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(1) kîtahtawê wîkiwak ayîsiyiniwak, nîso okimâwak, pêyak macihkiwis ôhtâwiya.²

kîtahtawê awâsisak mihcêt sôsimêwak.

(1) Once upon a time some people dwelt in a place, and there were two chiefs, and one of them was Silly-Fellow's father. Then at one time many of the children played at throwing snow-darts.

(2) "mahti kakwêciyawêhitotâk ôma kâ-sôsimêyahk kahkiyaw, mahti awîna nêhtâ-sôsimêt, awîna wâhyaw kê-pahkisiniyit," itwêw pêyak awâsis ôhkoma ê-ohpikihikot.

(2) “Let us all try to outdo each other throwing snow-darts, and see who is the best at it, whose snow-dart lands farthest away,” said one child, who was being brought up by his grandmother.

(3) êkosi sôsimêwak. êkwa ati-otinêwak sôsimâna. piyis pêyak osôsimâna ayîsisiniyiwa kônihk. pimitisahwêwak.

(3) So they threw their snow-darts. Then they went and picked up their snow-darts one after the other, as they came to them. At last only one boy's snow-dart was left lying on the snow. They went after it.

(4) "êkâ wiya awiyak nôhtaw kita-kîwêw!" itwêw.

(4) [no translation]

(4a) êkwa piyisk ê-sakâyik êkota ati-sêskipayiyiwa, ê-mitihtâcik ôhi sôsimâna, ê-paskwâyik êkota wâhyaw, ê-sakâyik êkotê ispisîyiwa.

(4a) At last they found it had gone into a wood. As they followed the track of that snow-dart, across a far stretch of prairie there, into the woods it had sped.

(5) kîtahtawê ê-otâkosiniyik, awîna ôma, kî-mihtiskâyiw.³

kêkâc pahkisimoyiw; kwayask ômisi isi cimasoyiwa osôsimâna. êkoyikohk yôtiniyiw; misponiyiw.

(5) Presently, as evening came on, they were deep in the woods. It was near sunset; there, standing straight upright in the snow, like this, was the boy's snow-dart. Just then the wind began to blow; it snowed.

(6) "ôta ayâtâk." "ka-kawacinânaw." "mânokêtâk; mihtikowâhp osîhtâtâk." "âtiht maskosiya kita-otinamwak." "misîhtâk kîkinaw," itwêw.

(6) “Let us stay here. We might freeze. Let us set up a shelter; let us build a hut of wood. Some of you are to gather grasses. Make our hut big,” he said.

(7) êkosi osîhtâwak. piyisk ê-tipiskâyik, kîsihtâwak. ê-wâpaniyik, kêyâpic mistahi mâyi-kîsikâyiw.

(7) Accordingly, they built it. At last, when night came, they had finished it. The next morning it was still very stormy weather.

(8) "êkâya kîwêtâk." "ka-kawacinânaw," itwêw; "nikohtêk." "êkwa ôta iskwâhtêmihk câh-cahkâkonêhamok." "pêsîhkok kisôsimâniwâwak kahkiyaw," itwêw.

(8) “Let us not go home. We should freeze,” he said; “Gather firewood. And here by the door, dig away the snow. All of you bring me your snow-darts,” he said.

(9) miyâw. kahkiyaw êkwa wêskwâhtêmihk cimahêw kahkiyaw sôsimâna. êkwa kîkisêpâ wayawîw, ê-otinât kahkiyaw sôsimâna. nikamôw.

(9) They were given to him. Then he stuck all the snow-darts on end into the floor, opposite the doorway. Then, early in the morning, he went out, taking all the snow-darts. He sang.

(10) "niyâk! mâcîk!" itwêw awa, sôsimâna kâ-kî-itisahomiht, kâ-kî-pimitisahomiht.

(10) “Be off! Hunt!” he sang whose snow-dart had been followed to that place, had been pursued across the land.

(11) êkosi âhci piko mâyi-kîsikâyiw.

(11) The storm kept on.

(12) êkwa ê-otâkosiniyik, "kahkiyaw pîhtokêk." "ôta tawayâk iskwâhtêmihk mîna wêskwâhtêmihk," itwêw.

(12) Then, in the evening, “All of you indoors. Form two lines from the doorway to the opposite wall,” he ordered.

(13) piyis êkosi tôtamwak. kîtahtawê awa kâ-kî-mitihtimiht osôsimâna êwako kâ-pîhtokêkociniyit osôsimâna. ê-kî-itaskôtoyit osôsimâniwâwa, êkosi isi itaskôtoyiwa. kahkiyaw mihkôwiyiwa sôsimâna.

(13) Soon they had done this. Then presently the snow-dart of him whose snow-dart had been tracked, came flying into the hut. in the order in which their snow-darts had gone, in that order they now came, one following the other. All the snow-darts were stained with blood.

(14) "êkâya wayawîk!" itwêw.

(14) “Do not go out of the house!” he said.

(15) kêtahtawê kâ-pa-pitihkohtiniyik kîkwaya.

(15) Presently some things were falling with a repeated thud.

(16) ê-kî-isi-pitihkohtiniyik kêkway, "ê hâw, êkwa wayawîk!" itwêw awa kâ-kî-mitihtimiht osôsimâna.

(16) When those things had fallen with a thud, “There, now go out!” said he whose snow-dart had been tracked.

(17) êkosi wayawîwak. awîna ôhi, nanâtohk pisiskiwa, okwâskwêpayihôsa, nanâtohk êhtasiyit pisiskiwa, ôki ê-minahocik sôsimânak, êwakonik ê-âpohtêcik, osâm ê-manitôwit awa osôsimâna kâ-mitihtimiht.

(17) Then they went out. What was there, but all kinds of game-animals, jumping deer, all the game-animals there are? For these snow-darts had killed game, and it was they were supplying meat, so much of a manitou person was he whose snow-darts had been tracked.

(18) ômisi itêyihtam: "ôki awâsisak ta-wani-kiskisiwak." "wîkiwâhk namôya ta-pîkiskâtamwak!" itêyihtam.

(18) thus he thought: “Let these children forget. Let them not get homesick!” he thought.

(19) tâpwê êkosi ispayiyiw.

(19) Really, it was so.

(20) "hâw, osîhtâk têsipicikana kiyâm mihcêt!" itwêw.

