(1) kêtahtawê wawêyîw wîsahkêcâhk; sipwêhtêw. êkwa mostoswa wâpamêw. wî-tapasîyiwa.

(1) Once upon a time Wisahketchahk got ready and went forth. Then he saw a buffalo. It started to run away.

(2) "cêskwa, nisîm!" itêw.

(2) “Wait a bit, Little Brother!” he said to it.

(3) êkwa nakîwak ôki mostoswak.

(3) Then the buffalo stopped.

(4) "mâ, kitapwêsin," itêw.

(4) “Why, you are all hot!” he said to it.

(5) êkwa watâyihk isi-sâminêw. êkotê ohci tahkamêw môhkomân.

(5) Then he felt its belly. He stabbed it from there with his knife.

(6) êkwa mâh-maniswêw. pa-pimisin, êkwa wiyâsa ê-pimastât, ê-wî-mîcisot. êkwa ayih oskana cîkaham, pimiy ê-osîhtât; wîhkwâhk asiwatâw. êkwa itohtêw sîpîhk. wâpamêw ayi wacaskwa.¹

(6) Then he cut pieces from it. He lay there, having placed the pieces of meat along the ground, intending to eat. And the bones he broke, to make fat; he put it into the bladder. Then he went to the river. He saw some muskrats.

(7) "âstam, nisîmitik," itêw; "ta-tahkâw ôma ayi."

(7) “Come here, Little Brothers,” he said to them; “I want this stuff to get cool.”

(8) miyêw ôma pimiy. osoyiyihk tahkopitam. sipwêhtêw sîpîhk wacask, pimiy anima ê-tahkatiniyik, ê-papâmiskât.

(8) He gave them the fat. He tied it to the tail of one. Then the muskrat went off into the river, so that the fat cooled off as it swam about.

(9) "êkâya sêkimin, nistêsê," itwêw wacask.

(9) “Don't call out and frighten me,” said the muskrat.

(10) êkwa wîsahkêcâhk askamawêw sakâhk. sîpîhk sisonê ê-kwêskosimât, sêkimêw wacaskwa. tapasîw wacask; koskopayihtâw ôma pimiy; êkwa sîpîhk pimâhotêw. êkwa wîsahkêcâhk pimipahtâw sîpiy ôma ayi ê-sâ-sôpahtahk pimiy, sîpîhk.²

êkwa wîsahkêcâhk kisiwâsiw.

(10) Then Wisahketchahk watched it from the brush. From the bank of the stream he whistled at the muskrat and frightened it. The muskrat fled; it spilled the fat; the fat floated on the water. Then Wisahketchahk ran and lapped up the fat from the river. Angry was Wisahketchahk.

(11) "ayîsiyiniwak'pîstêw' ta-itwêwak êkwa ôma pimiy." "niya askiy kâ-kî-osîhtâyân;" "kîhkîhk ka-nakiskâtin, wacask; kîhkîhk ka-nakiskâtin, niya askiy kâ-kî-osîhtâyân!"

(11) “Mortal men will call this fat 'foam.' It was I who created this earth; in spite of all, I shall meet you, Muskrat, I who created this earth!”

(12) êkwa sipwêhtêw wîsahkêcâhk. êkosi misi-sakâw wâpahtam. êkwa piponiyiw; kawaciw mitoni. wâpahtam mîkiwâhpa; awâsisa mâh-mêtawêyiwa.

(12) Then Wisahketchahk went away. Then he saw a big forest. Now it was winter; he was very cold. He saw some tents; children were playing there.

(13) "âstam, nisîm," itêw, "tâni anima ayi okimâw wîki?"

(13) “Come here, Little Brother,” he said to one; “Which is the chief's tent?”

(14) kiskinôhamâk; itohtêw. êkwa pîhtokêw.

(14) The boy pointed it out to him, and he went there. He entered.

(15) êkwa nâpêw awa, "tawâw, nistêsê!"

(15) The man there called, “Come in, my elder brother!”

(16) apiw wêskwâhtêmihk. asamâw okiniya, pimihkân.

(16) He sat down opposite the door. He was given wild quinces to eat, in the form of pemican.

(17) "êkâya kêtayôwinisê, nistêsê;" "kîkisêpâ nipicinân."

(17) “Do not undress, Brother; early in the morning we move camp.”

(18) âhci piko kêtayôwinisêw wîsahkêcâhk. akotâw ê-pâsahk otayiwinisa. êkwa kawisimôw. êkwa mitoni kisinâw. kîkisêpâ mitoni ohpahowak pihêwak. wîsahkêcâhk kônihk waskic nipâw. êkwa kisinâyiw mitoni. mistikohk akotêw awa ayiwinisa. êkwa wî-nipahaciw wîsahkêcâhk. kisiwâsiw; waniskâw; pihêwak ôki piciwak. kisiwâsiw wîsahkêcâhk.

(18) In spite of the warning, Wisahketchahk undressed. He hung up his clothes to dry. Then he lay down. It was very cold. Early in the morning a great many partridges flew up. Wisahketchahk was sleeping on the snow. And it was very cold. On a tree hung those clothes of his. Wisahketchahk was almost frozen to death. He was angry; he arose; those partridges had moved camp. Wisahketchahk was angry.

(19) "nika-nitonawâwak pihêwak, niya askiy kâ-kî-osîhtâyân!"

(19) “I shall look for the partridges, I who created the world!”

(20) êkwa sipwêhtêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(20) Then Wisahketchahk went away from there.

(21) kêtahtawê ê-pimohtêt, ê-nîpihk, kêkway?- pihêsisa wâpamêw wacistwanihk.

(21) hen, at one time, as he was walking along, in summer, what was that? -- some young partridges he saw in a nest.

(22) "tânisi êsiyîhkâsoyêk, pihêsisitik?"

(22) “What is your name, young partridges?”

(23) "âta kosa kiwîhinân!"

(23) “Why, you have just called us by name!”

(24) "kâkikê ayisiyiniw nîsoyîhkâsôw." "mâcika niya: wîsahkêcâhk, kayâs kâ-ohcît."

(24) Ever do people have two names. For instance, I: Wisahketchahk, Born-of-Old.”

(25) êkwa ôki pihêsisak: "okoskohiwêsîsak nitisiyîhkâsonân."

(25) Then those partridge-chicks: “Little Winged Startlers we are called.”

