(1) pêyak êsa ôma ôtênaw ê-misâk, ê-mâh-mêtawêcik, ê-môtocik. kîtahtawê pêyak awa iskwêw pakwâtam, ê-kitimâkêyimât osîmisa.

(1) The story goes that there was this big town where they always had contests and ate each other. Then at one time a certain woman took a dislike to this, because she loved her little brother.

(2) "nika-sipwêhtahâw; ta-kakwê-ohpikiw," itêyihtam.

(2) “I shall take him away from here; I shall try to have him grow up,” she thought.

(3) ê-tipiskâyik, sipwêhtêw, ê-tapasît.

(3) In the night she went away, fleeing.

(4) "mâskôc,- nôhtâwiy nikâwiy ê-nipahihcik, êkwa nipêyakon nisîmis,- asici mâskôc mêtawêhki, êkwa nika-nipahikawin," itêyihtam; êwako ohci kâ-ôh-sipwêhtêt.

(4) “Perhaps since my father and my mother have been killed, I am now alone with my little brother perhaps, if there is another mass contest, I now shall be killed,” she thought; that is why she went away.

(5) nistwâw ê-nipât, êkotê miywâsiniyiw askiy, misiwê ê-sakâyik.

(5) After two nights journeying, she was at a place where the land was good, with woods everywhere.

(6) "âh, mâskôc ôta nama awiyak nika-otihtik," itêyihtam; "êkosi tita-ohpikiw nisîmis," itêyihtam.

(6) “Oh, perhaps here no one will come upon me,” she thought; “In this way my little brother will grow up,” she thought.

(7) tâpwê êkota osîhtâw wîki. kiyipa kîsihtâw wîki. êkwa osîhtâw astis ohci tâpakwâna, ê-wî-kakwê-nipahât wâposwa, "êkotôwahk piko nika-ôh-pimâtisinân nisîmis," ê-itêyihtah. tâpwê tâpakwêw. êkwa mihta mistahi âwatâw. êkwa ê-tipiskâyik, ê-kî-nipâcik, ê-wâpahk, nâtam otâpakwâna. nîso nipahêw wâposwa.

(7) So there she set up her dwelling. She quickly built her lodge. Then she made snares of sinew, meaning to try to kill rabbits, thinking, “Only from these shall my little brother and I be able to get our sustenance.” So she set her snares. Then she gathered a great amount of firewood. Then, when night had come and they had slept, in the morning she went to look at her snares. She had killed two rabbits.

(8) "hây hây! êkwa nisîmis kê-mîcisot!" itwêw, ê-kîwêhtahât.

(8) “Good! Now my little brother will eat!” she said, as she took them home.

(9) tâpwê miywêyihtam awa nâpêsis, ê-pêsîmiht wâposwa. êkwa kîsiswêw awa iskwêw, ê-asamât osîmisa. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, kotaka mîna osîhtâw, âsay mîna ê-nitawi-tâpakwêt; êkoyikohk mâna kâ-kîwêci, ê-atoskâtahk mihta, ita ê-ay-ayât.

(9) The little boy was glad when the rabbits were brought. Then the woman cooked them and gave her little brother to eat. When she too had eaten, she made some more snares and went again to lay then; and then, whenever she went home, she tended to the firewood, and stayed there.

(10) piyisk misikitiyiwa osîma, êkwa ê-osîhtât acosisa, ê-kiskinôhamawât ta-pimotahkwêyit osîmisa. tâpwê kaskihtâw ê-pimotahkwêt awa nâpêsis. "mâskôc kîkway wêh-nipahtâci oskinîkici," ê-itêyimât, kâ-ôh-kiskinôhamawât. wiya tahto-kîsikâw ê-nipahât wâposwa, êwako piko ê-atoskêt, êkwa awa nâpêsis pisisik ê-mêtawêt pîhcâyihk, âskaw wayawîtimihk, awa piko iskwêw ê-atoskêt, mitoni kitimâkêyimêw osîmisa, ita ê-wî-ohpikihât. kîtahtawê êkwa ê-misikitiyit osîma, osîhtâw otayiwinisiyiwa, wîki ê-pîkosahk, êwako ohci oskotâkayiyiw ê-osîhtât, mîna otâsiyiwa. êkwa wêskwâhtêmihk ohtapiw awa, ê-ati-oskinîkit; êkwa pêyakwanohk apiw awa, ê-ati-oskinîkit. namôya êkwa papâmohtêw wayawîtimihk, nayêstaw ê-mîcisot, wâposwa piko ê-môwâcik omisa. nama wîhkâc kitotitôwak.

