâpamâw."

(26) “Very well! That is no beast; it is a whirlwind. I have seen the like of it.”

(27) "êha." "miyâhkan ôma mihkwêkin," itwêw awa otatâwêw.

(27) “Very well. If he succeeds give him this red flannel,” said the trader.

(28) "hâ, êkây ôta pimohtê!" "kiyâm api!" "kikî-wâpamitin ôma kâ-tâpwêhtaman ê-pê-itisahokawiyan!" itêw; "kiyâm api! êkâya wiya kîwê!" itêw.

(28) “Oh, do not come here in your course! Be still! I have seen you and can witness that you have obeyed the command which sent you here!” he told it; “Be quiet! Do not come back!” he told it.

(29) tâpwê namôya yôtiniyiw.

(29) And truly there was no wind.

(30) "êkosi êkwa nama kêkway kika-astâhikonânaw." "êkwa piko ocêmisisa kitôtêminaw," itwêw awa mac-ôhôw.

(30) “Now, after this, nothing more will frighten us. Now there will be only our fellow-tribesman's serving beast,” said Bad-Owl.

(31) êkosi miyâw iskotêwâpoy. minahêw ôhi kâ-kî-pê-itisahomiht; mîna ôma mihkwêkin kâ-asotamâht wîhtamawêw ê-wî-miyât, iyikohk miyihci.

(31) So then he was given the whiskey. He made a libation for him who had been sent there; and he told him that he would give him also all of the red flannel that he had been promised.

(32) êkosi ê-otâkosiniyik, kapâwak, ê-kapêsicik. kîtahtawê kâ-pê-nôkwaniyik; iskotêw tâpiskôc itêyihtam awa otatâwêw.

(32) Then in the evening they landed and pitched camp. Presently something appeared; it seemed like a fire to the trader.

(33) "hâ, mac-ôhôw, nânitaw kakwê-tôtahk!" "kika-miyitin cî ayiwinisa ta-postayôwinisêyan?" itêw awa otatâwêw.

(33) “Come, Bad-Owl, try to do something about this! Shall I give you clothing to wear?” the trader asked him.

(34) êkosi nakiskawêw awa mac-ôhôw; ati-otinêw minahikwâhtikwa, ê-wî-pakamahwât. pôti tapasîyiwa. mistâhkêsiwa êkwa misi-mahîhkana kostik mac-ôhôw.

(34) So Bad-Owl went to meet it; as he went he took up the stem of a spruce with which to strike it. When he came near, it fled. The great cat and the great wolf feared Bad-Owl.

(35) êkosi takohtêwak wîkiwâhk ôki otatâwêwak. nama kêkway astâhikwak. êkwa awa mac-ôhôw omanâcimâkan ahwîcêwêw. ê-oski-piponiyik, papâmi-nôcihcikêwak, môswa, kahkiyaw kêkway atâwâkana ê-wî-kakwê-nipahâcik. kîtahtawê ê-ati-âkwâ-piponiyik, kîtahtawê nama kêkway kî-nipahtâwak omanâcimâkana. kîtahtawê ay-êtataw takosinwak, ê-wî-nipahâhkatosocik. iyâta-wâpamâtwâwi pisiskiwa, awiya osahamâkwak. nama kî-minahôwak omanâcimâkana. piyis nêsôwisiwak. ay-êtataw takosinwak, iyâta-mâcîtwâwi, êkâ kêkway wîhkâc êhmîcicik. kîtahtawê âsay otawâsimisiwak owîkimâkana awa mac-ôhôw.

(35) So the members of the trading party reached their homes. Nothing more occurred to frighten them. Then Bad-Owl stayed with his father-in-law. In the early winter they began to hunt far and wide, meaning to kill moose and all kinds of fur-bearing game. Presently, as winter progressed, there came a time when he and his father-in-law could not kill anything. There came a time when they could barely get home, being starved nearly to death. To be sure, they would see game, but someone always scared it off. His father-in-law and he could kill nothing. At last they grew weak. They could scarcely reach home each time, hunt as they might, for they never had anything to eat. Now, Bad-Owl and his wife had at that time a child.