(26) kisîmik wîsahkêcâhk; wacistwanihk mîsîw. êkosi sipwêhtêw. sipwêhtêw êkosi wîsahkêcâhk. êkwa pihêwak ôki takosinwak wacistwanihk. kisiwâsiwak, ocawâsimisiwâwa ê-mîcitimiht. êkwa sipwêhtêwak pihêwak. mâwacihitôwak. êkwa sipwêhtêwak mihcêt. sîpîsisihk wîsahkêcâhkwa askamawêwak; âyîtawakâm sîpîsisihk apiwak. êkwa êkota wîsahkêcâhk pê-pimohtêw. aciyaw wâpahtam ôma sîpîsis.

(26) They angered Wisahketchahk by these words; he muted upon the nest. Then he departed. Then Wisahketchahk departed. Then the old partridges came to their nest. They were angry that their young had been befouled. They went away. They made an assembly. Many of them set out. By a brook they lay in wait for Wisahketchahk; on both banks of the little stream they sat. Then Wisahketchahk came walking along. Soon he saw the brook.

(27) "nêwâw nika-pê-wâpahtên ôma." "êkota nika-pâsic-ôhpîn."

(27) Four times I shall run at this brook. Then I shall jump across.”

(28) êkwa kî-sipwêhtêw; asêhtêw; êkwa wayacîwîw, sîpîsisihk ê-ispahtât. tâpiskôc ê-wî-pâsic-ôhpît, pôyôw. âsay mîna asêhtêw. âsay mîna wayacîwîw.

(28) Then he walked off; he walked back; he took a running start, heading for the brook. At the very point of jumping across, he halted. Again he walked back. Again he took a running start.

(29) "êkwa nika-pâsic-ôhpîn," itwêw.

(29) “Now I shall jump across,” he said.

(30) êkwa môskîstam êkwa. mwêhci ê-ohpît, misahci ohpîwak pihêwak. tâwakâm pahkisin. ocahpihcisa wanihêw nipîhk.

(30) So now he made for it. ust as he jumped, up went the partridges. He fell square into the water. He lost his tobacco-pouch in the water.

(31) kêtahtawê akwâyâhokôw. pa-pimisin sisonê nipîhk. êkwa waniskâw; ocahpihcisa nitonawêw. nama kêkway miskawêw. kêtahtawê ê-itâpit, nipîhk akohciniyiwa. nitonawêw. êkwa pahkopêw. namôya kî-otinêw. asiskiy mâna kâskipitam, ê-nitôkâwinikêt.³

kapê-kîsik ayâw êkota sîpîsisihk. kêtahtawê kapâw. nêstosiw. kisiwâsiw, ocahpihcisa ê-wanihât. kêtahtawê itâpiw; ispimihk wâpamêw ê-akociniyit. otinêw.

(31) In time the water carried him to the bank. He lay there by the water's edge. hen he got up; he looked for his tobacco-pouch. He could not find it at all. Then once, as he looked that way, it lay there in the water. He looked for it. He went into the water. He could not get hold of it. He merely clawed up mud whenever he made a grasp. All day he was there in the brook. At last he went back to the bank. He was tired. He was angry at having lost his tobacco-pouch. Then at one time he looked that way; he saw it hanging up aloft. He took it.

(32) "cê, macastimwak!" itêw, "tâpwê nikisiwâhikwak."

(32) “Bah, the dirty dogs!” he said of them; “They surely have angered me!”

(33) sipwêhtêw êkota ohci. sa-sipwêhtêw. êkwa wâpamêw misahkamik sîsîpa. wî-tapasîwak sîsîpak.

(33) He went away from there. He went from place to place. Then he saw a great many ducks. The ducks started to flee.

(34) "cêskwa: nisîmitik," itêw.

(34) “Wait a bit, Little Brothers!” he called to them.

(35) "namôya, nistêsê." "osâm kiwî-nipahinân."

(35) “No, Big Brother. You mean to kill us.”

(36) nayahcikêw wîsahkêcâhk. wayêsihêw. êkwa sipwêhtêw. kêtahtawê sâkahikan; mitoni misikamâw. êkota pimohtêw.

(36) Wisahketchahk carried something on his back. He deceived them. Then he went away. There was a lake; it was a very big lake. He went thither.

(37) "nistêsê," itwêw sîsîp, "kêkway kâ-nayahtaman?"

(37) “Big Brother,” said a duck, “what are you carrying on your back?”

(38) "pasakwâpisimôwin."

(38) “The Shut-Eye Dance.”

(39) "nîmihinân!"

(39) “Do give us a dance.”

(40) "âyiman, nisîmitik."

(40) “It is hard, Little Brothers.”

(41) "kiyâm, nistêsê!"

(41) “Please, Big Brother!”

(42) "êha!"

(42) “Very well!”

(43) êkwa mânokêw. êkwa mâwacihêw nanâtohk sîsîpa niska. sôskwât êkwa pîhtokêw, êkwa sîsîpak misahkamik, ê-wî-nîmihitocik.

(43) Then he built a lodge. He assembled all kinds of ducks and geese. Then at once he entered, and all the ducks were to dance.

(44) "ka-pasakwâpinâwâw ka-nîmihitoyêk."

(44) “You will close your eyes for this dance of yours.”

(45) "êha," itwêwak sîsîpak.

(45) “Yes”, said the ducks.

(46) êkwa mâci-nikamôw. nîmihitôwak êkwa sîsîpak; mâka pasakwâpiwak. êkwa pasikôw wîsahkêcâhk; ati-nipahêw ôho sîsîpa, ê-ati-tahkamât oscikwânisiyihk. kêkâc ê-mêscihât, pêyak awa apisîsisiw napatê piko pasakwâpiw. wâpamêw.

(46) Then he began to sing. Then the ducks danced; but they had their eyes closed. Then Wisahketchahk arose; he set about killing those ducks by stabbing their little heads. When he had nearly finished all of them, one little fellow held only one eye shut. He saw him.

(47) "kinipahikonaw wîsahkêcâhk!"

(47) “Wisahketchahk is killing us!”

(48) tapasîw; êkwa pêyak sihkihp. nîso piko isi-tapasîwak; pimâtisiwak nîso piko.

(48) He ran away; so did one other, the diver-duck. Only two of them thus escaped; only two got away with their lives.

(49) êkwa mistahi pâhpiw. "namôya kêkway nipêtân nîmihitôwin." "mitoni nikî-nôhtêhkatân." "tâpwê môhcôwiwak sîsîpak." "mistahi nika-mîcison êkwa."

(49) Then he laughed much. “I did not bring any dance at all. I was very hungry. Truly, foolish are the ducks. Now I shall have plenty to eat.”

(50) pônam êkwa. nawacîw. êkwa sipwêhtêw.

(50) Then he built a fire. He set his food to cook. Then he went away.

