(1) kîtahtawê ê-pimohtêt wîsahkêcâhk,- nôhtêhkatêw mâka mîna,- ê-pimohtêt, kâ-wâpamât sîsîpa, êkwa niska mihcêt, sîsîpa.

(1) Once upon a time, as Wisahketchahk was tramping along as usual he was hungry as he was tramping along, he saw some ducks and many geese, ducks.

(2) êkosi ômisi itêyihtam: "tânisi ka-isi-nipahakik?" itêyihtam.

(2) Then this was what he thought: “How shall I kill them?” he thought.

(3) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk sâkahikanis, êkota sisonê nipîhk kâ-wâpahtahk asisiya. otinam, ê-titipinahk. mistahi tahkopitam, ê-nayahtahk, ê-sipwêhtêt. sîsîpa ita kâ-ayâyit, êkota cîki ê-pimohtêt, kâ-wâpamikot sîsîpa.

(3) Presently he saw a little lake, and by the water's edge some weeds. He took them and rolled them up. He tied up a great bundle of them, took it on his back, and went off. When he came walking close to where the ducks were, they caught sight of him.

(4) ômisi itwêwak sîsîpak: "hâ, kistêsinaw!" itwêwak; "kêkway kâ-nayahtahk?" êkosi itwêwak.

(4) The ducks said, “Ho, our big brother! What is that he's carrying on his back?” they said.

(5) "mahti nika-kakwêcimâw," itwêw awa sîsîp.

(5) “Suppose I ask him,” said one duck.

(6) "êha," itwêwak.

(6) “Yes, do,” they said.

(7) "nistêsê, kîkway kâ-nayahtaman?"

(7) “Big brother, what is that you're carrying on your back?”

(8) âhci piko pimohtêw; tâpiskôc êkâ ê-pêhtawât, âhci piko pimohtêw.

(8) He kept right on walking; just as if he had not heard, he kept on walking.

(9) âsay mîna sîsîp ômisi itêw: "nistêsê, kîkway kâ-nayahtaman?"

(9) Again the duck asked him, “Big brother, what is it you're carrying on your back?”

(10) êkoyikohk nîpawiw wîsahkêcâhk.

(10) Only then did Wisahketchahk stand still.

(11) "mâ," itwêw, "kîkway kâ-nayahtaman?"

(11) “Say,” it said, “what is it you're carrying?”

(12) "wâ, pasakwâpisimôwina!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(12) “Why, Shut-Eye Dances!” said Wisahketchahk.

(13) "kêkway pasakwâpisimôwin?" itwêw sîsîp.

(13) “What is a Shut-Eye Dance?” said the duck.

(14) wîsahkêcâhk ômisi itwêw: "nîminâna," itêw.¹

(14) Wisahketchahk spoke thus: “A saltatory rite,” he told the other.

(15) "nîmihinân," itwêw sîsîp; "nika-pasakwâpisimonân!"

(15) “Do you give us a dance,” said the duck; “Let us dance the Shut-Eye Dance!”

(16) "hay hay!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; "â, miywâsin ê-kitimâkinawiyêk, nisîmitik!" "nama awiyak nitâpwêhtâkoh, tê-nîmihitocik, kayâs ê-kî-asotamân ta-nîmihitôwinihkêyân," itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; "êkosi pê-kapâk."

(16) “Splendid!” cried Wisahketchahk; “Oh, it is fine that you have taken pity on me, little brothers! No one has given heed to me until now, and danced, when long ago I had pledged myself to give a ritual dance,” said Wisahketchahk; “So then, come ashore.”

(17) ta-sipwêhtêwak êkwa sîsîpak mîna niskak. kahkiyaw itohtêwak.

(17) Off went the ducks and geese. All of them came.

(18) ômisi itwêw wîsahkêcâhk: "maci-kakêpâtisak, ninôhtêhkatêwâh!" "mistahi nika-mîcison!" itêyihtam wîsahkêcâhk.

(18) Thus spoke Wisahketchahk: “Hopeless ninnies, I've been starving! I shall have a big meal!” thought Wisahketchahk.

(19) ê-apit, êkota takohtêyiwa.

(19) They came to where he sat.

(20) "â, âstamitik, nisîmitik!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(20) “Ha, come here, little brothers!” said Wisahketchahk.

(21) êkwa ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-sakâyik ê-itohtêt, mihta ita ê-mihcêniyiki, êkota takohtêw.