(20) “Come, set up a great many drying frames!” he said.

(21) êkosi tôtamwak ôki awâsisak. ê-tipiskâyik, âsay mîna nitomêw sôsimâna.

(21) Those children did as he had bidden. At dark, again he asked for the snow-darts.

(22) "êkâ wiya êkwa mêtawâkêk ôki sôsimânak." "atoskêk." "têsipicikana osîhtâk kiyikaw." "ôta akotâk kâhkêwakwa pîhcâyihk," itwêw.

(22) “Do not now play with these snow-darts. Work. Set up drying frames everywhere. Hang up the dried meat indoors here,” he ordered.

(23) êkosi tôtamiyiwa ôhi awâsisa. mayaw ê-wâpaniyik, âsay mîna nikamôw kîkisêpâ, ê-sôsimêt, "mâcîk!" ê-itât sôsimâna.

(23) The children did as he said. As soon as day broke, early in the morning again he sang, as he flung the snow-darts, bidding the snow-darts “Hunt!”

(24) ê-otâkosiniyik, "pîhtokêk kahkiyaw! tawayâk iskwâhtêmihk wêskwâhtêmihk mîna!" itwêw.

(24) At nightfall, “Come inside, all of you! Form two lines from the door to the opposite wall!” he ordered.

(25) êkosi tôtamwak. âsay mîna pîhtokêkocinwak sôsimânak. âsay mîna âpohtêwak. êkoyikohk âstê-kîsikâyiw. êkoyikohk môcikêyihtamwak awâsisak, ê-mîcisocik.

(25) They did so. Again the snow-darts came flying into the house. Again they had supplied meat. By this time the day was done. The children were happy, because they could eat.

(26) êkosi itahkamikisiw; pêyakwaniyiw ê-tôtahk. piyisk ôma kâ-misi-sakâyik, êwako wâsakâm akotêyiwa wiyâsa, nanâtohk mîciwina, wiyawâw ê-atoskêcik. mistahi mîsihtâwak.

(26) That was the way he managed things; it was always the same thing that he did. In time, all over that large grove pieces of meat were hanging, all kind of food supplies, as a result of their work. They had a big store of meat.

(27) kîtahtawê awa macihkiwis kîkisêpâ kâ-wayawît, ê-nitawi-sikit, êkotê ê-yôtiniyik, kâ-pê-paswêmâkwaniyik. nôsôskam, ê-pasot, ê-paswêmâkasikêt. kîkisêpâ kisiwâk itêyihtam, pêyâhtik pimohtêw. ôma kâ-mahkâskwêyâyik ê-otihtahk, âsay otâkosiniyiw. kêyâpic paskwâyiw. wayacîwîw. tahki paswêmâkwaniyiw. mitoni ê-otâkosiniyik, takohtêw.

(27) Then at one time, when this Silly-Fellow had gone out in the morning, [no translation], from the direction whence the wind was blowing there came the smell of fat meat. He set out in the direction of the scent, following the smell of fat meat. In the early morning he thought it was near. [sic] He walked slowly. When he reached that big wood, it was already evening. Again he came to open country. He broke into a run. All the while he smelled the scent of fat meat. When it was well on toward dark, he got there.

(28) "êyahâ, kistêsinaw takosin! mahti asamihk." "nôhtêhkatêw," itwêw awa sôsimâna kâ-kî-mitihtimiht.

(28) “Oho, our elder brother has come! Give him something to eat. He is hungry,” said he whose snow-dart had been tracked.

(29) êkosi kapê-tipisk mîcisôw; nôhtêhkatêw ayisk.

(29) Then he ate all night; for he was hungry.

(30) êkwa awa kâ-atoskahât sôsimâna êwako ômisi itwêw: "mahti ta-mâyi-kîsikâw, êkâ ta-kîwêt awa nistês, êkâ kita-âcimot!" itwêw.

(30) Then the one who made the snow-darts work said, “Let there be stormy weather, so that this big brother of mine may not go home and tell what he has seen!” he said.

(31) tâpwê ê-wâpaniyik, mâyi-kîsikâyiw.

(31) Really, the next morning, there was stormy weather.

(31a) êkosi ômisi itwêw: "mâcîk!" itêw sôsimâna.

(31a) Then he spoke thus: “Hunt!” he said to the snow-darts.

(32) ê-otâkosiniyik, "pîhtokêk kahkiyaw!" itwêw; "kâ-itapiyêk, êkosi isi tawapik!" itwêw.

(32) Towards evening, “Come indoors, all of you!” he said; “As you sat before, sit now, in two rows!” he commanded.

(33) êkosi tôtamwak. kitâpamêw awa macihkiwis. tâpwê pîhtokêpayiyiwa sôsimâna, konita kâ-oyâtamiyit awâsisa, ê-miywêyihtamiyit, ê-wiyanihtâkêyit.⁴

êkosi kitâpamêw.

(33) They did so. Silly-Fellow watched them. Really, the snow-darts came flying into the house, and boys cheered loudly with joy, and set about cleaning the game. He watched them.

(34) "â, nisîmitik, ka-wîcêtinâwâw." "osâm ninôhtêhkatân itê kâ-ohtohtêyân, êkâ awiyak ê-kî-minahot, ê-nôhtêhkatêhk, piko ê-mêtawêhk, êkosi ê-isi-mîcisohk," itwêw.⁵

(34) “Oh, little brothers, let me stay with you. I go hungry too much in the place whence I come, because no one there can kill any game, and all go hungry and eat only as one eats after a contest,” he said.

(35) "hâ, nistêsê, namôya ka-kî-mwêstâtitinân." "osâm nama awiyak kêhtê-ayiwiw ôta; pisisik awâsisak," itwêw awa sôsimâna kâ-atoskahât.

(35) “Oh, big brother, we could not refuse you. Especially as there is no older person here, but only children,” said he who made the snow-darts work.

(36) pêyakwan ê-tôtahk.

(36) He did always the same thing.

(37) kîtahtawê ê-wayawît kîkisêpâ, "mistahi mîsihtâwak ôki kâ-kî-wanihihcik awâsisak," itêyihtam, ê-wiyinot, "nika-kîwân." "nika-nitawi-âcimon," ê-itêyihtahk.