(51) "pita nika-pimohtân." "mwêstas nika-mîcison."

(51) “First I shall take a walk. Afterwards I shall eat.”

(52) nakatêw onawacîwina. kêtahtawê ê-pimohtêt, wâpamêw mahkêsîsa.

(52) He left his roasts. As he was walking, he saw a fox.

(53) "ê, cêskwa, nisîm," itêw; "kikakwê-nakatonânaw." "awiyak nakasiwêci, sîsîpa kahkiyaw ta-môwêw," itêw.

(53) “Hey, stop a bit, Little Brother!” he said to him; “We shall have a race. Whichever wins will eat all the ducks,” he said to him.

(54) êkwa mahkêsîs: "namôya! niwîsakêyihtên niskât; namôya, wîsahkêcâhk."

(54) Then the fox: “No. I have a sore leg; no, Wisahketchahk.”

(55) "asiniyak niskâtihk nika-tahkopitâwak." "êkosi ka-nakacipahin."

(55) “I shall tie some stones to my leg. That way you will outrun me.”

(56) "êha," itwêw mahkêsîs.

(56) “Very well,” said the fox.

(57) êkwa tahkopitêw asiniya oskâtihk wîsahkêcâhk. êkwa sipwêhtêwak mitoni. namôya kî-kisiskâhtêw wîsahkêcâhk; osâm kosikwatiwak asiniyak. êkwa mahkêsîs watiskâw. têtipêwêwak ispatinâw. âkawâyihk ê-ihtât mahkêsîs, mitoni sôhki pimipayiw. sîsîpa kahkiyaw nitawi-kitamwêw. osita piko iskwastam. êkwa tapasîw.

(57) Then Wisahketchahk tied some stones to his leg. Then they started off at a great rate. Wisahketchahk could not go fast; the stones were too heavy. And the fox limped. They ran round a hill. When the fox got out of sight behind it, he ran very well. He went and ate up all the ducks. He ate all except the feet. Then he ran away.

(58) ê-otâkosihk takosin wîsahkêcâhk. ocipitêw sîsîpa pêyak.

(58) At nightfall Wisahketchahk arrived. He pulled forth one duck.

(59) "nôsâmi-kîsiswâw," itwêw.

(59) “I have cooked him too long,” he said.

(60) kotaka mîna ocipitêw; piyis kahkiyaw.

(60) He pulled out another; finally all of them.

(61) "nôsâmihkânêcêposin," itwêw.

(61) “I am overdoing my roasts a bit,” he said.

(62) êkwa kiskêyihtam. mahkêsîsa kisiwâhik.

(62) Then he understood. He was angry at the fox.

(63) "niya askiy kâ-kî-osîhtâyân!" "ka-miskâtin!"

(63) “It is I created the earth! I will find you!”

(64) sipwêhtêw; nitonawêw mahkêsîsa. kêtahtawê ê-pa-pimohtêt miskawêw, ê-nipâyit timaskâhk.

(64) He went from there; he looked for the fox. hen at one time, as he walked about, he found him sleeping in the tall grass.

(65) "tânisi kê-tôtawak?" "pakamahwaki nika-nisiwanâcihâw askêkinos." "nika-owahpihtisin." "nitawâc nika-pasisamawâw."

(65) “What shall I do to him? If I club him, I shall spoil the hide. I shall have it for a tobacco-pouch. I had better stifle him by building a fire round him.”

(66) wâsakâm saskaham maskosiya. êkwa ati-kwâhkotêw. êkwa mahkêsîs kisiwâk ê-pê-kwâhkotêyik pasikosipahtâw. êkwa miywêyihtam, ê-pasikosipahtâyit.

(66) All around he set fire to the grass. The flames spread. When the blaze came close, the fox jumped to his feet. He was glad when the other jumped to his feet.

(67) "namôya nânitaw kikî-itâmon, kâ-kitamwacik nisîsîpimak, yahâ, yahâ!" itêw.

(67) “You cannot escape anywhere, you who ate all my ducks, yahaw, yahaw!” he said to him.

(68) êkwa ôhi mahkêsîsa pêhêw.

(68) Then he waited for the fox.

(69) êkwa pâhpiw, "mistahi nipahîhkaswâw," ê-itêyihtahk.

(69) He laughed, thinking, “I am certainly killing him with this fire!”

(70) êkwa ê-âstawîyik, nama kêkway mahkêsîs.⁴

tapasîw.

(70) But when the fire subsided, there was no fox. He had run away.

(71) "cêê, wînikonêwi-mahkay!" "tânitê kî-itâmoyan?" "ôhcitaw ka-miskâtin," itêw.

(71) “Miserable foul-breathed fool! Where could you escape? All the more surely will I find you!” he said of him.

(72) pimitisahwêw. kêtahtawê ê-pa-pimohtêt, pêhtam ê-matwê-pâh-pâhpihk.⁵

kwêski itohtêw sakâhk: nama kêkway. âsay mîna sipwêhtêw; kêtahtawê kâ-wâpamât picikîskisîsa ê-yâyakonamiyit oskîsikosiyiwa, ê-âh-akociwêpinamiyit sakâhk, êkwa ê-koskwâskopitamiyit, kâwi mâna ê-tâpiskopayiyiki.⁶

(72) He pursued him. Then once, as he walked along, he heard loud and repeated laughter. He went into the brush at either side: nothing. He went on again; soon he saw some jays pulling out their eyes and tossing them so they caught in the brush, and shaking the bushes, whereupon the eyes would spring back into place.

(73) "tânêhki ôma, nisîm?"

(73) “What is the idea of this, Little Brother?”

(74) "ê-têwistikwânêyân, kôh-tôtamâhk."

(74) “Because I have a headache we are doing this.”

(75) "miyik." "nikwatakihikon nistikwân."

(75) “Give it to me. My head greatly torments me.”

(76) "namôya." "âyiman."

(76) “No. It is difficult.”

(77) "kiyâm miyik." "kâkikê nistikwân niwîsakêyihtên."

(77) “Please give it to me. I have an everlasting pain in my head.”

(78) "â, namôya."

(78) “Oh, no!”

(79) "kiyâm kitimâkêyimik, nisîmitik." "âsay mâka mîna nimôsihon nistikwân."

(79) “Do take pity on me, Little Brothers. Right now I feel the old pain coming back in my head.”

(80) "êha." "nêwâw kimiyitin." "têwistikwânêyini, êkâya wiya nôhtaw, mêyâkwâm, nistêsê."

(80) “Very well. I will give you four doses. When you have a headache, not at any other time; don't forget, Big Brother!”