(10) In time her brother grew big, and then she made arrows and taught him to shoot. So the boy learned to shoot. Perhaps he will kill something when he comes to adolescence,” was why she taught him. As she killed rabbits every day, she was the only one of them to work; as the boy was always playing in the lodge, or sometimes out of doors, and only the woman worked, she was very good to her little brother, there where she was trying to raise him. Then, presently, when her brother grew big, she made clothes for him, cutting pieces from the tent, from which she made him a coat and breeches. And he sat in the place opposite the door, as he came to the age approaching manhood; he stayed always right there, as he came to adolescence. He did not go about now out of doors; he did little more than eat his meals, and rabbits were all they had to eat, he and his sister. They never spoke to each other.

(11) piyisk oskinîkiw. kîtahtawê otinam omôhkomân, ê-nitawi-kîskikahahk misâskwatwa, êkwa ahcâpiya, ê-pîhtokatât, ê-wî-osîhtât, ê-môhkotahk, ôhi mîna ahcâpiya, acosisa ê-wî-osîhtât. êkwa namôya tâpwê kî-nipahêw awa iskwêw wâposwa. êkwa nôhtêhkatêwak. pakwâtam awa iskwêw ê-nôhtêhkatêcik, osâm pêyakwanohk ê-apiyit osîma. êkwa awa oskinîkiw kâ-osîhtât ôhi misâskwatwa, otinam cîkahikan, ê-nitawi-wanihikêt mistikwa ohci, mistiko-wanihikan. nîso osîhtâw. êkosi ê-kîwêt, pêyak piko nipahêyiwa omisa wâposwa. pôti ê-wâpahk, ê-nitawâpahtahk owanihikana, nipahêw kihîwa, êkwa ôhôwa; êkosi nîso. êwakoni mîkwana ohci osîhtâw wîpisisa. ê-kîsihtât, êkwa omisa astis miyik, ê-osihtât, ahcâpîhk ê-tahkopitahk. êkwa mîna ê-nitawâpahtahk owanihikana, tasôhêw nikikwa êkwa ocêka, êkwa ocêkiwayâna ê-wî-opîhtatwânit, nikikwa ê-wî-otastotinit, nikikwayâna. êkwa ôhi kihîwa, oskan ôta ômatôwahk, otihcimanikanis otinam, kicohcikanis ê-osîhtât. ê-kîsi-osîhtât, otinamiyiwa omisa kâwiya, ê-wî-kikamohâyit kicohcikanisihk. ê-kîsihtâyit, akotâw.

(11) At last he was a young man. Then at one time he took his knife and went to cut some saskatoon sticks, and wood for a bow, and brought them inside the lodge to work at them, whittling them, and the bow as well, to make arrows. And then the woman was no longer well able to kill rabbits. Then they hungered. The woman was grieved that they should hunger because her brother always stayed right there. When the youth had prepared those saskatoon sticks, he took an ax and went to set a trap of boughs. He made two of them. Then when he came home, his sister had killed but one rabbit. In the morning, when he went to look at his traps, he had killed an eagle and an owl; one in each trap. He made his arrows with those feathers. When he had finished them, his sister gave him a sinew, which he prepared and fixed on his bow. The next time he went to look at his traps, he had trapped an otter and a fisher; and now he meant to make a quiver of the fisherskin, and of the otter a hat, of the otterskin. And from the eagle he took the bone here, like this, from the upper part of the wing, and made a flute. When he had made it, his sister took some porcupine-quills to attach to the little flute. When she had finished it, he hung it up.

(12) êkosi miywêyihtam awa iskwêw, "êkwa kêkway ta-nipahtâw nisîm!" ê-itêyihtahk.

(12) Then the woman was glad, thinking, “Now my brother will kill something!”