(37) Then, early one morning, as he went out of the house, “A great supply of food have these children who have been lost,” he thought, and, because he had got fat now, “I shall go home. I shall go tell what I have seen,” thought he.

(38) ati-kîwêw.⁶

êkosi kîwêpahtâw.

(38) He went home. He ran for home.

(39) cîki wîkiwâhk ê-ihtât, "hâw, mahti nistês kâ-kîwêt, 'nika-nitawi-âcimon,' kâ-itêyihtahk, ta-wani-kiskisiw! namôya kita-âcimôw!" itêyihtam awa sôsimâna kâ-kî-mitihtimiht.

(39) When he had got near their dwelling-place, “Now then, let my big brother who is going home thinking, “I shall go tell what I have seen,” let him lose his memory! Let him not tell!” thought he whose snow-dart had been tracked.

(40) wani-kiskisiw awa macihkiwis. ôhtâwiya wîkiyihk ê-pîhtokêt, konita piko isi ay-itwêw. êkosi namôya.

(40) That Silly-Fellow lost his memory. As he entered his father's dwelling, he said all kinds of disconnected things. So nothing came of it.

(41) kîtahtawê mîna ê-kawâhkatosot, êkâ kêkway ê-mîcit, êkosi kîkisêpâ ê-nitawi-sikit, kâ-pê-paswêmâkwaniyik.

(41) After a time, when he was again starved lean, for he had nothing to eat, [no translation] there came the odour of fat meat.

(42) "êyakonik awâsisak kâ-mîsihtâcik." "nika-nitawi-mîcison," itêyihtam.

(42) “That is the boys storing up food. I shall go there and eat,” he thought.

(43) namwâc wî-wâyonîw. namôya nôhtê-wîhtam, iyâyaw ê-nôhtêhkatêt. sipwêhtêw. ê-otâkosiniyik takosin.

(43) He did not even think of going back. He did not want to tell about it, but thought only of his hunger. He started out. Towards nightfall he got there.

(44) "mâka mîna kistêsinaw takosin." "asamihk; ta-mîcisôw," itwêw.

(44) “Here comes our big brother again. Give him something to eat; let him eat,” said he.

(45) êkosi tâpwê asamâw.

(45) So he was fed.

(46) "hâw, ôta ka-wa-wîcêtinâwâw, nisîmitik," itwêw.

(46) “Now, let me stay here with you, my little brothers,” he said.

(47) êkwa mistahi ayâwak mîciwin ôki awâsisak kê-kî-wanihihcik.

(47) By this time, much food had those children who had been lost.

(48) êkosi iyikohk mîna ê-wiyinot, êkoyikohk mîna, "nika-nitawi-âcimon," itêyihtam.

(48) Then, when he had again got fat, again he thought, “Let me go tell what I have seen.”

(49) êkosi kîwêw. mitoni cîki wîkiwâhk ê-ihtât, "mahti ta-wani-kiskisiw awa nistês kâ-wî-âcimot!" itêyihtam.

(49) So he went home. When he had got very near their dwelling-place, “Let my big brother lose his memory, who is going to tell what he has seen!” thought he.

(50) tâpwê wani-kiskisiw.

(50) Really, he lost his memory.

(51) "kîkwâkanihk ôma ê-kî-nâtamân?" itêyihtam.⁷

(51) “What on earth was I going after?” he thought.

(52) êkosi ay-ayâw mîna êkota. kîtahtawê mîna ê-nôhtêhkatêt, ê-wayawît, mîna kâ-pasot, ê-paswêmâkwaniyik. nicawâc sipwêpahtâw. âsay mîna nitawi-takosin.

(52) So then he stayed there again. After a time, when again he was going hungry, as he stepped out of the tent, again he smelled the odour of fat meat. Off he ran; what else was there to do? Again he reached the place.

(53) "nisîmitik, namôya êkwa kiwî-ohci-nakatitinâwâw," itwêw awa.

(53) “Little brothers, this time I shall not leave you any more,” he said.

(54) ay-ayâw êkota. iyikohk mîna ê-wiyinot, kîwêw.

(54) He stayed there. When he had got fat again, he went home.

(55) "namôya êkwa nika-wani-kiskisin; awâsisak mîsihtâwak," itwêw âskaw.

(55) “This time I will not forget: the boys have a supply of meat,” he said at intervals.

(56) mwêhci ê-wî-yôhtênahk wîkiwâw, "awâsisak!" itwêw; wani-kiskisiw.

(56) Just as he was about to open the door-flap of their tipi, “The boys!” he said; he had forgotten.

(57) êkosi isi ay-ayâw ôhtâwiya wîkiyihk.

(57) So then he stayed in his father's tipi.

(58) kîtahtawê mîna ê-kawâhkatosot, mîna kîkisêpâ ê-wayawît, kêyâpic pê-paswêmâkwaniyiw.

(58) After a time, when he was again lean with hunger, as he stepped out of doors in the morning, again there came the scent of fat meats.

(59) "êwakonik nisîmak kâ-mîsihtâcik!" itêyihtam.

(59) “That is my little brothers laying up a store of meat!” he thought.

(60) sôskwâc sipwêpahtâw. ê-otâkosiniyik, takopahtâw. êkosi ay-ayâw mîna êkotê.

(60) At once, off he ran. Towards nightfall, he got there, on the run. So then he again stayed there.

(61) "tânisi awa êsiyîhkâsot, awa kâ-tipêyimiyêk, awa nisîm?"

(61) “What is his name, his who directs you, this little brother's [sic] of mine?”

(62) "'ôta wiya wâh-wîhiyêko, kâ-osôsimânisiw, kika-isiyîhkâsinâwâw,' kî-itwêw." "êkosi nama wîhkâc niwîhânân," itik awâsisa.

(62) “‘When here you wish to call me by hame, “Little Snow-Dart,” you will call me’ he has said. And so we never call him by his name,” the boys told him.

(63) iyikohk mîna ê-wiyinot, "hâ, nisîm, tânisi ôma êsiyîhkâsoyan?" itêw.

(63) When he was fat again, “Well, little brother, what is your name, really?” he asked him.

(64) "ô, nistêsê, ôki mâna kâ-wîcêwakik, 'kâ-osôsimânisiw,' nitisiyîhkâtikwak." "êkosi mâna itwêwak."