(81) miyik nêwâw ta-yâyakonahk oskîsikwa.

(81) They gave him the power to pull out his eyes four times.

(82) "kitatamihinâwâw, nisîmitik." "nika-kwâtakihtân nistikwân."

(82) “Thank you, Little Brothers. I shall be having a cruel headache.”

(83) êkwa sipwêhtêw. namôya wâhyaw ihtâw; mamâhpinêw.

(83) Then he went from there. He had not gone far; he began to groan.

(84) "nistikwân mâka mîna êkwa nimâkohikon."

(84) “There is my head tormenting me as usual!”

(85) sakâhk itohtêw. yâyakonam oskîsikwa. akociwêpinam. êkwa mistikw ê-ocipitât, kâwi ôh-pahkihtiniyiwa oskîsikwa. âsay mîna sipwêhtêw. namôya wâhyaw itohtêw. âsay mîna wîsakêyihtam.

(85) He went into the brush. He pulled out both his eyes. He threw them onto a bush. Then, when he pulled at the bush, his eyes fell from it, back into place. He set out again. He did not walk far. Again he was in pain.

(86) "nistikwân!"

(86) “My head!”

(87) âsay mîna sakâhk itohtêw. êkwa êkota yâyakonam oskîsikwa. akociwêpinam. êkwa âta ê-ocipitahk, nama kêkway. mahkêsîs awa kwâsihtâw oskîsikoyiwa wîsahkêcâhkwa. êkwa namôya wâpiw. êkwa wîsahkêcâhk âh-ocipitêw kapê-kîsik. êkwa sipwêhtêw. namôya wâpiw. êkwa awa mahkêsîs mistik otinam; nakiskawêw; cahkâpahwêw.

(87) Again he stepped into the brush. There he pulled out his eyes. He threw them so that they caught and hung. But then, though he tugged at the bush, they were not there. That fox had stolen Wisahketchahk's eyes. So now he was blind. Then Wisahketchahk kept tugging at the tree all day. Then he went away. He was blind. And the fox took a stick; he went to meet him; he jabbed him in the sockets of his eyes.

(88) "hmm," itwêw, "nicahkâpicinin," êkwa ê-pimohtêt.

(88) Hum,” he said, “I am getting snagged in my eye-holes,” and walked on.

(89) pônihêw êkwa mahkêsîs awa. kêtahtawê tâwikisin.

(89) Then the fox left him alone. Then at one time he bumped into something.

(90) "kêkway kiya mistik?" itêw.

(90) “What sort of tree are you?” he asked it.

(91) "mîtos."

(91) “Poplar.”

(92) "namôya êkotôwa kâ-nitawêyimak."

(92) “That is not the kind I want.”

(93) âsay mîna sipwêhtêw. âsay mîna tâwikisin.

(93) He set out again. Again he bumped.

(94) "kêkway ê-itikawiyan?"

(94) “What are you called?”

(95) "niminahikôwin."

(95) “I am a spruce.”

(96) "êkotôwa kâ-nitawêyimak."

(96) “That is the kind I want.”

(97) êkwa nitonawêw pikiwa; miskawêw. êkwa osîhtâw oskîsikwa êwakoni ohci pikiwa. êkwa sipwêhtêw.

(97) Then he sought rosin; he found it. Then he made eyes for himself out of that rosin. Then he went away.

(98) "âha kiya kâ-kisiwâhiyan, mahkêsîs, kâ-câh-cahkâpahwin, kiwî-nitonâtin." "miskâtâni ka-nipahitin."

(98) “Now, as for you, Fox, who angered me by jabbing me in the eyes, I shall look for you. When I find you, I shall kill you.”

(99) sipwêhtêw êkwa. êkwa pa-pimohtêw. kêtahtawê kâ-pêhtahk ê-nipâkwêsimôwiht. êkwa pimipahtâw. nêtohtahki, wâhyaw kâ-matwê-nipâkwêsimôwiht. êkosi êkwa wâpahtam ostikwân ê-astêyik ocêwa ê-tasîhkamiyit. akâwâtamawêw.

(99) Then he went from there. He walked along. Then at one time he heard a Sun-Dance going on. He ran. Whenever he listened, far off was the noise of the Sun-Dance. At last he saw the head of an animal lying on the ground, with flies busy all over it. He envied them for it.

(100) "nisîmitik, nîstâ nika-ocêwi-n," itêw.⁷

(100) “Little Brothers, I too shall be a fly,” he said to them.

(101) "âyiman."

(101) “It is difficult.”

(102) "nisîmitik, kiyâm nîsta nika-ocêwi-n."

(102) “Little Brothers, please let me be a fly.”

(103) "âyiman, nistêsê."

(103) “It is difficult, Big Brother.”

(104) "nisîmitik, kiyâm kitimâkihtawik."

(104) “Little Brothers, please grant me what I beg.”

(105) "kiyâm kistêsinaw ta-apisîsisiw, ocêw."

(105) “Well then, let our older brother be a little one, a fly.”

(106) "â, namôya," itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; "mitoni nika-misikitin; nika-misi-ocêwin."

(106) “Oh dear, no,” said Wisahketchahk; “I shall be very large; I shall be a big fly.”

(107) "â, kiyâm, nistêsê, ka-apisîsisin," itik.

(107) “Oh, now, Big Brother, do please be small!” they asked him.

(108) "êha."

(108) “Oh, very well!”

(109) êkwa ocêwiw.

(109) So he became a fly.

(110) kîtahtawê kwêskîmow; kâwi ayîsiyinîwiw; pasikôw; misiwê ostikwân ôma sipwêhtatâw. kikamoyiw wâwâskêsiwistikwân ostikwânihk. êkwa sipwêhtêw. namôya kî-kisiskâhtêw. nama kêkway isi-wâpiw. kêtahtawê sisonê sîpîhk pimohtêw. tihtipipayiw. pimâhokôw sîpîhk. kêtahtawê ôki ayîsiyiniwak wâpamêwak, ê-pimâhokoyit. êkwa nôtokêsiw cîkahikan otinam, ê-wî-nipahât. pahkopêw, ê-wî-pakamahwât wâwâskêsiwa. pasikosipahtâw wîsahkêcâhk; tapasîw. pahkisin mistasiniya ê-apiyit; pâskihtitâw. êkwa nôtokêsiw pimitisahwêw.