(13) pôti nama wiya wî-mâcîyiwa osîma, pêyakwanohk ê-apiyit. âskaw nama kêkway nipahtâw wâposwa awa iskwêw. êkosi nama kêkway mîciwak. pakwâtam awa iskwêw êkâ ê-wî-mâciyit osîma; êkâ kêkway ê-asamât osîma, êwako ohci kâ-ôh-pakwâtahk. mîna ê-wâpahk, ê-nâtahk otâpakwâna, nama kêkway nipahtâw.

(13) But she found that her brother would not hunt, and did not stir from the spot. Often enough the woman did not kill any rabbits. Then they had nothing to eat. She was grieved that her brother did not care to hunt; because she had nothing to give her brother to eat, was why she disliked it. The next morning, when she went to her snares, she had not killed anything.

(14) ê-takohtêt wîkiwâhk, omaskisina ê-pahpawahahk, ê-kôniwiyiki, "hê ê êy!" itwêw awa iskwêw; "tâpwê nimihtâtên êkâ kêkway ê-asamak nisîm!" itwêw; "êkwa ê-oskinîkit, wiyaskoc êtokê kêkway ta-nipahtâw, ta-mîciyâhk, nitêyihtêh, êkâ kâ-ispayik," itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-otinahk mihta, ê-wî-pônahk. "nika-pêhtâk nisîm," ê-itêyihtahk, ôma kâ-ôh-itwêt.

(14) Then she came to their dwelling and was shaking out her moccasins, for they were full of snow, she cried, “Oh dear, oh dear! Really I am sorry I have nothing to give my brother to eat!” she said; “Now that he is a young man, he in his turn ought to kill something for us to eat; so I thought, at least, but it has not turned out that way,” said the woman, as she took up some faggots to put on the fire. “My brother will hear me,” was her idea in speaking so.

(15) êkosi ati-pônahk. nahapiw. ê-pa-pimisihk awa oskinîkiw, waniskâw, ê-otinahk kicohcikanis mîna wîpisisa. êkwa maskosiya otinam, iskotêw ê-akwâsiwêpahahk. êkota astâw maskosiya, ê-kaskâpahtêyik, kicohcikanis ôma êkota ê-itisinahk, ê-miyâhkasahk.

(15) Thereupon she went inside and put fuel on the fire. She sat down. The youth arose from where he lay, and took the flute and his arrows. Also he took some dried incense-grass and pushed back the fire. There he placed the grass, and when it began to make smoke, he held the little flute over it, perfuming the incense.

(16) êkosi ômisi itwêw: "hê êy, nimisê, ê-kitimâkinâtân, êkâ kêkway kâ-ôh-wî-nipahtâyân, osâm mistahi ta-atoskêyan, ê-itêyimitân," itêw omisa;¹

"yôhtêwêpina!"

(16) At the same time he spoke as follows: “Dear me, sister, it is because I feel sorry for you that I have not been killing anything, because I thought you would have too much work,” he told his sister; “Throw open the door-flap!”

(17) yôhtênam awa iskwêw, êkwa awa oskinîkiw ê-kitohcikêt. ê-kîsi-kitohtât, akotâw. kiyipa kâ-pâpayiyit apisi-môsosa, ê-mihcêtiyit, êkota iskwâhtêmihk ê-pimipayiyit, êwakoni ê-pâh-pimwât. iyikohk ê-mêstinahk wîpisisa, êkoyikohk pôyôw. âhci piko mihcêt mistahi nipahêw. êkoyikohk tapasîyiwa êwakoni.

(17) The woman opened the doorway, and the youth played on his flute. When he had done playing music, he hung it up. At once there came running dwarf-moose in great number, and as they ran past the doorway, he kept shooting them. He stopped only when he had used up his arrows. He killed a great many of them. Then they ran away.

(18) "ê, nimisê, nitawi-otina nîpisisa." "mihkôwikwâwi, kâsîhamôhkan."

(18) “There, sister, go get my arrows. If they are bloody, wipe them off.”

(19) tâpwê wayawîw awa iskwêw. ê-itâpit, mihcêt apisi-môsosa nipahêyiwa.

(19) Accordingly, the woman went outside. When she looked to see, he had killed many dwarf-moose.

(20) "hây hây! êkwa kê-mîcisot nisîmis!" itwêw, acosisa ôhi ê-wâh-wîhkwatinahk, ê-ati-kâsîhahk.