(21) Setting out and making for a clump of trees, he came to where there was plenty of wood for a fire.

(22) "hâ, nisîmitik, otinamok mihta," itwêw.

(22) “Ha, little brothers, take up some faggots,” he said.

(23) tâpwê otinamwak mihcêt, êkwa ê-osihtâcik wîkiwâw, êkota ê-apahkwêcik ôho asisiya. apisâsiniyiw iskwâhtêmis.

(23) Accordingly they took up a plenty and built themselves a lodge, which they thatched with those weeds. The little doorway was very small.

(24) "hâ, êkwa, nisîmitik, pîhtokêk," itwêw; "nîkân ta-pîhtokêwak niskak êkwa kâ-misikiticik sîsîpak," itwêw; "cikêmâ êwakonik ê-okimâwicik," itwêw.

(24) “Ha, now, little brothers, come inside,” he said; “First the geese and the big ducks will come in,” he said; “Especially those who are chiefs,” he said.

(25) wêskwâhtêmihk êkosi ômisi itapiyiwa, êyakonik niskak. nêtê iskwâhtêmihk, êyakonik ê-apisîsisicik êkota apiwak. êkwa kipaham ôma iskwâhtêm awa wîsahkêcâhk, "êkâ ka-wayawîcik," ê-itêyihtahk. êkwa mâtôw wîsahkêcâhk.

(25) Accordingly these, the geese, sat like this, at the far end, facing the door. Over at the other end, by the door sat the little fellows. Then that Wisahketchahk blocked up the doorway, thinking “So that they can't get out.” Then Wisahketchahk wept.

(26) "nisîmitik, kinanâskomitinâwâw, ê-kîsihtâyêk ôma mîkiwâhp." "êkâ awiyak ê-kitimâkinawit, kiyawâw kâ-kitimâkinawiyêk," itwêw, ê-mâtot.

(26) “Little brothers, I thank you for having built this lodge. When no one took pity on me, it was you who pitied me,” he spoke, weeping.

(27) êkosi pôni-mâtôw.

(27) Then he ceased weeping.

(28) ômisi itwêw wîsahkêcâhk: "hâw, nisîmitik, ôta tâwayihk nika-nîpawin; nika-nikamon." "nikamoyâni, ka-nîmihitonâwâw." "iyikohk pôni-nikamoyâni, êkoyikohk ka-tôhkâpinâwâw." "kîspin manitôw nipêcimâw, 'hweh hweh hweh!' nika-itwân;" "êkota sôhki ka-nîmihitonâwâw, pêhtawiyêko, êkosi itwêyâni."

(28) Thus spoke Wisahketchahk: “Now, little brothers, here in the centre I shall stand; I shall sing. When I sing, you will dance; [sic] you will close your eyes. Not until I cease singing will you open your eyes. When I summon the spirit-power, I shall say, ‘Hwe, hwe, hwe!’ then you will dance with all your might, when you hear me call thus.

(29) "ahaq," itwêwak.

(29) “Very well,” they answered.

(30) êkwa mistik tahkonam wîsahkêcâhk, nîpiya ê-kayâsâyiwiyiki ê-takopitêyiki, ômisi ê-isiwêpinahk, ê-sêwêpayiyiki, tâpiskôc sasawihyâkan, ôhi nîpiya. êkosi êkwa nikamôw.

(30) Then Wisahketchahk took hold of a branch that had old leaves on it which rustled when he swung it, like this, just like a bell, those leaves. Thereupon he began singing.

(31) ômisi itwêw: "pasakwâpisimôwina nipêciwitân!" êkosi itwêw, ê-nikamot.

(31) These were his words: “Shut-Eye Dances I bring here!” were the words of his song.

(32) êkwa ôhi kahkiyaw ê-pasakwâpicik, ê-nîmihitocik, kîtahtawê, "hweh hweh!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-otinât ê-misikitiyit niska, ê-kîskikwêpitât. êkosi ê-ati-wâsakâmêt, tahki ê-nikamot, ê-ati-kîskikwêpitât niska ôhi mîna sîsîpa kâ-misikitiyit. nêtê iskwâhtêmihk ê-nîmihitot sihkihp, êwako ê-pêhtahk kêkway, ê-napatê-tôhkâpit, ê-nîmihitot, kâ-wâpamât wîsahkêcâhkwa ê-ati-nipahâyit.