(110) Suddenly he changed his form; he turned back into human shape; he arose; he carried off the whole head. The deer's-head was fastened over his head. So he went away. He could not go fast. He could not see at all, the way he was fixed. After a while he was walking along the bank of a stream. He fell and rolled. The water carried him along in the river. Soon the people saw him drifting along. An old woman took an axe to kill him. She went into the water to club the deer. Wisahketchahk jumped to his feet; he ran away. He fell where a big boulder lay; he smashed the head as he fell. The old woman was chasing him.

(111) "êwako mâka mîna wîsahkêcâhk!" itwêw; pâhpiw.

(111) “Why, it's Wisahketchahk again!” she said; she laughed.

(112) wîsahkêcâhk tapasîw. pônâmôw; êkota ohci êkwa sipwêhtêw. pimohtêw, kâ-wâpamât niska. wî-tapasîwak niskak.

(112) Wisahketchahk ran away. He stopped in his flight; then he again made off from that place. As he walked along, he saw some geese. The geese tried to get away.

(113) "cêskwa, nisîmitik!"

(113) “Wait a bit, Little Brothers!”

(114) êkosi nakîwak. êkwa otihtêw.

(114) So they stopped. He stepped up to them.

(115) "nisîmitik, nîsta nika-niskiwin," itêw.

(115) “Little Brothers, I too shall be a goose,” he said to them.

(116) "âyiman, nistêsê."

(116) “It is difficult, Big Brother.”

(117) piyisk sâkôcimêw. niskiwiw.

(117) At last he persuaded them. He became a goose.

(118) "êkwa, nistêsê, ayîsiyiniwak wâpamatwâwi, ohpimê ka-pimihân," itêw.

(118) “And now, Big Brother, whenever you see people, off to one side you will fly,” one said to him.

(119) êkwa mîcisôwak êkota sâkahikanihk. kêtahtawê ohpahôwak. nîkâniw wîsahkêcâhk. ayîsiyiniwa nitonawêw ohcitaw. piyisk miskawêw, tahki cîki êkota ê-pimihât. êkwa mâkwêyimowak niskak; tapasîwak. êkwa wiya wîsahkêcâhk êkota ati-pimihâw. pâh-pâskiswâw. ê-wî-tapasît, pôskopayihêw otaskêkinwa; pitihkwaskamikisiw.⁸

nôtokêsiw wâpamêw.

(119) Then they ate, there in the lake. Presently they flew up. Wisahketchahk was in the lead. He looked for people, just to be contrary. At last he found them, and kept flying close to where they were. The geese became worried; they fled. But Wisahketchahk flew on in that place. He began to be shot at. When he made to flee, he burst the skin he had been given; down he went with a crash. An old woman saw him.

(120) "mâka mîna wîsahkêcâhk" itwêw; mistahi pâhpiw; "tâpiskôc niska ê-itêyihtamahk wîsahkêcâhk!" itwêw; âsay mîna pâhpiw.

(120) “There is Wisahketchahk again!” she said; she laughed a great deal; “It was Wisahketchahk we thought was a goose!” she said; she laughed some more.

(121) êkwa mîna êkota ohci sipwêhtêw. nôhtêhkatêw; nama kêkway mîciw. êkwa nicawâc wî-kakwê-minahôw. wâpamêw mostoswa nêwo; nama nânitaw isi kî-nipahêw. papâmohtêw. kêtahtawê oyahpitam mistikwa, ayîsiyiniwa ê-osîhât, tâpiskôc ê-mâsihitoyit; êkwa mostoswa itohtêw. wî-tapasîyiwa.

(121) Then he went away from that place, too. He was hungry; he had nothing to eat. He decided to try and kill some game. He saw four buffalos; he had no way of killing them. He walked about. Soon he tied up some sticks, arranging them like men wrestling; then he went to where the buffalo were. They started to run away.

(122) "cêskwa, nisîm," itêw, "nêki ayisiyiniwak kâ-mâsihitocik, 'takwahinâwak wîhcêkisiwak,' ê-itwêt pêyak ana, êkwa kotak ana, "namôya," ê-itwêt, "nawac iyâpêsisak," ê-itwêt," "êwako ohci kâ-nôtinitocik;" "mâka ê-wî-miyâmitakok."

(122) “Wait, Little Brothers!” he called to them; Those men are wrestling over there, because one of them said, 'Bulls stink,' and the other said, 'No. young steers are worse,' that is the reason they are fighting; but I have come to smell you.”

(123) êkwa otinam kîmôc omôhkomân. êkwa sîpâ ê-isiniskêyit, ê-wî-miyâmât takwahinâwa, tahkamêw; nipahêw. nîso nipahêw.

(123) Then secretly he took his knife. Then when he hold his arm out under the bull, to smell him, he stabbed him; he killed him. He killed two of them.

(124) "kêkway êtokê ayîsiyiniwa kê-nôtinitoyit!" "ninôhtêhkatêwâh!" itwêw.

(124) “What's that nonsense about men fighting! It's hungry I was!” said he.

(125) pâhpiw mistahi.

(125) He laughed a great deal.

(126) "konita ê-osîhtâyân, nama awiyak ayîsiyiniw!"

(126) “When I just made the thing, and there isn't any man there!”

(127) âsay mîna pâhpiw.

(127) Again he laughed.

(128) "mistahi nika-mîcison êkwa."

(128) “Now I shall eat a plenty.”

(129) êkwa wiya pahkwêkiswêw. osîhtâw êkwa wiyâsa. êkwa ê-kî-kîsihtât, pa-pimisin.

(129) Then he skinned them. And he prepared the meat. When he had got it ready, he lay there.

(130) "mwêstas nika-mîcison." "mistahi mitoni nika-mîcison."

(130) “I shall eat later. I shall eat a huge amount.”

(131) êkwa mistikwa ah-cimasoyit tawâyihk pimisin.⁹

(131) He lay down between two trees.

(132) "tasok, nisîmitik!"

(132) “Straighten up, Little Brothers!”

(133) piyis mâkwâskwahok mistikwa. êkwa nama nânitaw kî-isi-waniskâw; micimosow mistikohk. pê-takopahtâw êkota mahîhkanis.

(133) At last he was tightly held by the trees. Then he was entirely unable to get up from where he lay; he was caught between the trees. A young wolf came running up.

(134) "awas," itêw; "niwiyâsima mâka mîna ka-wîhkohkân," itêw.

(134) “Get out,” he said to him; “You'll be inviting people, as usual, to dine on my meat,” he said to him.