(20) “Splendid! Now my brother will eat!” she said, as she kept pulling out the arrows and wiping them.

(21) ê-pîhtokatât, pôti kî-mosêskatêyiwa osîma, ê-wêwêkinamiyit otakohpiyihk. ê-kî-otinamiyit acosisa, ôhi otayôwinisiyiwa, "nimisê, wayawîwêpina!"²

(21) When she brought them indoors, there was her brother undresseed, wrapped up in his blanket-robe. When he had taken back his arrows, then, of his clothes, he said, “Sister, throw them out of the lodge!”

(22) ê-wayawîwêpinahk, êkwa omôhkomân otinam, ê-wayawît. ê-nanâtawâpahtahk ôhi kâ-wayawîwêpinahk, namôya wâpahtam. êkosi êkwa ê-wiyanihtâkêt. ôhi apisi-môsosa ê-kîsi-wiyanihât, iyâyaw paminawasôw. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, êkwa awa apisi-môsoswayâna nêwo otinêw, ê-wî-pâswât. êkosi owiyâsima pîhtokêyâwatâw. êkwa âtiht wayawîtimihk astêyiwa, osâm mihcêt kâ-nipahâyit. ê-kîsi-nahastât, êkwa pîhtokêw, pêskis mîna ê-paminawasot, âskaw ê-atoskâtât ôhi apisi-môsoswayâna. ê-otâkosiniyik, âsay kîsihêw, êkwa ê-kaskikwâtahk osîma ê-otayôwinisiyit. kêkâc ta-kawisimocik, ê-ispayiyik, kîsihtâw. itisinamawêw osîma. postayôwinisêw awa oskinîkiw. âsay mîna kotaka pâswêw. êkosi ê-kawisimot awa oskinîkiw, awa wiya iskwêw atoskâtêw apisi-môsoswayâna. piyis ê-nôhtêhkwasit, kawisimôw. kîkisêpâ ê-pêkopayit, âsay osîma simatapiyiwa. êkosi paminawasôw. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, âsay mîna awa oskinîkiw iskotêw otinam, mîna ê-miyâhkasahk okitohcikanis.

(22) When she had thrown them out, she took her knife and went out. When she looked about to see the things she had thrown out, she did not see them. Then she set about skinning and cutting up the game. When she had cleaned those dwarf-moose, she set eagerly about her cooking. When she had eaten, sbe took four of the skins of the dwarf-moose to dry. Then she brought in her meat. But some was left outside, for he had killed too many. When she had arranged it all, she came in, and again attended to her cooking, even while working the hides of the dwarf-moose. Towards evening, she had finished tanning them and began sewing clothes for her brother. When it was almost time for them to go to bed, she had finished them. She handed them to her brother. The youth put on the clothes. Then she dried some more. Then, when the youth went to bed, the woman kept on working the moose-hides. At last, when she grew sleepy, she went to bed. Early in the morning, when she awoke, her brother was already sitting up. Accordingly, she cooked. When they had eaten, the youth again took some fire and burned incense to his little flute.

(23) "yôhtêwêpina, nimisê!" itêw.

(23) “Open the door-flap, sister!” he said to her.

(24) ê-kî-yôhtênahk, kitohtâw. êkwa wâwâskêsiwa êwako pêcimêw, êwakoni êkwa ê-nôcihât. iyikohk mîna ê-mêstinahk wîpisisa, êkoyikohk mîna tapasîyiwa.

(24) When she had opened it, he blew on his flute. This time he brought deer to his call, and gave chase to them. Again, only when he had used up his arrows, did they flee.

(25) "â, nimisê, otina nîpisisa!"

(25) “There, sister, take up my arrows!”

(26) ê-wayawît awa iskwêw, â, mihcêt êkwa wâwâskêsiw.

(26) When the woman went out, there were many deer.

(27) "hây hây! mahti êkwa êkâ ê-nôhtêhkatêyân!" itwêw awa iskwêw, ôhi ê-wâh-wîhkwatinahk acosisa.

(27) “Splendid! Now, surely, I shall not go hungry!” she said, as she went about pulling free the arrows.

(28) ê-pîhtokatât, âsay mîna kî-mosêskatêpiyiwa osîma.