(36) "hâw, ninahâhkisîm, nama nânitaw nikî-tôtên niya." "namôya konita, êkâ kêkway kâ-kî-nipahtâyân." "nikî-pêhtên ê-pakastawêhwat omaskêkôw ê-manitôwit." "êwako êtokê ana kâ-tôtâsk êkâ kêkway kâ-ôh-kî-nipahtâyan!" itâw.

(36) “Now then, Son-in-Law, as for me, I can do nothing. There must be some reason for my not killing anything. I have heard that you threw into the water a Mushkago who has manitou power. I daresay he is the cause of your not being able to kill anything!” he was told.

(37) nama nânitaw itwêw.

(37) He did not say anything.

(38) kîtahtawê mîna ê-tipiskâyik kâ-takosiniyit omanâcimâkana, "hwhw!" ê-itwêyit, ê-ayêskomoyit.

(38) Then, the next night, again came his father-in-law, breathing with the sound of one who has no strength left.

(39) "pîhtokê!"

(39) “Come in!”

(40) pîhtokêyiwa, ê-saskahohtêyit. wiya mîna nêsôwâhkatosôw awa mac-ôhôw. êkwa awa kisêyiniw wiyaskinahêw ospwâkana. ê-kîsi-wiyaskinahât, miyêw onahâhkisîma.

(40) He came in, leaning on a cane. Bad-Owl, too, for that matter, was weak with hunger. Then the old man filled a pipe. When he had filled it, he gave it to his son-in-law.

(41) "nah awa!" "ninahâhkisîm, pîhtwâ!" "êkosi ôma kiyi-nipahâhkatosoyâhk!" "mitoni sâkôcihik êkosi awa awa kitawâsimis kê-kitimâkisit, êkâ nânitaw kî-tôtamani." "ôta kisiwâk nimâtâhâwak nîso môswak." "'misawâc nika-nayawâmohkân,' ê-itêyihtamân, têpiyâhk ê-mâtâhakik." "mâskôc wâpahki wî-nâtahâhtaci, ê-itêyimitân, êkâ kâ-ôh-nayawâmohkêyân, ninahâhkisîm," itêw.

(41) “Take this! My Son-in-law, smoke! If things go on this way, we shall starve to death! If thus it is to be, greatly overcome is this child of yours and doomed to misery, if you can do nothing. Close by here I have come upon the tracks of two moose. 'All I shall succeed in doing is to frighten them off,' I thought, and left it at having found their tracks. Tomorrow perhaps you might follow the trail of them, I thought of you, and therefore took care not to frighten them off,” he said to him.

(42) êkoyikohk kâ-kiskisopayit awa mac-ôhôw opawâkana.⁴

(42) Only then did Bad-Owl remember his dream guardian.

(43) "êyôwô! aspin ôma pâkahkos, 'nama kêkway ka-pwâhpinatên!' nikî-itikoh!" "mahti nika-mâcîn anohc kâ-tipiskâk!" itêyihtam.

(43) “Oho! Was not the last the Bony Spectre said to me, 'You shall hunt nothing in vain!'? Come, I shall hunt this very night!” he thought.

(44) êkwa owîkimâkana, "êkâ cêskwa ê-ohci-kikaskisinêhk," itêw, "maskisina," ê-kakwêcimât.

(44) Then he said to his wife, “Some moccasins that have never yet been worn,” he questioned her.

(45) "astêwa ôhi," itik owîkimâkana.

(45) “There are these here,” his wife answered him.

(46) "pêtâ."

(46) “Give them here.”

(47) miyâw. kê-kêtaskisinêw, êwakoni ê-postiskahk; ka-kaskitênahk osita, postaskisinêw.

(47) He was given them. He took off the moccasins he was wearing, and put on the others; after blacking his feet with charred wood, he put them on.

(48) "pêtâ môhkomân," itêw owîkimâkana.

(48) “Give me my knife,” he said to her.

(49) miyik. wawêyîw.

(49) She gave it him. He made ready to go.

(50) "ninahâhkisîm, êkosi cî ê-wî-mâcîyan?" itêw awa kisêyiniw.

(50) “Son-in-Law, is it like this you mean to hunt?” the old man asked him.

(51) "êha," itik.

(51) “Yes,” he said to him.