(32) Then, when they all had closed their eyes and were dancing, presently, “Hwe, hwe!” went Wisahketchahk, taking hold of a big goose and wringing its neck. In this way he kept on circling round, singing all the while, and, as he went, wringing the necks of the geese and of the big ducks. Over yonder by the door danced Hell-Diver, and when he heard something or other, and opened one eye as he danced, there he saw Wisahketchahk killing one after another.

(33) "îyahâ!" itwêw, "mâka mîna kimêscihikonaw wîsahkêcâhk!" itwêw.

(33) “Yah!” he cried, “It's the same old story, Wisahketchahk is killing us off!”

(34) ê-tôhkâpicik kotakak, ômisi itwêw wîsahkêcâhk: "kêkway ôma ita kê-pêtâyân nîmihitôwin, kakêpâtisicik?"²

"ninôhtêhkatâh!" itêw ôhi sîsîpa.

(34) When the others opened their eyes, Wisahketchahk said, “What sort of a dance would I be bringing you blockheads? I was hungry, that's all!” he said to those ducks.

(35) wayawîyâmowak kotakak, ê-tapasîcik.

(35) They fled out of doors, the others, trying to get away.

(36) êkosi wayawîw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-pâhpit, ê-miywêyihtahk, "mistahi nika-mîcison," ê-itêyihtahk. êkosi pîkonam ôma wîki, ôhi mihta ê-otinahk, ê-kotawêt, ôhi ê-wî-nawacît nîpin-âya. êkosi ê-nawacît, kahkiyaw nawacîw. êkosi osâm mistahi ê-pônahk, apwêsiw.

(36) Thereupon Wisahketchahk went out of the lodge, laughing and rejoicing, thinking, “I shall eat a plenty.” So then he tore up that lodge of his, taking the faggots and building a fire to roast those summer creatures. He roasted them whole. Having made too big a fire, he began to feel hot.

(37) sipwêhtêw, "pita nika-pôni-apwêsin;" "êkoyikohk ta-kîsisôwak niniskimak," ê-itêyihtahk.

(37) He went off, thinking, “First I shall get over feeling hot; by that time my geese will be done.”

(38) tâpwê wâhyawês ê-itohtêt, kâ-wâpamât mahkêsîsa ê-wîsakêyihtamiyit oskâtiyiw, ê-watiskâyit, êkâ ê-kî-pimohtêyit, ê-wî-tapasîhikot.

(38) And so when he had walked a little ways, there he saw Fox, who had a pain in his leg, and was limping and could not walk properly, as he tried to run away from him.

(39) "cêskwa, nisîm!" itêw.

(39) “Wait a moment, little brother!” he called to him.

(40) "wâ, namôya" itik; "osâm mâka mîna nânitaw kiwî-tôtawin," itik.

(40) “Dear me, no!” the other answered; “You are only going to play me some new trick,” he said to him.

(41) "namôya!" itêw; "ê-wî-âcimostâtân." "îh ôma kiwâpahtên cî mistahi kâ-pikihtêk?"

(41) “No! he told him; “It is only that I want to tell you some news. Do you see all the smoke rising over here?”

(42) "êha," itik.

(42) “Yes,” said the other to him.

(43) "êkota mihcêt ninipahâwak niskak mîna sîsîpak, êkota ê-nawacîyân," ê-itât; "mistahi ka-mîcisonânaw," itêw; "mâka pita ka-kakwê-nakatonânaw." "nêma wâhyaw kâ-ispatinâ-k êwako ka-têtipêwêpahtânânaw."

(43) “Over there I have killed a lot of geese and ducks, and there I am roasting them,” he told him; “We shall have plenty to eat,” he told him; “But first let us race. Let us run around that hill not far from here.”

(44) "hâh, namôya! kiwâpamin êkâ ê-kî-pimohtêyân, ê-wîsakêyihtamân niskât," itwêw mahkêsîs.

(44) “Oh dear, no! You see I can't walk, with my sore leg,” said Fox.

(45) ômisi itwêw wîsahkêcâhk: "asiniyak niskâtihk nika-tahkopitâwak," itwêw.

(45) Wisahketchahk spoke thus: “I shall tie stones to my leg,” he said.

(46) "êha," itwêw mahkêsîs.

(46) “Very well,” said Fox.

(47) asiniya otinêw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-tahkopitât oskâtihk.

(47) Wisahketchahk took some stones and tied them to his leg.