(64) “Why, big brother, they who are with me here call me ‘Little Snow-Dart.’ That is what they always say.”

(65) êkwa kîkisêpâ kâ-kîwêt, "nisîm kâ-osôsimânisiw mîsihtâw," itwêw âskaw.

(65) Then, in the morning, when he went home, “My brother Little Snow-Dart has a store of meat,” he said at intervals.

(66) wîkiwâhk ê-takosihk, "namôya êkwa ta-wani-kiskisiw; kiyâm kita-âcimôw nistês!" itêyihtam.

(66) When he arrived at their dwelling-place, “Now let him not forget; let my big brother tell what he has seen!” thought he.

(67) êkosi ê-pîhtokêt wîkiwâhk, "nisîm mîsihtâw osôsimânisiw." "nikî-otinâw, ê-tâpâhkômak, nôhtâ," itêw ôhtâwiya; "ôta awa nôhkominân kâ-wîkit, êwako ôsisima kâ-mîsihtâyit." "mâka ninitawi-wîhtamawâw nôhkom," itwêw; "'wâpahki kita-pê-piciw kôhtâwînaw nôhkom mîna.'"⁸

"'kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniwak ta-pê-piciwak,' ê-itwêt nisîm kâ-osôsimânisiw," itêw ôhtâwiya.

(67) So, when he entered their tipi, “My brother, Little Snow-Dart, has a store of meat. I have taken him up, adopted him, father,” he told his father; “This grandmother of ours who lives right here, it is her grandson has the store of meat. But I am going to tell my grandmother about it,” he said; “‘Tomorrow let our father move his camp here, and my grandmother, too. All the people are to move camp to this place,” says my brother, Little Snow-Dart,” he told his father.

(68) êkosi tâpwê miywêyihtam awa okimâw, ê-nitohkêmoyit awâsisa.

(68) Truly, then, this chief was glad that the boys were inviting people.

(69) "kitawâsimisiwâwak kâ-kî-wanihâyêkok kinitawêyimikowâwak, ê-mîsihtâcik," itwêw.

(69) “Your boys whom you have lost want you to come to them, because they have got a store of meat.” he said.

(70) tâpwê kîkisêpâ kahkiyaw piciwak, awa kotak mîna okimâw. tâpwê mitoni ê-otâkosiniyik takopiciwak. nicawâc ay-âpihtaw ayâwak ôhi wiyâsa.

(70) So, in the morning, they all moved camp, including that other chief. Late in the evening they arrived with their camps. They had to share the meat half and half.

(71) "kotak awa okimâw nama nânitaw kika-itohtânâwâw." "namôya kîkiwâhk kika-isi-kîwânâwâw." "ôta kika-ayânâwâw kîkinâhk." "niya nôhkom âskaw wîkihk nika-apin, âskaw kistêsinaw wîkiwâhk." "êkosi kika-tôtênânaw," itwêw.

(71) “You are not to go anywhere in the precinct of this other chief. You are not to go back to your homes. You are to stay here in our house. As for me, some of the time I shall stay in my grandmother's tent, and some of the time in my big brother's. That is the way we shall do,” he commanded.

(72) êkwa pêyak mostos otakisiya ê-kî-pâsahkik, êwakoni nitawi-miyêw ôhkoma.

(72) Then he went and gave his grandmother the entrails of a buffalo, which they had dried.

(73) "nôhkô, kanawêyihta ôhi." "êkâya wîhkâc otina," itwêw.

(73) “Grandmother, take care of these. Do not ever take them,” he said.

(74) êkwa kiyipa ati-kitânawêwak.

(74) Then, soon they had eaten up all the food.

(75) ômisi itwêw nâha kotak okimâw;- ê-otâkosiniyik pê-ta-tahkiskamwân wîkiwâw macihkiwis: "êkwa mîna kimêtawânânaw, nêwomitanaw kita-ihtasihk," itwêw êwako ana okimâw.

(75) Thus spoke that other chief - at nightfall there came a kicking at the tipi of Silly-Fellow and his family: “Now again we shall engage in a contest, to the number of forty,” said that other chief.

(76) ôhtâwiya tapahtiskwêyiyiwa.

(76) His father bowed his head.

(77) êkosi, "tânisi, nistêsê, ê-isi-mêtawêhk?"

(77) Then, “In what way, big brother, is it that they contend?”

(78) "hâ, nisîm, miskwamîhk ê-mêtawêhk." "êkosi mâna kôhtâwiyinaw piko ê-nâ-nakâhtwât," itâw.⁹

(78) “Oh, little brother, it is a contest on the ice. And in this our father is always defeated,” he was told.

(79) "hâh, nistêsê, tahtwâw kê-mêtawêhk, ta-nâh-nîsinâniwiw," itwêw awa kâ-kî-mîsihtât.

(79) “Now then, big brother, in each contest let there be two instead of one on a side,” said he who had made the supply of meat.

(80) "'kita-nâ-nîsinâniwiw,' itwêw nisîm," itêw ôhi.

(80) “‘There are to be two on a side,’ says my brother,” he told those others.

(81) êkwa ê-wâpaniyik, itohtêwak. êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw itohtêw. pôti ayênânêw-mitanaw mâmawô ihtasiwak wiyawâw awa ê-astwâtocik. êkosi ê-otihtahkik miskwamîhk, êkwa awa kâ-manitôwit kotak okimâw oskinîkîma, êwakoni nêtê isi-kwâskohtiyiwa miskwamîhk. pôti nikikwa kâ-kôkîyit miskwamîhk, êkwa nêtê tâwakâm êkotê kâ-môskipêyit. kâwi kôkîyiwa, êkwa ôta ita kâ-kî-ohci-kôkîyit, êkota wêh-pê-pasikôyit ayîsiyiniwa.

(81) Then, the next morning, they went to the place. Little Snow-Dart went there, too. He saw that eighty was the number of them, all together, whom they and the other were staking. Then, when they had come to the ice, the servant of that other chief, who had spirit power, leaped out upon the ice. And behold, there was an otter diving into the ice, and there, out in the middle of the lake, there it came bobbing forth. Again it dived, and back here, whence it first had dived, he rose to his feet in human form.