(52) "awahê mâka!" itik omanâcimâkana; "êwako ani kâ-pê-ohciskanawêyân, kika-mitihtên êwako." "kîtahtawê kika-mâtâhâwak." "namôya wâhyaw ta-kî-ayâwak," itêw.

(52) “Be careful, at any rate!” his father-in-law said to him; “The path by which I came here, you will follow. In time you will come upon their tracks. They cannot yet be far off,” he told him.

(53) êkosi wayawîw. tâpwê asêhtahâhtêw omanâcimâkana. kêtahtawê mâtâhêw ita ê-pimohtêyit ôhi môswa.

(53) Thereupon he went out of the lodge. He followed back his father-in-law's trail. Presently he came upon the tracks where two moose had gone by.

(54) "hâw, kikî-wîhtamawin êkâ kêkway ta-pwâhpinatamân!" "mahti ôki nama nika-môsihikwak ôki môswak!" "kika-asamitin cî pimiy?" itêw ôhi pâkahkosa.

(54) “Come now, you told me I should hunt nothing in vain! Let it be now that these moose do not perceive my approach! Shall I give you fat to eat?” he said to that Bony Spectre.

(55) êkosi mitihtêw. kisiwâk ê-ihtatêyimât, otasâma kêcikonêw; mosci-pimohtêw. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât mistikwa ê-nawêyâskosiniyit. ê-otihtât, ôta kâ-ôh-pasikôyit. pâskiswêw; pîhciwêpinam. ê-itâpit, kotaka wâpamêw; mîna êwakoni pâskiswêw. êkosi mêscihêw, ê-tipiskâyik, ê-nîpâ-mâcît, ôhi môswa. otinam ospikêkana; wiyanihêw. êkosi isi kâ-mâwasakwahât, kîwêw. wiya ôki ê-pêhtahkik nîso, nîswâw ê-matwêwêyik, nanâskomôw awa kisêyiniw.

(55) Thereupon he followed their trail. When he thought them near, he took off his snowshoes; he walked on the snow. Presently he saw a fallen tree lying across his path. When he came to it, from behind it one rose to its feet. He fired at it; he loaded again. When he looked, he saw the other one; he shot it too. So he killed both of those moose, in the night, hunting in the dark. He took the ribs; he skinned and cut up the carcasses. When he had piled up the cuts of meat, he went home. When those others heard the two reports, the old man gave thanks.

(56) "namôya konita ê-mâcît!" itêyimêw onahâhkisîma, ê-tipiskâyik ê-mâcîyit.

(56) “He has not gone on a fruitless hunt!” he thought of his son-in-law who hunted in the night.

(57) ê-takosihk awa mac-ôhôw, pîhtokêwêpinam ôhi ospikêkana. nanâskomôw.

(57) When Bad-Owl arrived, he threw the ribs into the lodge. He gave thanks.

(58) "hâ, êkâya! pita, nitânis!" "nipiy wiyâkihkâkamisa." "osâm nama mayaw kimîcisonânaw." "pita pwa-pwâkomotâk."

(58) “Ho, not yet! Wait a bit, Daughter! Prepare some warm water. We have been too long without food. Let us vomit first.”

(59) hâw, osîhtâwak nipiy. êkosi ê-kîsi-pwâkomocik, kîsitêpôw awa iskwêw.

(59) So they prepared the water. Then, when they had vomited the woman cooked the food.

(60) "hâ, kisiwâk ôta kâ-nipahakik!"

(60) “Ho, it was right close by here that I killed them!”

(61) ê-mêkwâ-mîcisocik, kâ-pimi-mâtôwiht, nayêwâc aspin mâmihk ê-isi-mâtôwiht. êwakoni omaskêkôwa ê-mahyakomikocik, kâ-ati-mâtoyit, ê-sâkôcihât awa mac-ôhôw.

(61) As they ate, the sound of wailing went by, through the air; dying off toward the east, went the sound of wailing. That was the Mushkago who had given them ill luck, who went off wailing, now that Bad-Owl had defeated him.

(62) êkosi êkwa tâpiskôc ê-wêhcasiniyik kêkway ê-nipahtâcik, atâwâkana kiyikaw.

(62) After that it seemed as though it were an easy thing for them to kill things, fur-bearing game of every kind.