(135) mâci-mîcisoyiwa. ostikwân piko waskawinam. kêtahtawê êkwa oyoyow êwako mahîhkanis; piko itê ohci pâpahtâwak mahîhkanak mahkêsîsak kîhkwahâhkêsak, âhâsiwak mîna. êkwa wîsahkêcâhk owiyâsima kahkiyaw maskahtoyiwa; ayis wiya micimosow mistikohk; nama kêkway ohtahtam owiyâsima. mitoni ê-kitânawêyit, êkwa pihkohôw. êkwa kisiwâsiw. kaskatwânam nêwo mistikwa; pa-pasastêhwêw mistikwa kâ-kî-mâkwâskwahokot.

(135) The other began to eat. All he could do was turn his head. After a while the young wolf began to howl; from every direction they came running, wolves, foxes, coyotes, and crows. They scrambled for Wisahketchahk's meat and took it all; for he was caught between the trees; and so he ate none of his meat. Only after the others had made a clean sweep of it, did he get himself free. Then he was angry. He broke off four sticks; he beat the trees that had held him fast.

(136) "êkwa nimihtâtên."

(136) “Now I regret it.”

(137) nama kêkway ohtahtam omostosoma; kitamwêyiwa mahîhkana.

(137) Thus nothing at all did he eat of his buffalos; the wolves had eaten them up.

(138) êkwa sipwêhtêw. wâpamêw mostoswa.

(138) Then he went away. He saw some buffalo.

(139) "nika-minahon êkwa."

(139) “Now I shall kill game.”

(140) êkwa nâciyôstawêw; kisiwâk ê-otihtât, mitoni kâ-misi-pwêkitot. tapasîyiwa. kisiwâsiw. âsay mîna nâciyôstawêw kotaka. mwêhci mîna kisiwâk ê-otihtât, kâ-misi-pwêkitot; osahamâk. sipwêhtêw.

(140) Then he stole up to them; when he got near, he noisily broke wind. They fled. He got angry. He stole up to another. Again, just as he got near it, he loudly broke wind; it drove away his prey. He went from there.

(141) "ôta kikisiwâhin kâ-osahamawiyan." "ka-mâ-miskên!"

(141) “In this you anger me, that you drive them away from me. You will catch it!”

(142) êkwa nitonawêw asiniya. miskawêw ê-misikitiyit mitoni. êkwa pônam. kisâpiskiswêw; mitoni wâsêyâpiskiswêw. êkwa mitoni ê-kîsi-wâsêyâpiskiswât, kêtayôwinisêw. êkwa têhtapiw. côwêhkasôw; "css!" côwêhkasôw.

(142) Then he looked for a stone. He found a very large one. Then he made a big fire. He heated the stone; he heated it to a bright glow. When he had got it to white heat, he took off his clothes. Then he sat down on it. He sizzled as he burned: “Hiss!” he sizzled.

(143) "tâni êkosi kôh-wî-itwêyin?" "kikî-osahamawin ê-wî-minahoyân."

(143) “Why are you bound to cry out like that? You drove off my game when I was going to bag it.”

(144) êkwa kâ-sipwêhtêt, namôya kî-pimohtêw. kinwês papâmohtêw. kêtahtawê miskam mînisa; mihcêniyiwa. êkwa pêyak nakiskawêw.

(144) Then, when he set out, he could not walk. For a long time he wandered about. Presently he found some berries; there were many of them. Then he encountered one.

(145) "pêyâhtik, nistêsê," itik, "mihcêtiwak wâkayôsak," itik.

(145) “Go easy, Brother,” it said to him; “There are many bears here,” it told him.

(146) "êkwa osîhtamawin ahcâpiy êkwa acosisa êkwa môhkomân, napakihkomân, êkwa câpihcikanis;" "êwakoni nika-tahkonên." "nika-môminân." "wâpamaki wâkayôs nika-nipahâw."

(146) “Then make me a bow, and arrows, and a knife, a bowie-knife, and a lance; I shall hold these things in my hand. I shall eat berries. If I see a bear, I shall kill it.”

(147) osîhtamâk kahkiyaw êwakoni. êkwa nitawi-môminêw; nîmâskwêw. kêtahtawê mêkwâc ê-môminêt, kâ-pâpahtâyit wâkayôsa. nakiskawêw; kêkway otinêw ocahcâpiya mîna wîpisisa. pimwêw. pîkohtitâw kahkiyaw piyis wîpisisa. ocahcâpiya ohci pakamahwêw; pîkosimêw. êkwa omôhkomân otinam; tahkamêw; pîkohtitâw omôhkomân. wêpinam. êkwa otinam câpihcikanis; pîkohtitâw. êkwa misi-mistikwa itâmôw. wâskâpahtâw êkota mistikohk. wâsakâmêtisahok wâkayôsa. wî-nipahatâhtam. kîtahtawê môskiwêpiskam ostikwân, mostosostikwân. kiskêyihtam êwako ê-kostamiyit. pimi-naskwêpitam, êkwa ostikwânihk ê-akonahk. môskîstawêw wâkayôsa. mitoni mâkohêw.

(147) It made all these things for him. Then he went and ate berries; he was armed. Presently, while he was eating berries, a bear came running. He encountered it; he took his bow and his arrows. He shot at it. In the end he broke all his arrows as he shot them. He struck it with his bow; it broke as he brought it down. Then he took his knife; he stabbed at the bear; he broke his knife with the thrust. He threw it away. Then he took his spear; when he landed it, it broke. Then he fled to a big tree. He ran round the tree. The bear chased him round it. He was almost dead for loss of breath. Then at one time he struck with his foot and uncovered a skull, a buffalo-skull. He knew that the other feared this object. So in running past he grabbed it up and pulled it over his head. He attacked the bear. He drove it hard.

(148) "tânisi êtokê kôh-wî-tapasîyin?" "niyaskoc kimâkohitin;" "kikî-mâkohih, wâkayôs!"

(148) “Why must you be running away? It's my turn to drive you hard; you had me at close quarters, you know, Bear!”

(149) êkwa pâhpiw mistahi, ê-mâkohât wâkayôsa. êkwa sipwêhtêw.

(149) And he laughed greatly as he drove fear into the bear. Then he went away.

(150) "mâskôc kotak wâpamaki, nika-nipahik," itêyihtam êkwa wîsahkêcâhk.

(150) “Perhaps if I see another one, it will kill me,” thought Wisahketchahk.

(151) sipwêhtêw; pâ-pimohtêw. wâskahikan wâpahtam, mistahi ê-mâyâtahk wâskahikanis.

(151) He went away; he tramped along. He saw a house, a very ugly little house.

(152) "nika-paspâpin," itêyihtam.

(152) “I shall peek in through the door,” he thought.

(153) paspâpiw, kâ-wâpamât wîhtikôwa ê-wâpamoyit. êkwa tânisi ê-tôtamiyit êkosi tôtam.