(82) êkwa macihkiwis ôhtâwiya êsi-kwâskohtiyit, pôti awa sâkwês kôkîw ita kâ-kî-ohci-kôkîyit nikikwa. itê kâ-kî-pêkopêyit, êkotê pêkopêw awa macihkiwis ôhtâwiya. âsay mîna kâ-ohci-kôkîyit, êkota ohci pê-pasikôyiwa ôhtâwiya.

(82) Then, when Silly-Fellow's father leaped forth, there, a mink was diving where the otter had dived in. Where the other had come to the surface, there Silly-Fellow's father came up. Then, again, where the other had dived in, Silly-Fellow's father rose to his feet.

(83) sâkowêw macihkiwis, "nâh-nama awiyak?" ê-itwêt.

(83) Silly-Fellow began to cheer, crying, “They are done for!”

(84) "namôya! kipaskiyâkawinâwâw." "konita ita miskwamiya kî-pikwâskawât kôhtâwiy, 'nâh-nama awiyak!' ka-kî-itwâhtânaw!" itâw; "mâka tâpi-pimotam," itâw.¹⁰

(84) “No! You have been defeated. If your father had broken through the ice, no matter where, then we could have cried, ‘They are done for!’” he was told; “But he has merely followed the other's lead,” he was told.

(85) êkwa awa kotak misiwê ca-cahkasinahikâsôw. kawipayihôw, konita ê-ati-kâh-kwêtipipayihot iyini-kinosêw. namwâc pisoskawêw miskwamiya. nêtê tâwakâm mîna êkotê ê-wayawît, êkotê ohci pa-pêcâstamohtêw awa ayîsiyiniw kâ-kinosêwit.

(85) The second contestant of the other side was speckled all over his body. He threw himself to the ground, and there was a muskalonge flopping about. It did not even touch the ice as it went. Then, when it came forth yonder at the centre of the expanse, from there came walking in human form that man who had been a fish.

(86) êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw nikamôw, ê-pâkâskwahikêt osôsimâna.

(86) Then Little Snow-Dart changed, pounding with his snow-dart as though on a drum.

(87) "nikik misinihâw!"¹¹

(87) “The otter is beaten!”

(88) ê-ititâmot, kawipayihôw: amisk.¹²

amiskôwiw. pêkamahwâci miskwamiya, anita misiwê kâ-ma-matwêskopayiyik.

(88) As he sang, he threw himself to the ground: a beaver. He turned into a beaver. Whenever he struck the ice, everywhere crashing it would break.

(89) pâh-pimitohtêw, ê-nikamot, "nîkân nitamiskôwin!" ê-itwêt.

(89) He walked in different crosswise ways, singing, and, “First I am a beaver!” were his words.

(90) kôkîw. nêtê tâwakâm kîtahtawê miskwamiy konita kâ-cimasot, miskwamiy ê-wayawîwêpiskawât.

(90) He dived. Suddenly over yonder, in the middle of the lake, the ice stood pell-mell on end, as he flung it aside in emerging.

(91) konita êkwa sâkowêw macihkiwis, opispâskwatôwi-pakamâkan ê-tahkonahk.¹³

kêhcinâhôwak ê-sâkôcihihcik. hâh, paskiyâkêw kâ-osôsimânisiw.

(91) At this, Silly-Fellow cheered wildly, and laid hold of his knobbed war-club. They saw beyond doubt that they were defeated. Oh, Little Snow-Dart had defeated the opponent.

(92) hâw, êkwa ê-otâkosiniyik, kisiwâhtwâw macihkiwis ôhtâwiya.

(92) That evening Silly-Fellow's father was enviously hated.

(93) "nikotwâsomitanaw kita-ihtasinâniwiw wâpahki." "'na-nâ-nîsinâniwiw' itwêw," itâw.

(93) “Let the number be sixty tomorrow. ‘Let the contestants be in pairs,’ says he,” he was told.

(94) "'êha,' itwê, nisîm," itwêw.

(94) “Say, ‘Yes,’ little brother,” said he.

(95) âsay êkosi kîkisêpâ, "tânisi ê-isi-mêtawêhk, nistêsê?" itêw.

(95) Then, early in the morning, “What kind of contest is it, big brother,” he asked him.

(96) "pêyakwanaskât ê-wî-pimotamihk."¹⁴

"êwako mâna sôskwâc nipaskiyâkawinân," itwêw macihkiwis.

(96) “One withy is to be shot. In this we are always defeated at once,” said Silly-Fellow.

(97) kîkisêpâ itohtêwak. hâ, tâpwê nîsosâpo-mitanaw ayîsiyiniwak ayâwak êkota.

(97) In the morning they went there. Really, there were a hundred and twenty men there.

(98) "êkwa awa nîkân kâ-pimotahk nîsocihc kita-pataham!" itwêw awa kâ-osôsimânisiw.

(98) “Now let him who shoots first miss the mark by two fingers!” said Little Snow-Dart.

(99) pôti tâpwê êkoyikohk patahamiyiwa.

(99) Really, by even that much the other missed the mark.

(100) ôhtâwiya êkwa pêmotamiyit, "cîki nîsocihc, apisîs ayiwâkêsîs ta-pataham awa!" itêw ôhtâwiya.

(100) Then when his father shot, “Close to two fingers, by a tiny bit more, let this one miss it!” he said of his father.

(101) tâpwê âsay macihkiwis sâkowâtâwak. êkwa awa kotak âsay mîna pimotam; mîna êwako kêkâc tawaham.

(101) Truly, already Silly-Fellow's side were being whooped at. Then the second opponent shot at it; he too almost hit it.

(102) êkwa awa osôsimâna isiwêpinêw. sêmâk konita itê itakociniyiwa. piyis kwaskipayiyiwa.¹⁵

pôti kwayask kâ-môskîstamiyit osôsimâna; tawaham. ohtakocin awa sôsimân, konita kâ-sâkowêt macihkiwis, ê-ati-pakamahwât ôhi astwâkêwina.

(102) Then he flung his snow-dart at it. At once it went speeding in every direction through the air. At last it whirled round. Lo and behold, his snow-dart made straight for the mark; he struck it square. Down fell the snow-dart, and wildly whooped Silly-Fellow, as he began to club, one after the other, those who had been set as stakes.

(103) hâh, ê-otâkosiniyik, "â, ayênânêw-mitanaw êkwa kita-ihtasinâniwiw," itâw.