(63) "êkwa mîna mâhamihki, nika-wîcihiwân." "kiyâm êkâ masinahikêhici awiyak, nika-pimitisahikân," itêyihtam.

(63) Now when they again go down the river, I shall go along. Even if no one employs me, I shall follow the party,” he thought.

(64) ê-nîpiniyik iyikohk, ispiciwak wâskahikanihk, iyikohk ê-ispîhtâwaniyik, mâna êkoyikohk ê-mâhamoht.

(64) When spring came, they moved their camp to the trading post, when the season had come for the usual down-river trip.

(65) mayaw ê-wâpamikot otatâwêyiwa, "hâw, mac-ôhôw, kitakosinin!"

(65) As soon as the trader saw him, “Well, Bad-Owl, so you are here!”

(66) "êha!"

(66) “Yes!”

(67) "wî-mâhamwak nôskinîkîmak." "ka-wîcêwâwak." "omasinahikêsîs pêyak ta-wîcihiwêw." "mâka kiya kika-tipêyihtên êkota ta-takosiniyan." "namôya kika-atoskân," itik otatâwêwa, "ka-tipêyihtaman kêkway ta-pê-pimohtatâhk, mîna ta-sipwêhtatâhk." "mîna ôki nâpêwak, têpiyâhk awa kita-akihtahk kêkway atâwâkana; kiya namôya: piko kita-wîhtamôwacik tânisi kita-isi-atoskêcik, mîna kita-nipâcik piko isi," itwêw mac-ôhôw.

(67) “My men are about to go down the river. You may go along with them. There will be one clerk with the party. But you will be the head man until you arrive yonder. You shall not work,” the trader told him, “but you shall be the master over the things that are to be carried and over those which are to be taken away. And as for these men, this one is only to count up the goods and the furs; not you: you are merely to tell them what to do as they work, and where to stop for the night,” Bad-Owl was told.

(68) hâ, sôskwâc têpêyimôw. wîcihiwêw.

(68) He agreed at once. He went with the gang.

(69) "â, tâpwê! hâh, ay-apisîs kêkway kika-miyâwâw awa omaskêkôw," itâw awa, ê-itwêt mac-ôhôw; "iyikohk mâna kâ-miyâyêk, âstam iyikohk," itâw.

(69) “Oh, yes! Of course. Now, you are to give that Swampy Cree only a bit of the different things,” that man was told, and it was Bad-Owl who spoke; “Less than you have been in the habit of giving him,” he was told.

(70) êkosi mâhamwak, atâwâkana ê-sipwêhtahâcik, piko êkwa ê-kakwêcimiht mac-ôhôw, tânisi kita-isi-atoskêyit ôhi omâhamwa.

(70) So then they started down-stream, with their load of furs, and at every point Bad-Owl was asked to say how that river-gang was to work.

(71) êkosi kisiwâk ê-ayâcik, awa omaskêkôw ispiciw. otôtêma kahkiyaw mihcêtokamikisiw, kahkiyaw ta-miyimiht kêkway, mîciwina, nanâtohk kêkway, ê-itêyihtahk. êkwa ê-otâkosiniyik, awîna ôhi, mihcêt wâpahtamwak sisonê sîpîhk ê-ayâyiki waskwayikamikwa.

(71) Then, when they got near, that Mushkago moved his camp thither. He came with all his kinsmen, a camp of many tents, for he thought they would all be given things, foodstuffs, and all manner of goods. So then, towards evening, what did they see but a whole camp of birch-bark tents standing by the river's edge!

(72) êkosi, "êkota ka-kapânâwâw, ta-kapêsiyahk." "êkâya wîhtamâhk ana omaskêkôw kâ-mac-âyiwit," itwêw; "ôta niwî-ay-ayân ôsihk," itwêw mac-ôhôw; "ôta ka-kapêsinânaw," itwêw.

(72) hen, “Here you will go ashore, and we shall camp for the night. Do not tell that Mushkago who is such a dangerous person,” he said; “I shall stay here in the canoe,” said Bad-Owl; “We shall camp right here,” he said.

(73) êkosi tôtamwak; kapânamwak otôsiwâw. êkota ay-apiw. hâ, pêyak otihtik omaskêkôwa oskinîkiwa.