(153) He peeked in and saw a Windigo looking into a mirror. Then whatever the other did, he did the same.

(154) êkwa awa wîhtikôw, "tâpwê, nimiyosin." "tâpwê niwiyakihon, ayîsiyiniwak kâ-môwakik." "nika-wêpinên niwiyâsima," itwêw.

(154) Then that Windigo said, “Really, I am handsome. Really, I am throwing away my gifts, to be eating men. I shall throw away my meat.”

(155) êkosi awa wâh-wêpinam owiyâsima. êkwa wîsahkêcâhk tapasîw. êkwa awa wîhtikôw kahkiyaw ê-kî-wêpinahk owiyâsima, êkwa wâpamôw. kakwâhyakinâkosiw.

(155) So the Windigo threw away her supply of meat. Then Wisahketchahk ran away. Then, when the Windigo had thrown away all her stores of meat, then she looked into her mirror. Her appearance was frightful.

(156) "mâka mîna êcika ani wîsahkêcâhk!" "kinipahitin êkwa kâ-kitimahoyân niwiyâsima!"

(156) “So this is Wisahketchahk again! I will kill you, now I have ruined my meat.”

(157) nawaswêw êkwa awa wîhtikôw. êkwa mâkwêyimôw wîsahkêcâhk. kisiwâk êkwa askôk; wîpac atimik.

(157) Then the Windigo went in pursuit. Wisahketchahk was in mortal fright. Now the other was close upon him; quickly she caught him.

(158) êkwa ê-atimikot, "nikohtê, wîsahkêcâhk!"

(158) And when she had caught him, “Gather sticks, Wisahketchahk!”

(159) êkwa nikohtêw. papâ-mâtôw wîsahkêcâhk, êkwa ê-wî-nipahiht. êkwa ê-astamawât mihta, êkwa wîhtikôw awa pônam.

(159) Then he gathered sticks. Wisahketchahk wept as he went about, for now he was going to be killed. And when he placed the sticks for the Windigo, the latter built a fire with them.

(160) "kitapwânâsk nitawi-kîskikaha!"

(160) “Go cut a spit for yourself!”

(161) êkwa sipwêhtêw; papâ-mâcosiw. kêtahtawê kâ-wâpamât sihkosa.

(161) So he went off; he whimpered as he went about. Then presently he saw a weasel.

(162) "âstam, nisîm!"

(162) “Come here, Little Brother!”

(163) "namôya; osâm kiwî-nipahin," itik ôhi sihkosa.

(163) “No; you mean to kill me,” the weasel answered him.

(164) piyis itohtêyiwa.

(164) At last it came.

(165) "â, nisîm, niwî-nipahik wîhtikôw," itêw; "kakwê-nânitaw-tôtaw." "ka-isi-miyosiyan ka-isîhitin," itêw.

(165) “Little Brother, a Windigo wants to kill me,” he told it; “Try to do something or other to her. I shall fix you so that you will be beautiful,” he, said to it.

(166) "êha," itwêw sihkos.

(166) “Very well,” said the weasel.

(167) êkwa wîhtikôwa ispayiw êwako sihkos. kwayasitêw otôniyihk; otêhiyiw paspaskêhtam. êkwa awa wîhtikôw, "kiyipa pêtâ kitapwânâsk! piyis nânitaw niwî-is-âyân, ê-nôhtêhkatêyân," itik awa wîsahkêcâhk.

(167) Then the weasel went to where the Windigo was. It slipped into her mouth; it bit apart her heart. Then the Windigo, “Quickly bring your spit! What with all this delay, I am feeling queer from hunger,” she said to Wisahketchahk.

(168) êkwa isi itohtêw. pê-pasikôyiwa ê-wî-pê-nawaswâtikot. êkwa tapasîw, kâ-pê-kâskipitikot. misi-mâ-mawimôw, "yêy yê!" ê-itwêt êwako wîsahkêcâhk. mâkohik wîhtikôwa. mâka nôhtaw nipiyiwa. nipahtâk sihkosa. êkwa otinêw.

(168) So he went there. The other arose and came chasing him. Then he fled, the other just managing to graze him with her claws. Loudly he lamented, crying, “Yeh ya!” that Wisahketchahk. The Windigo was pressing close upon him. But she died before she got him. The weasel had killed her for him. Then he took it up.

(169) "kitatamihin, nisîm." "êkosi ani ninipahikoh wîhtikôw," itêw; "êkwa pêpohki ka-wâpiskisin;" "kisoy ta-kaskitêwâw apisîs wanaskoc." "êkwa kâ-nîpihk ka-osâwisin;" "mâka pêyakwan ka-kaskitêwâw kisoy." "êkosi êkwa nika-sipwêhtân."

(169) “Thank you, Little Brother. That Windigo would certainly have killed me,” he said to it; “And now, in winter you will be white; your tail will have a little black at the tip. And in summer you will be brown; but your tail will be black in the same way. And now I am leaving.”

(170) êkwa sipwêhtêw. mêkwâc ê-pa-pimohtêt, kêtahtawê ayisiyiniwa wâpamêw. nâh-nawaswêwân. ay-ayâw êkota.

(170) Then he went away. As he wandered along, presently he saw some people. There was much pursuing. He stayed there.

(171) kêtahtawê pêyak oskinîkiwa nôhtê-ayâwêyiwa iskwêwa. pâh-pakwâtêyiwa; osâm kistêyimôw awa oskinîkiw. kêtahtawê wîsahkêcâhk iskwêw osîhisôw. miyosiw awa wîsahkêcâhk; mistahi miyosiw. êkwa nitawi-onâpêmiw ôhi oskinîkiwa kâ-kihcêyimoyit. mahîhkanisa nîso otâpahêw. êkwa wîkihk otâpêyiwa. êkwa awa oskinîkiw miywêyimêw ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa.

(171) Then at one time a certain youth wanted to have a wife. He disdained them all. That young man was too conceited. Then soon, Wisahketchahk made himself into a woman. Handsome was this Wisahketchahk; he was very handsome. Then he went to take as a husband that conceited young man. He had two young wolves to draw his sled. And they drew his tent. And the young man took a liking to this young woman.

(172) "tâpwê miyosiw, nêkâ," itêw okâwiya; "mahti nitom," itêw.

(172) “Truly, she is handsome, Mother,” he told his mother; “Do invite her,” he told her.

(173) êkwa, "êha," itwêw nôtokêsiw.

(173) Then, “Yes,” said the old woman.

(174) êkwa itohtêw.

(174) Then she went there.