(28) When she brought them in, again her brother sat without his clothes.

(29) "hâ, nimisê, êwakoni anihi wayawîwêpina!" itêw.

(29) “There, sister, throw these things out!” he said to her.

(30) wayawîwêpinam. êkwa omôhkomân otinam awa iskwêw, ê-wî-wiyanihtâkêt. nama kêkway wâpahtam osîma otayiwinisiyiwa, ayis ê-wêpinamiyit. êkosi êkwa mîna wiyanihtâkêw. ê-kîsi-wiyanihtâkêt, êkoyikohk êkwa kîsitêpôw, ê-wî-mîcisocik. piyisk mîcisôwak. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, iyâyaw êkwa osîhêw apisi-môsoswayâna, êkwa pêyak wâwâskêsiwa, wâwâskêsiwayâna. iyikohk ê-otâkosik, kahkiyaw kîsihtâw, êkwa pita ê-paminawasot. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, êkwa kaskikwâsôw. êkwa kîsihtâw otayiwinisiyiwa osîma. iyâyaw êkwa pâsam pahkêkinwa. piyis mistahi tipiskâyiki, iyikohk kawisimôw. iyikohk ê-pêkopayit, êkoyikohk sâsay waniskâyiwa osîma. kakwêyâhôw ê-paminawasot. mayaw ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, âsay mîna miyâhkasamiyiwa okicohcikanisiyiw.

(30) She threw them out. Then she took her knife, to clean the game. Not a thing did she see of her brother's clothes; he had cast them off. Then, accordingly, she again cleaned game. When she had finished cleaning game, she cooked, that they might eat. Then they ate. When she had eaten, she eagerly went about preparing dwarf-moose skins and one deer-skin. By evening she had finished it all, and then she stopped to cook. When they had eaten, she sewed. Then she finished her brother's clothes. Then, with zeal she went about drying hides. At last, when it was quite dark, she went to bed. When she awoke, her brother had already got up. She worked quickly, cooking the meal. When they had eaten, he again burned incense under his flute.

(31) "yôhtêwêpinahk!"

(31) “Open the door!”

(32) ê-yôhtêwêpinahk, kitohtâw. âsay mîna pêcimêw môswa, êkwa êwakoni mîna ê-nôcihât. iyikohk mîna ê-mêstinahk wîpisisa, pôyôw.

(32) When she had opened it, he played. As before, he made moose come by the sound, for these he now sought. Again, when he had exhausted his arrows, he ceased.

(33) "â, nimisê, nitawi-otina nîpisisa!"

(33) “Now, sister, go take up my arrows!”

(34) ê-wayawît, mihcêt êkwa môswa.

(34) When she went out, there were many moose.

(35) "hây hây hây! êkwa êkâ mayaw kê-nôhtêhkatêyâhk!" itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-ati-otinahk acosisa.

(35) “Splendid, splendid! Now we shall not for a long time go hungry!” said the woman, as she set about taking the arrows.

(36) ê-pîhtokêt, âsay mîna mosêskatêpiyiwa.

(36) When she went indoors, again he sat undressed.

(37) "â, nimisê, êkoni anihi wayawîwêpina!" itêw omisa.

(37) “Now, sister, throw those things out!” he told his sister.

(37a) wayawîwêpinam; êkoyikohk omôhkomân ê-otinahk, ê-wayawît, ê-wâh-wiyanihtâkêt. êkwa wiyanihtâkêw. ê-kîsiyanihtâkêt, êkoyikohk êkwa paminawasôw. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, êkwa mîna ê-osîhât apisi-môsoswayâna, pêyak mîna wâwâskêsiwêkin, "cita-otakohpit," ê-itêyihtah, kêkâc ê-ati-tipiskâyik, kîsihtâw, pita mîna êkwa ê-paminawasot, ê-wî-asamât osîma. tâpwê ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, êkwa kaskikwâsôw, ayiwinisa ê-osîhtât. maywês kawisimoyit osîma, âsay kîsihtâw, êkwa kotaka ê-pâswât apisi-môswayâna êkwa môswayâna. iyikohk isko ê-nôhtêhkwasit, pôni-atoskêw, ê-wî-nipât. ê-wâpahk, ê-waniskât, âsay kî-simatapiyiwa osîma. êkosi êkwa ati-paminawasôw, ê-wî-mîcisocik. mayaw ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, mîna miyâhkasamiyiwa kitohcikanis. yôhtêwêpinam awa iskwêw, ê-kitohtâyit osîma. êkwa mostoswa pâpayiyiwa, êkoni mîna ê-nôcihât. êyikohk mîna ê-mêstinahk wîpisisa, êkoyikohk pôni-nipahêw.