(73) They did as he said; they beached their canoes. He stayed right there. A Swampy Cree, a young man, came where he was.

(74) ômisi itik: "kiya cî kâ-kî-pakastawêhwat nôkimâminân?" itik.

(74) This man said to him, “Was it you threw our chief into the water?”

(75) "êha."

(75) “Yes.”

(76) "hâ, namôya kitihtatêyimik." "'mâskôc nama wîhkâc ka-wâpamânaw ana mac-ôhôw kâ-isiyîhkâtâcik kitôtêminawak,' ê-itwêt mâna, kâ-ôh-wî-kakwê-wâpamitân," itêw.

(76) “Ha, he does not suspect you are here. 'I daresay we shall never again see that Bad-Owl, as our fellow-tribesmen called him,' he always says, and that is why I wanted to take a look at you,” he told him.

(77) êkosi ômisi itwêw mac-ôhôw: "tânitahto êhtasiyit owîkimâkana?"

(77) Then Bad-Owl said, “How many wives has he?”

(78) "mitâtaht," itik.

(78) “Ten,” the other told him.

(79) "êha! pêyak niwî-otinimâwa," itêw.

(79) “Very well! I shall take one of them,” he told him.

(80) "hâ, tâpwê cimisisiw; kêhtêskwêwiw; êwako piko êwakoni mâmawêyas ê-sâkihât," itik; "êkosi kotaka pisisik oskinîkiskwêwa." "nîsta pêyak niwîkimâkana ê-kî-otinât, êkwa êkâ ê-kî-paskêwihak, ê-kostak, 'nika-nipahik opawâmiwinihk ohci,' osâm ê-manitôwit, êkâ wîhkâc nîso-kîsikâw awiya ê-pimâtisiyit, kîspin niyôcihâci." "êwako ohci tânitahto ôta nitayânân, ê-maskamikoyâhk niwîkimâkaninâna." "mistahi macihtwâw," itik.

(80) “Ho, there is one short, little one, an old woman; she is the only one of the whole lot that he cares for,” the other told him; “The others are all young women. From me too he took a wife, and I cannot get her away from him, for I fear him; I fear that he will kill me by the aid of his dream spirits, for he is a manitou person, and no one ever lives two days whom he seeks to destroy. For this cause, I know not how many of us are here whose wives he has taken away. He is a dangerous and evil being,” the other told him.

(81) "hâg, êkâya wîhtamâhk, pê-takosihki," itêw ôhi.

(81) “Ha, do not tell him, if he comes here,” he told the man.

(82) kêswân,- kîwêw awa omaskêkôw oskinîkiw,- ê-ati-takohtêt, kâ-pê-wayawiyit ôhi kâ-manitôwiyit; mâka mitoni otâkosiniyiw. â, kahkiyaw owîkimâkana pê-wîcêwêw. hâ, tâpwê otihtêwak.

(82) It happened, - the young Swampy Cree went back to his camp, - it happened that as he reached the camp, the one who had manitou power was coming out of his tent; it was well on towards nightfall. He was coming with all his wives. They came to where he was.

(83) "tâni ana mâka ê-okimâwit ôma ka-pê-pimiskâyêk, kâ-pê-otôtêmiyêk?" "êkwa mâna mâka kotihtâwâwak kitôtêmiwâwak." "kêkway êtokê ka-sa-sawêyimâwâwak, tahto kâ-ihtasiyêk, ôki niwîkimâkanak ta-têpêyihtahkik?" "kêkway ka-miyâwâwak." "mâna ôta ani wiya nitôtêm pêyak ôta êkâ niwâpamâh!" "awîna wêkimâwikwê, êkwa ana niya kê-sa-sawêyimit kêkway, mîna ôhi niwîkimâkana, kîkwâs kita-oy-ohtinamwât." "êkwa kiyawâw nîsta nitôskinîkîmak ta-ohtinamawâyêkok ay-apisîs têpiyâhk; êkosi ta-na-nahêyihtâkwan," itwêw awa omaskêkôw.

(83) “But which one, now, is the chief of your canoe party, of your party of tribesmen? As always, you have come now to your follow-tribesmen. What little present will you give them, as many as you are? What will you give my wives here to have as their own? Surely you will give them something. But that one fellow-tribesman of mine I do not see here! Whoever is chief, he will give me some little things, and he will manage to scrape up some trifle for my wives here. And the rest of you will take from your stock some little thing at least for each of my men; in this way everyone will be satisfied,” said that Mushkago.