(175) "nistim, âstam nîkinâhk."

(175) “Niece, come to our house.”

(176) "îh," itwêw awa wîsahkêcâhk, "tânêhki?"

(176) “Ho,” said that Wisahketchahk, “What for?”

(177) "nikosis ê-wî-wâpamisk."

(177) “Because my son wants to see you.”

(178) êkwa, "êha."

(178) Then, “Very well.”

(179) "kinôhtê-wîkimik nikosis."

(179) “My son desires to marry you.”

(180) "mihcêt oskinîkiwak ê-nôhtê-wîkimicik ê-pê-tapasiyân," itêw, "nistês, 'sipwêhtê,' ê-isit."

(180) “It is because so many young men wanted to marry me, that I ran away and came here,” he told her; “My elder brother having told me, 'Go away'.”

(181) êkwa nôtokêsiw, "niya mîna nikosis ê-pê-tapasît;" "ê-nôhtê-wâh-wîkimiht kôh-pê-tapasît."

(181) Then the old woman, “My son too ran away and came here; because so many wanted to marry him is why he ran away and came here.”

(182) "kah!" itêw awa iskwêw.

(182) “You don't say!” that woman answered her.

(183) êkwa kîwêhtahik. nitawi-onâpêmiw okosisiyiwa ôhi. wâpamêw oskinîkiwa; mistahi miyosiyiwa. onâpêmiw kinwês. kakâyawisiw mistahi. kêtahtawê kinwês ê-onâpêmit, nôhtê-sipwêhtêw. kêtahtawê ocawâsimisiw mahîhkanisa. tahkopitâwasôw. êkwa sâkihêw ê-wî-wâpamâyit osikosa. kêtahtawê nîpâtipisk sipwêhtêw êwako wîsahkêcâhk; ocawâsimisa nakatêw. êkwa nôtokêsiw êkwa kisêyiniw nitawi-wâpamêwak ôsisimiwâwa. ê-otinâcik pôti ôhi mahîhkanisa.

(183) Then the other took her home. She went to take that young man for her husband. She saw the young man; he was very handsome. She was married to him for a long time. She was a very good worker. At length, when she had been married to him for quite a while, she wanted to leave that place. Then at one time she had babies, those wolf-cubs. She tied up her babies. She would not let her mother-in-law see them. Then one night Wisahketchahk departed; he left his babies behind. Then the old woman and the old man came to look at their grandchildren. When they took them up, why, they were wolf-cubs.

(184) "êhêy," itwêw nôtokêsiw, "wîsahkêcâhk êsa ôyâ!"

(184) “Oho,” cried the old woman, “So that person was Wisahketchahk!”

(185) pâhpiw mahîhkanisa kâ-tahkopitât, kâ-ocawâsimisit êwako oskinîkiw ê-nêpêwisit. kotaka ayîsiyiniwa pâhpihik.

(185) She laughed as she swaddled those wolf-puppies which the young man, to his great embarrassment, had for babies. The other people laughed at him.

(186) "tâpwê mistahi isîhcikêw oskinîkiw, wîsahkêcâhkwa ê-wîwit!" "êkwa ka-pâhpinânaw, ê-kihcêyimot oskinîkiw ê-wîwit wîci-nâpêwa wîsahkêcâhkwa."

(186) “Truly, great things has this young man accomplished, in having Wisahketchahk for his wife! Now we shall have something to laugh about, seeing that this conceited young man had Wisahketchahk, a man, as his wife!”

(187) êkwa pâhpiwak mistahi.

(187) And they laughed a great deal.

(188) sipwêhtêw; ômisi itwêw: "kiyâm piko isi isinâkosici iskwêw nika-wîwin." "mistahi ninêpêwihik wîsahkêcâhk," itwêw.

(188) He went away; hus he spoke: “I don't care what sort of a looking woman I marry. Wisahketchahk has put me to great shame,” he said.

(189) kêtahtawê ê-pa-pmohtêt, kâ-wâpahtahk mîkiwâhp. nîpawiw wayawîtimihk.

(189) Presently, as he wandered along, he saw a lodge. He stood outside.

(190) êkwa, "pîhtokê," kâ-itikot iskwêwa, "kipê-wîwin," itêw.¹⁰

(190) Then, “Come in,” said the woman to him, “I have come to take you to wife,” he said to her.

(191) ê-pîhtokêt, pôti ôhi pitikokiyiwa. êkwa nahapîstawêw; wîwiw. êkwa nama wîhkâc wayawiyiwa ê-tipiskâyik. êkwa mîna nêpêwisiw ê-pitikokiyit ê-wîwit. êkota sipwêhtêwak. kîkisêpâ wawêyîwak. wâkayôsa otêmiw iskwêw; otâpahêw. kîwêw oskinîkiw; kîwêpiciw; otaskîwâhk ispiciw. êkwa ê-takopicit, pasikôyiwa wîwa. namôya êkwa pitikokiyiwa. êkwa êkota wîsahkêcâhk pâhpiw.

(191) When he entered, she was all round, like a ball. Then he sat beside her; he took her to wife. And she never went out at night. And again he was ashamed, because he had that dumpy woman to wife. They went away from there. Early in the morning they made ready. The woman had a bear as her beast of burden; she made it draw her sled. The young man went home; he moved back home; he moved camp to his people's country. When he arrived with his household, his wife rose to her feet. She was no longer short and dumpy. There was Wisahketchahk laughing.

(192) "kihcêyimôw oskinîkiw wîsahkêcâhkwa kî-wîwiw," itêw.

(192) “The proud young man had Wisahketchahk for his wife,” he said to him.

(193) nakiskawêw. êkwa wîkimêw anihi kotaka.

(193) He had gone to meet him. And he had married this other one too.

(194) êkosi wiya êwako.

(194) That is the end of this story.

Footnotes

¹CHECK ayi

²CHECK ayi

³possible êh-nitonikêt.

⁴LB: Not “bad grammar” or simplification for my benefit: the Sweet Grass people regularly use nama kîkway with animates, as, nama kîkway ayôskanak: “There aren't any (more) raspberries.”

⁵CHECK -yihk. Obviative impersonal?? HCW: ??

⁶LB on picikîskisîsah: Bird not identified.

⁷LB on nik-ôcân: The demoninative of ocêw: “fly”, is ocêwiw, used below; here the humorous formation is as though there were a primitive verb stem ocâ-: “to be a fly.”

⁸CHECK pitihkwaskamikisin. HCW: Probably lexicon error.

⁹CHECK ah-cimasoyit

¹⁰CHECK kipê-wîwin