(48) "haw, nisîm, êkwa!"

(48) “There, little brother, come on!”

(49) êkwa sipwêpahtâwak. nakatêw mahkêsîsa wîsahkêcâhk.

(49) So they set off at a run. Wisahketchahk left Fox behind.

(50) "hêy, omîhkawikîh awa mahkêsîs, kâ-kitimâkaskâtak nisîm!" "itâp âtiht nika-asamâw, iyikohk ta-takopahtâci," itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(50) “Hey, I thought this Fox was a runner, this poor little brother of mine whom I am leaving so far behind! I shall give the poor fellow a few of then when he arrives from his run,” said Wisahketchahk.

(51) mayaw ê-âkawêwêt wîsahkêcâhk, kîwêpayiw awa mahkêsîs, namôya ê-wîsakêyihtahk oskât, ôma kâ-pikihtêyik ê-ispayit. ê-takohtêt, niska sîsîpa mîna kâ-wâpamât ê-kîsisoyit. otinêw, êkwa ê-mîcisot, wîsahkêcâhkwa ê-kimotamawât onawacîwiniyiwa. kitamwêw kahkiyaw. ositiyiwa piko ôhi niska êkwa sîsîpa, êkoni piko iskotêhk astâw, "ta-wâpahtahk wîsahkêcâhk," ê-itêyihtah. êkosi tapasîw, "nika-kisiwâhâw," ê-itêyimât wîsahkêcâhkwa.

(51) As soon as Wisahketchahk was out of sight behind the hill, that Fox turned back, and his leg was not sore at all, as he made for the rising smoke. When he got there, there he saw the geese and ducks a-roasting. He took them and ate, robbing Wisahketchahk of his roasts. He ate them all up. Only the feet of those geese and ducks, only those did he put into the embers, thinking, “Let Wisahketchahk see them.” Then he made for safety, thinking of Wisahketchahk, “He will be angry at me.”

(52) êkwa wîsahkêcâhk iyikohk ê-takohtêt mistahi apwêsiw; ayisk mistahi pimipahtâw.

(52) Then, when Wisahketchahk arrived, he was very hot; for he had had quite a run.

(53) "hêy, âstêpwêsiyâni nika-mîcison," ê-itêyihtah, "itâp âtiht nika-asamâw nisîm," itêw mahkêsîsa, "iyikohk takohtêci," itêyihtam.

(53) “Hah, when I am no longer hot, I shall eat,” he thought; “I shall give my little brother a few, too,” he said of Fox, “when he gets here,” he thought.

(54) namôya kiskêyihtam âsay ê-kitamwâyit oniskima. êkosi êkwani otinam ôma ositiyiw. nama kêkway niska.

(54) He did not know that the other had already eaten his geese. So now he took one of those feet. There was not any goose.

(55) "hê hê hêy, nôsâmi-mêstihkaswâw!" itwêw.

(55) “Oho, I have overcooked him!” he said.

(56) piyis kahkiyaw otinêw; kahkiyaw nama kêkway; ositiyiwa piko.

(56) At last he took them all out; ever one was gone; only the feet were there.

(57) "hê hê hêy, mâka mîna êcika ani ê-wayêsihit mahêsihit mahkêsîs, kâ-kitamwât niniskima!"³

"êkosi êcika ani kê-nôhtêhkatêyân!" itwêw; "hâ hah, kikisiwâhin, mahkêsîs!" "namôya ta-pîhcâw askiy itê tita-itâmoyan." "niya nikî-osîhtâ-n askiy;" "ka-miskâtin;" "miskâtâni kâ-kitamwacik niniskimak!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-nitonawât mahkêsîsa.

(57) “Oho, it's surely Fox has been fooling me again, eating up my geese! And so I am to stay hungry!” he cried; “Ho, you have got me angry, Fox! The earth will not be big enough for you to escape. It was I created the earth; I will find you; and when I find you, who ate up my geese!” cried Wisahketchahk, as he went off to look for Fox.

(58) namôya wâhyaw ê-ihtât, kâ-wâpamât, ê-na-nipâyit, mitoni ê-mistatayêyit; ayisk kî-kîspoyiwa. asiniya otinêw, ê-wî-pakamahwât.

(58) He had not gone far, when he saw him taking a nap, his belly all big; for he had eaten a hearty fill. He took up a stone, to strike him.