(103) Then, in the evening, “Now, this time let the number be eighty,” he was told.

(104) "tânisi êkwa, nistêsê?"

(104) “How is it to be this time, big brother?”

(105) "ôma kâ-sôskwâk miskwamîhk ê-kakwê-nakatitohk." "nama wîhkâc paskiyawâwak," itwêw.

(105) “Over the smooth place on the ice there will be a race. they are never beaten at this,” he said.

(105a) "hâ, êkosi!"

(105a) “Oh, very well!”

(106) wiyâpaniyik, itohtêwak. pôti âsay ayâyiwa êkotê; êkwa ay-isi-sipwêhtêwak. ôhtâwiya awa kâ-osôsimânisiw akâmihk wâhyaw ohcipayiyiwa.

(106) The next morning they went there. There, the others were there already; then they started. Little Snow-Dart's father was coming a long ways off, from the far shore.

(107) itê têkohtêcik, "hâw, kimêtawâhtânaw! kikakwê-nakatitohtânaw!" itâw macihkiwis ôhtâwiya.

(107) When they got there, “Oho, do not forget we were to have a contest! Do not forget we were to race each other!” silly-Fellow's father was told.

(108) kawipayihôw, nikikwa ê-ati-sôskopayihoyit. mîhkawikiyiwa.

(108) He flung himself down, and off went an otter, sliding over the smooth surface. He went fast.

(109) "hâw, nôhtâ, pimitisahikê!" itêw ôhtâwiya.

(109) “Come, father, go in pursuit!” he said to his father.

(110) êkwa ômisi itwêyiwa ôhtâwiya: "nama nika-kî-atimâw, nikosê;" "nitaciwihik," itwêyiwa.

(110) Then his father said, “I shall not be able to overtake him, my son; he has far outdone me,” said he.

(111) ê-kawipayihot, pôti awa sâkwês. wîsta êyiwêhk sôskopayihôw.

(111) When he flung himself down, there was a mink. It, too, as well as it might, went gliding over the ice.

(112) êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw wîci-pakêsa êwako, "oskac ê-pawâmiyân, atihkwasiniy nikî-kitimâkêyimik!" itwêw, ê-kawipayihot.¹⁶

¹⁷

(112) Then the opponent who was paired with Little Snow-Dart, said, “When first I dreamt, the elk-ball took pity on me!” and threw himself on the ground.

(113) kisîkocin awa atihkwasiniy.

(113) Swiftly that elk-ball went speeding.

(114) êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw, "oskac ê-pawâmiyân, âkwask kika-apin." "âpihtaw miskwamîhk kika-tihkicêskiwakisin!" itwêw;¹⁸

"oskac ê-pawâmiyân, nêyâhtakâw nikî-kitimâkêyimikon!" itwêw.¹⁹

(114) Then Little Snow-Dart said, “As first I dreamt, on ahead you will stay still. Half-way across the ice you will flounder as though mired!” he said; “When first I dreamt, the treetop took pity on me!” he said.

(115) tâpwê pimitisahwêw.

(115) Truly he went pursuing the other.

(116) "kâ-ispisakotêki môsasiniya, êkoyikohk kika-ispisîn, nisôsimân!" itwêw.

(116) “As swiftly as speeds a bullet through the air, so swiftly will you speed, my snow-dart!” he said.

(117) tâpwê ê-otihtahk opawâmiwin, awîna ôma, kî-âkwaskîw. pikiwa pasakoskiwa mistahi osêpîyiwa ôhtâwiya; cîki êkota ati-ayâyiwa.

(117) Truly, when he reached that which had befriended him in dreams, why, there he was in the lead. In pitch, in sticky gum his father was badly stuck; close to that place the others were passing.

(118) "nôhtâ, micimîw ôtê otâhk!" êkosi itêw.

(118) “Father, hold fast here, at the rear!” he said to him.

(119) nawaci-micimîw sôsimânihk, ê-atimât ôhi nikikwa.

(119) He seized hold of the snow-dart as it passed him, and overtook that otter.

(120) "kikakwê-nakatitohtânaw!" itêw.

(120) “Do not forget we were racing!” he said to it.

(121) "êyag! âta wêy ani nitispisipayin!" itik.

(121) “Yes! Don't you see how fast I am going?” it answered him.

(122) êkwa ôhi atihkwasiniya. tihtipicêskiwakisin.

(122) Then that elk-ball. It was floundering in something that held if stuck fast.

(122a) "kikakwê-nakatitohtânaw!" itêw.

(122a) “Do not forget we were racing!” he said to him.

(123) "êyag! itâp ani nitispisipayin!" itêw.

(123) “Yes! Can't you see how fast I am going?” it said to him.

(124) tâpwê nakasiwêwak macihkiwis ôhtâwiya. êkosi êkwa kisiwâhâwak ôki.

(124) Truly, Silly-Fellow's father and his partner were outstripping the others. This made the others angry.

(125) "hâw, êhtasihk êkwa!" itâwak.²⁰

(125) “Come, in full number now!” they were told.

(126) êkwa piko ta-nipahiht macihkiwis; nama ta-kî-sâkohtwâcik.

(126) Now there was danger that Silly-Fellow might be killed; they could not possibly defeat the others.

(127) "êkwa namôya ka-tâpi-pimotênânaw!" itâwak.

(127) “And this time we shall not do as the other does!” they were told.

(128) êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw nitawi-nitomêw awâsisa.

(128) Then Little Snow-Dart went and called the boys.

(129) "hâw, awa kôhkominaw ohcîhkamâhk." "mitoni ta-ayâpisâsinwa." "cîsâwâtamok ôhi otakisiya," itwêw.

(129) “Now, go help our grandmother. They are to be very small; cut up those entrails,” he said.

(130) êkwa wiyâpaniyik, sôskwâc ispiciwak kahkiyaw sisonê sâkahikanihk.

(130) Then, the next morning, at once they all went in a body to the edge of the lake.

(131) êkwa, "nisîm, kika-sâkohtwân cî?" itêw.

(131) Then, “Little brother, shall you win?” he asked him.

(132) "namôya." "mâskôc osâm ayiwâk ati-âyimaniyiwa," itâw awa macihkiwis.

(132) “No. Doubtless the other is too formidable,” Silly-Fellow was told.