(84) "hâ, nitawi-nitomihk kitôkimâminaw," itâw awa mac-ôhôw.

(84) “Well, go call your chief,” was said of Bad-Owl.

(85) êkoyikohk pê-kapâw ôsihk ohci.

(85) Then he came to shore from his canoe.

(86) "hêyahaw! mâninis ani êwako nitôtêm!" "kêkway êtokê kiyi-oy-ohtinamawak?"

(86) “Why! It is none other than my fellow-tribesman! What little gifts shall I pick out for him, I wonder?”

(87) "êwako cî mac-ôhôw kâ-itâkaniwit, ôta kâ-kî-pâhpisihitoyâhk?"

(87) “Why, is this Bad-Owl, as he was called, with whom I used to play here at practical jokes?”

(88) "ahaq, êwako mâka!" itêw.

(88) “Yes, he it is!” he told him.

(89) "nhâ, nitôtêm, tânisi itwêyani, nika-tôtên."

(89) “Oh, Fellow-Tribesman, I will do whatever you say.”

(90) "nhâ, nitôtêm, pêyak ninôhtê-kîwêhtahâw iskwêw kitiskwêmiwâwak."

(90) “Well then, Fellow-Tribesman, I should like to take home with me one woman from among your women.”

(91) "êha, nitôtêm, ôki mâka mâna mâka piko ê-tipêyimakik, mitâtaht ôki kâ-apicik." "êwakoni mâna mâka piko pêyak kika-otinâw, piko ana ê-wî-otinat," itik awa mac-ôhôw omaskêkôwa.

(91) “Yes, Fellow-Tribesman, I have only these ten who are sitting here. They are all I have, but one of them you may take, whichever one you wish,” said the Swampy Cree to Bad-Owl.

(92) kêhtêskwêwa ôhi kâ-kî-kiskinôhamâkot kîmôc itwahamâk. akinêskawêw, piko anihi pêyak ê-wî-otinât.

(92) Secretly the other man pointed out to him the old woman of whom he had told him. He stopped up to one after the other, to see which one he would take.

(93) "mihcêt mâna mâka miyosiwak, nitôtêm," itêw awa omaskêkôw.

(93) “Most of them are handsome indeed, Fellow-Tribesman,” the Mushkago said to him.

(94) piko anihi ê-sâkihâyit wîwiyiwa, êwakoni otinêw.

(94) The wife whom the other loved, that was the one he took.

(95) "êyahâ, nitôtêm! kôskinîkin, kâ-katâc ê-nôtokwêwit kâ-otinat, mihcêt ôki ê-miyosicik!"

(95) “Dear me, Fellow-Tribesman! You are a young man, to be taking just the one who is old, when these others are so handsome!”

(96) "â, ayis, nitisi-nawasawâpamon, kâ-ôh-otinak awa." "hâw, êkwa mâka, nitôtêm, kîwêhta ôki kitiskwêmak!" itêw omaskêkôwa; "namôya nânitaw ki-ka-itohtân anohc kâ-wî-tipiskâk." "mîna wâpahki pêyakwâw ka-kakwê-wâpamitin."

(96) “Well, it happens that this is my choice, and so I am taking this one. There now, Fellow-Tribesman, go home with your women!” he told the Swampy Cree; “You are not to go anywhere else tonight. Tomorrow I shall try to see you once more.”

(97) êkwa ôhi kâ-otinât iskwêwa konita ita nipâyiwa. namôya wîhpêmêw. ê-wâpaniyik itohtahêw.

(97) Then the woman he had taken slept somewhere or other. He did not sleep with her. In the morning he took her over there.

(98) "hâ, tawâw, nitôtêm!" itêw.

(98) “Ha, come in, Tribesman!” he said to him.

(99) pîhtokêw. kahkiyaw pê-itohtêyiwa oskinîkîma awa omaskêkôw.

(99) He entered. All the Mushkago's followers came there.

(100) "â, nitôtêm, ê awa nikî-otinâw, ê-wî-kîwêhtahak, mâka kinîmâskwâkana ôhi ka-wêpinaman."