(59) "yahâ!" itwêw; "nika-watôkatahwâw," itwêw;⁴

"nika-otastotinih awa mahkêsîsiwayân!" itwêw; "kiyâm nika-pasisamawâw, ta-nipahâpasot ôma ohci kaskâpahtêw," itwêw.

(59) “Yah!” he said; “I shall ruin his hide,” he said; “I might as well have a cap of his fox-pelt!” he said; “I had better make a fire round him so that he chokes in the smoke,” he said.

(60) na-nitohtâk, ôma ê-itât. êkosi kotawêw, wâsakâm ê-saskahahk maskosiya. êkwa ê-kwâhkotêyik, waniskâw awa mahkêsîs. mistahi kaskâpasôw.

(60) The other was listening to what he said about him. So then he made a fire, setting fire the grass round about. When the blaze came, Fox got up. The smoke was getting too thick for him.

(61) "heq," wîsahkêcâhk ômisi itwêw; "hiheq, mahti mîna kitamok niniskimak!" itêw.

(61) “Ha,” said Wisahketchahk; “Haha, just you eat up my geese again!” he said to him.

(62) konita wâskâpayihôw awa mahkêsîs, ê-kaskâpahtêyik mistahi. piyisk namôya wâpamêw wîsahkêcâhk. kwâskwêpayihôw awa mahkêsîs, iskotêw ôma ê-pâsici-kwâskohtit, ê-tapasît. namôya wâpamêw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-tapasîyit. piyis misiwê pasitêyiw, êkota ê-wâskâhtêt wîsahkêcâhk.

(62) Fox dashed about in a circle, this way and that, as the smoke grew denser. At last Wisahketchahk could see him no more. Up leaped Fox, jumping across the flame, and making for safety. Wisahketchahk did not see how he ran away. At last there was a big fire, and Wisahketchahk kept walking round it.

(63) "tâpwê nikitimahâw, ê-nipahîhkaswak mahkêsîs," itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; kâ-wâpahtahk pihko ê-astêyik, mostoso-mêy ita ê-kî-astêyik, "tâpwê nikitimâkîhkaswâw!" ê-itwêt; "mahti ka-iskohkasot, nika-môwâw, iskohkasoci," ê-itêyihtah; ôma pihko ê-wî-otinahk, "kâ-kîsisot iskotêw êsa ôma êwako mahkêsîs," ê-itêyihtah, ê-cîsihot.

(63) “I have surely put an end to Fox; burning him to death,” said Wisahketchahk; and when he saw the ashes lying, where there had been buffalo-dung, “Surely I have burned him to a sorry end!” said he; “I shall eat what is left of him, if there is any of him left from the fire,” he thought; and he was going to take up the ashes there, thinking, “And this must be Fox, burned up in this fire,” as he deceived himself.

(64) êkoyikohk namôya kiskêyihtam ê-kî-tapasîyit.

(64) Even now he did not know that the other had got away.

(65) êkosi êkoyikohk êwako âtayôhkêwin.

(65) And so this is the end of this sacred story.

(66) ê-ta-tahkiskawât sihkihpa, "hâw, ôtê nîkân ayîsiyiniw kita-ohpikiw;"⁵

"ka-wâpamik ôma kâ-nanâpotôkanêskâtân." "'sihkihp' kika-isiyihkâtikwak." "namôya ka-miyosin;" "osâm kikisiwâhin ê-wîhtaman, ê-tôhkâpiyan," itêw.

(66) When he kicked Hell-Diver, “Now then, ahead in future time mortal man will grow up; he will see here on you where I have kicked your rump crooked. ‘Hell-Diver,’ they will call you. You will not be handsome; too much have you angered me by telling this and by opening your eyes,” he told him.

(67) êkosi êwako.

(67) So much for this.

Footnotes

¹LB on nîminânah: Unusual word.

²LB on kâkêpâtisicik: The ending of the vocative plural is, of course, -itik. The sound c for t appears in diminutives (among the younger generation of speakers, almost universally); less often in other words formed with suffixes containing s (as in the present instance); and occasionally in other words, probably always with a diminutive touch.

³CHECK: probable speaker error, possibly blend of surrounding words

⁴LB on nka-watôkatahwâw: Error?

⁵LB: THis paragraph was added in answer to a leading question. “I did not tell you that part,” he explained. This is a characteristic of our informant. Notice that even now he does not explain the diver duck's red eyes.