(133) mistahi âyimêyihtam.

(133) He was very much distressed.

(134) êkwa awa nîkân pimotam macihkiwis ôhtâwiya. kâ-wîci-pakêsêyit kâ-misikiticik sihkihpak êkotowihk, piko ita ê-pikwâskawât miskwamiya; êkwa awa macihkiwis ôhtâwiya itôwahk kâ-ayôtôcikâtihcik êkotôwahk.²¹

êkwa kâwi ita wêh-pêkopêyici, êkota ohci-kôkîw awa macihkiwis ôhtâwiya.

(134) Then Silly-Fellow's father had the first turn. His opponent was in the shape of a great diver-duck, crushing through the ice wherever it went; and Silly-Fellow's father was one of those that are made merry over. Then from wherever the other came to the surface, from there Silly-Fellow's father would emerge after his dive.

(135) "hâ, tâpwê paskiyawâwak!" itwêyiwa.

(135) “Ho, truly they are beaten!” said the others.

(136) ayis tâpi-pimotam. êkwa awa kâ-osôsimânisiw wîci-pakêsa âsay mîna êwako nikamôw, "nitamiskôwin niya!" ê-itwêyit.

(136) For he was but following the other's lead. Then the opponent who was paired with Little Snow-Dart, he too began to sing, saying, “I am a beaver, I!”

(137) mitoni misikitiw amisk. pêkamahahki, osoy ohci misiwê mamatwêskopayiyiw. êkosi asawâc itê ohci kôkîw, konita mâna miskwamiya kâ-sêhkwêpiyit, itê piyêkopêyici.²²

kêtahtawê mitoni ôta sisonê piyêkopêyit.

(137) Very large was the beaver. Whenever it struck anything with its tail, in all directions it went crashing. It dived from the other direction, and always the ice went breaking, wherever it came to the surface. Suddenly it came to the surface right there, very close to the shore.

(138) ômisi itêw ostêsa mîna ôhi amiskwa: "iyikohk takosiniyâni, kika-mâtahpinatâwâwak, êkâ ayiwâk kî-tôtamâni." "iyikohk takosiniyâni;" "misawâc nika-kiskêyihtên, awiyak nîkân kê-pakamahwât awiya." "êkosi namôya kwayask kita-ispayiw," itwêw.

(138) Thus he spoke to his big brother and to that beaver: “When I arrive you may begin to slay them, in case I cannot surpass what has been done. Not before I arrive; I shall be sure to know it, if anyone before that strike down the other. If that is done, things will not go well,” he said.

(139) nikamôw: "niya niwâpi-mâkôwin!" itwêw, miskwamîhk ê-pakicît.²³

(139) He sang: “I am a white loon, I!” he sang, as he alighted on the ice.

(140) papâmohtêw miskwamîhk, konita ê-pâ-pimitohtêt, piyisk kâ-ati-sâpopêyit miskwamiya. cêhkatahwâci miskwamiya, konita misiwê kâ-ma-matwêskopayiyit. âhkami-kitow mâkwa. piyisk waskitisik nipîwiyiw, ê-âhkami-kitot. piyisk yôtinipêstaniyiw. êkoyikohk sâkowêw macihkiwis.

(140) He walked about on the ice, crossing it in every direction, until at last water began to seep through the ice. Whenever he struck the ice with his beak, on all hands it would move with crashing noise. Unceasingly the loon gave its call. At last the water stood on top of the ice, as he unceasingly gave his call. At last a wind began to blow. Then Silly-Fellow whooped.

(141) "namôya wiyawâw nipiy osîhtâwak! wiya nisîm nipiy osîhtâw!" "mâka, 'iyikohk takohtêyâni,' ê-kî-itwêt nisîm!" "nîso niwî-kakêkinâwak, ê-wî-môwakik, ê-wiyinocik." "ayis niya nisîm nikî-otinâw," itwêw.

(141) “It is not they are making the water to be! It is my brother is making the water to be! But, ‘Not before I arrive,’ said my brother! Two of them I shall pick out to eat, fat ones. For it was I adopted him as my little brother,” he cried.

(142) kôkîw awa mâkwa, akâmihk nêtê kâ-matwê-kitot mâkwa, êkotê mîna. piyis mâ-mahkâskâw ôma sâkahikan. piyis nama kêkway miskwamiy. kîtahtawê pê-kôkîw ôta kisiwâk.

(142) The loon dived, and lo, yonder on the far shore a loon was giving its call, and over here another. At last the lake ran to high waves. At last the ice was gone. Suddenly he bobbed up right close by.

(143) piyêkopêt, "hâw, âstamitik! kahkiyaw êkâya awiyak nipahihk! âstamitik!" itêw; "êkwa ôhi ocakisîsa tahto ê-pâpayihtâcik, ohpimê kita-ati-nîpawiwak." "tahto êkâ ê-pâpayihtâcik mîna êwakonik ohpimê ta-nîpawiwak," itwêw.

(143) As he came to the surface of the water, “Now, then, all of you, come here! Let none of you slay anyone! Come here!” he ordered them; “Now as many as cast up these bits of entrail, let them stand off to one side.” he ordered. And as many as do not cast them up, let them too stand to one side,” he ordered.

(144) êkwa âtiht pâpayihtâwak.

(144) Then some of them threw them up.

(145) "â, kiyîsahkamikisit, tahto kâ-pâpayihtâyêk, mistikwa kika-omîciwininâwâw, âtiht maskosiya."²⁴

"'nitawi-oyasowê!' ê-kî-itikawiyân." "kiya, nistêsê, ayîsiyiniwak nihtâwikitwâwi, ohpikitwâwi, 'pahkwacôw,' kika-isiyihkâtikwak;"²⁵

"kiya sakâhk kika-ôh-pimâcihon;" "êkosi kiya, nistêsê, âsay kikîsi-oyapin." "êkwa kiya, nôhtâ, 'sâkwês,' kika-isiyîhkâtik ayîsiyiniw;" "nipîhk kika-otaskîn;" "mâka nanâtohk kêkway kika-mîcin, kinêpikosak wiyâs;" "kâ-tahto-wiyâsiwit kika-ôh-pimâcihon." "hâ, êkosi nanânis, nanâtohk kika-isi-pisiskiwinânaw." "ayîsiyiniwak nihtâwikitwâwi, kahkiyaw kika-sâkôcihikonawak." "niya, 'kihci-wâpi-mâkwa,' nika-itikawin." "mâka namôya ôta niwî-ayân." "kâ-misâk nipiy êkotê niwî-ayân," itwêw.