(100) “Now then, Fellow-Tribesman, I have taken this woman and mean to take her home with me, unless you abandon the weapons which you use.”

(101) "êha, nika-tôtên." "tânisi itwêyani, nika-tôtên." "osâm nisâkihâw awa kâ-otinat."

(101) “Yes, I shall do that. Whatever you say, I shall do. I love her too much whom you have taken.”

(102) "êha, nitôtêm, kâwi kika-miyitin, êkâ wîhkâc kîhtwâm êkosi ta-tôtaman;" "kôskinîkîmak nika-mêsci-pakamahwâwak." "'mâka pita pêyakwâw nika-wâpamâw.'" "'êkâ wî-tôtahki ôma kê-isi-kitotak, mahti nîsta êkospî kiyâm nitêma kita-wâpamêw, ta-mâsihikot,' kikî-itêyimitin." "mâka awa kiwîkimâkan kâwi kika-ayâwâw." "piko wâh-itâhpihiskik kôskinîkîmak, ka-itâhpihikwak ôki kôskinîkîmak." "êkwa okîskwêwak ita ê-kî-otinacik kita-isi-kîwêwak." "kîspin êkâ tôtamani, kika-misi-wanâcihitin."

(102) “Very well, Fellow-Tribesman, I will give her back to you, on condition that never again you do as you have done. I shall strike down your helpers to the very last one. 'I shall give him one more interview. If he is not willing to do as I shall tell him, then let him in turn see my familiar beasts and wrestle with them,' is what I thought concerning you. But now you shall again have this wife of yours. In whatever way your followers may feel inclined to laugh at you, they will laugh at you. And these women are to go back from wherever you have taken them. If you do not do so, I shall destroy you beyond redemption.”

(103) "êha, nitôtêm, nika-tôtên;" "ninôhtê-pimâtisin." "pêyak piko nika-miywêyimâw awa kâ-kî-otinat." "êkwa ôki kotakak ta-kîwêwak owâhkômâkaniwâwa."

(103) “Yes, Fellow-Tribesman, I will do so; I wish to live. I am fond only of the one you took. These others may go back to their relatives.”

(104) "osâm mihcêt kikanawêyimâwak." "misawâc nika-pêhtên, kîhtwâm nipahtâyêko." "êkosi kitisi-kitahamâtin, êkâ ta-maci-nôcihtâyan."

(104) “You have altogether too many wives. I shall not fail to hear of it, if you do any more killing. And so now I forbid you to exercise any more evil arts.”

(105) "êha, nitôtêm, nika-tôtên anima kâ-itwêyan;" "osâm ninôhtê-pimâtisin, mîna awa niwîkimâkan ê-sâkihak." "kika-wâpamâwak kita-kîwêcik."

(105) “Yes, Fellow-Tribesman, I shall do this which you say; I want to live, and I love this wife of mine. You will see that they go home.”

(106) êkosi tâpwêhtawêw. wayawîwak, nanânis ê-isi-kîwêcik ôki kotakak iskwêwak, êkota ohci êsa kâ-kî-kostikot omaskêkôwa awa mac-ôhôw.

(106) Then he took him at his word. They went out of the tipi, and those other women went to their several homes, and all because evidently the Mushkago feared Bad-Owl.

(107) êkoyikohk êskwâk âcimôwin.

(107) That is the end of the story.

Footnotes

¹LB on wêmistikôsiwak: Really “Frenchman”, but the term is often used for “white man” in general; this is here the case, if my understanding of wîcihôwin as “Hudson's Bay Company” is correct. I have tried to analyze the incidents in this story in _Atti del XXII Congresso degli Americanisti_ (Rome, 1928) II, 23 ff.

²The translation follows the text; probably however, the last word is a slip of the tongue or an error of record for ka-tôtên, giving the meaning: “You will do whatever you want,” i.e., “I shall have to take the consequences of interfering with you; I cannot do other than I am doing.”

³LB: The white man's words are no doubt correctly quoted; but the Indians take them for mere bravado, and assume that the white man shares their fear of the old sorceror. Else, why does he give him presents?

⁴A pair of moose is the Bony Spectre's characteristic gift.