(145) “Now then, when the order of things is completed, as many of you as have cast it up, trees shall be your food, and grasses, of some. For, ‘Go lay down a law!’ I was told. You, my brother, when mortal men grow forth and flourish, ‘Lynx,’ they will call you; you will find your sustenance in the woods; and so you, my brother, have found your place. And you, my father, ‘Mink,’ mortal man will call you; by the water you will have your domain; but all kinds of things you will eat, the flesh of little snakes; from whatever creature has flesh you will get your life. So now in different directions, into the form of different animals you will all go. When mortal men come into being, they will overcome you all. As for me, ‘Great White Loon,’ I shall be called. But not here shall I stay. I shall stay by the Great Water,” he said.

(146) êkoyikohk êskwâk âtayôhkêwin.

(146) This is the end of the sacred story.

Footnotes

¹LB: When I asked Sakewew to tell me a last story, he said, nimêstâtayôhkênasinin: “I have run entirely out of sacred stories.” (Initial stem: mêst-: “exhaust”; medial -âtayôhkanê-, formed from the noun âtayôhkan: “prehistoric spirit-animal,” with post-medial -ê-; Plains Cree in this way freely forms a medial from any noun; compound final -hsin, consisting of pre-final -ht-: “come down, fall, lie” and animate intransitive verb final -in.) At last he produced this story, for which he perhaps delved deep into his memory, since it contains details about the contests of spirit-animals, as well as a number of unusual words.

²LB on macihkiwis: In this tale the position of this person is much like that of Wisahketchahk. On Star-Blanket Reserve one of my informants identified the two.

³LB on kî-mihtiskâyiw: Unknown word; translation a guess.

⁴LB on k-ôyâtamiyit: Unknown word; translation a guess.

⁵LB: That is, the two chiefs, in person or by proxy, would engage in contests of magic power, each setting as stakes an agreed number of his followers, to be killed and eaten by the other side, in case of defeat.

⁶CHECK, HCW: probably typo.

⁷LB on kêkwânanihk: Unknown word (or phrase?).

⁸LB on kita-pê-piciw: A preverb particle, such as pêh: “hither” is freely added to any verb, e.g., pêhitohtêw: “he walks hither.” An initial stem, such as pê-: “hither” is never added to a word, but appears only before non-initial elements, as in pêpahtâw: “he runs hither,” where -pahtâ-: “run” is an element that never occurs in word-initial. Thus: particle: initial stem: papêh papâm-: “around, about” isih it-: “thither, thus” ohcih, ôh oht-: “thence, therefore” and many others. There is overlapping of two kinds. In central Algonquian certain initials and non-initial stems are alike (except for the difference implied by these names), e.g. Cree pici- and -pici-: “move camp,” whence pêh-piciw and pêpiciw: “he moves camp hither,” probably with some difference of meaning. The other kind of overlapping is peculiar to Cree, and probably due to phonetic alterations which shifted the boundary between t (which occurs at the end of many initial stems) and c (which occurs as the penult of many particles). Thus pêcâstam-: “facing hither,” as, e.g. in pêcâsamohtêw: “he walks facing hither” looks as though it contained a preverb particle *pêcih: “hither,” which otherwise is unknown in Plains Cree, or else an initial stem pêc-, a form unparalleled in Cree and in the related languages. The initial stem here was really *pêt-; Cree pêcâstam- is a phonetic or analogic modification of *pêcâstam-, cf. Menomini pîtâ'namôhnew: “he walks facing hither.” Similarly Cree mistatim: “horse” for *mistastim (or *misc-astim, or *mis-astim). Cf. Introduction.

⁹LB on ê-nâ-nakâhtwât: Freely formed secondary derivative nakâhtwâw: “he stops people,” from a freely formable *nakâhêw, *nakâhtâw: “he stops him, it”; cf. sâkohêw, sâkohtâw: “he overcomes him, it” and sâkohtwâw: “he overcomes people.” Yet the actual translation is a guess.

¹⁰LB on tâpi-pimotam: The term pimotam: “he shoots (it)” is used for taking one's turn in any kind of contest.

¹¹LB on misinihâw: Unknown word; translation a guess.

¹²LB on êh-itotâmot: Unknown word; translation a guess.

¹³LB on opispâskwatôwi-pakamâkan: If correctly recorded, probably some kind of reduplication of piskw-: “lump,” as in piskwahcêw: “it is lumpy land.”

¹⁴LB on pêyak wanaskât: I do not know whether pêyak wanaskât is one or two words, i.e. whether the independent word wanaskât is found in Cree or not.

¹⁵LB on kwaskipayiyiyiwa: Probably an error of record; perhaps for kwêsk-: “twisting to one side.”

¹⁶LB on atihkwasiniy: Literally “elk-stone,” but what is it? môsw-asiniy, môsasiniy: “moose-stone” is a gun-bullet.

¹⁷CHECK wîci-pâkesah. HCW: yup.

¹⁸LB on kika-têhkicêskiwakisinin: têhk- is unknown to me; perhaps an error of record for tihtip-: “turning over or round,” cf. below. The medial -cêskiwak- means “mud, sticky stuff.”

¹⁹LB on nêyâhtakâw: Translation a guess; cf. nêyâw: “promontory.”

²⁰LB on êyâhtasihk: The first two syllables may be wrongly recorded.

²¹LB on k-âyôtôcikâtihcik: The allusion is plainly to the hell-diver duck; the difficulty is that the present passage seems to imply a difference between the “diver-duck” (sihkihp) and “the one that is made merry over.”

²²LB on kâ-sêhkwêpiyit: Unknown word; perhaps an error of record.

²³LB on niwâpamâkôwin: One expects niwâpimâkôwin; if the text is correct, it contains an archaic or pseudo-archaic medial stem -amâkw-: “loon”.

²⁴LB on kiyîsâhkamikisit: Probably read hk for the final t; I have so translated.

²⁵LB on pahkwacôw: Allusions to the lynx may be introduced on my account.