(37a) She threw them outside; then she took her knife and went out and began to clean the carcasses. She skinned them and cut them up. When she had finished cleaning them she set about her cooking. When they had eaten, then she again prepared skins of dwarf-moose, and a deer-hide, with the thought, “that he may have it for a blanket-robe,” and just as darkness was coming on, she had them dome, and stopped to cook again, to feed her brother. So, when they had eaten, she sewed and made clothes. Before her brother went to bed she had them done, and already was drying other skins of dwarf-moose and of moose. When she got sleepy, she ceased work and went to bed. The next morning, when she arose, her brother was already sitting up. So then she cooked, that they might eat. As soon as they had eaten, he again burned incense to his flute. The woman threw open the door-flap, and her brother played the flute. Then buffalo came running, and he made a killing of these too. Again, only when he had used up his arrows did he cease killing them.

(38) "êkosi, nimisê! otina nîpisisa!" itêw.

(38) “So there, sister! Take up my arrows!” he told her.

(39) ê-wayawît awa iskwêw, âsay mîna miywêyihtam.

(39) When the woman went out, again she was glad.

(40) "hây hây! êkosi êcika ôma êkâ wîhkâc kê-kôta-mîciyân!" itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-âh-otinahk acosisa.

(40) “Splendid! So now, it appears, I shall never be at a loss for something to eat!” she said, as she went on taking the arrows.

(41) ê-pîhtokêt, âsay mîna kî-mosêskatêpiyiwa osîma.

(41) When she went in, again her brother sat without his clothes.

(42) "â, nimisê, êwakoni wayawîwêpina!" itik; "ê-manâ-mistahi-atoskahitân, êkâ kâ-ôh-ma-mâcîyân," itêw.

(42) “Now, sister, throw these out of the lodge!” he told her; “It was because I hesitated to give you too much work, that I never used to hunt,” he told her.

(42a) êkosi wayawîwêpinam awa iskwêw, ê-otinahk omôhkomân, ê-wayawît, ê-wiyanihtâkêt. iyâyaw iyâpêsisa wiyanihêw.

(42a) So the woman threw them out of the lodge, and took her knife, and went out and cleaned the game. She eagerly set about skinning a young bull-calf.

(43) "êwakoni êkwa ta-otakohpiw nisîm," itêyihtam.

(43) “Now my brother shall have a blanket-robe of this one,” she thought.

(44) ê-kîsi-wiyanihât, pita êwakoni pîhtokahêw, ita ta-pâsoyit ê-kikamohât. êkoyikohk êkwa ê-nitawi-wiyanihtâkêt. ê-ay-âpihtâ-kîsikâyik, pita êkwa paminawasôw, ê-wî-asamât osîma. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, êkwa mîna osîhêw apisi-môsoswayâna, ê-kîsihât, êkwa mîna ôhi mostoswayâna. ê-otâkosik, kîsihêw. pita êkwa mîna paminawasôw, ê-mîcisocik. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, êkwa mîna ê-kaskikwâsot, mistahîs ê-tipiskâyik, kîsihtâw ayiwinisa, êkwa mîna awa oskinîkiw ê-postayôwinisêt, awa wiya iskwêw ê-ay-atoskâtahk owiyâsima. iyikohk mistahi ê-tipiskâyik, kawisimôw. iyikohk ê-pêkopayit, kêyâpic nipâyiwa osîma, iyâyaw ê-paminawasot, ê-wî-asamât osîma. iyikohk ê-kîsi-paminawasot, waniskâyiwa osîma, êkwa ê-mîcisocik. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, namôya êkwa miyâhkasamiyiwa. êkwa wiya wayawîw, ê-osîhtât ita ê-wî-akotât owiyâsima, têsipicikan. êkosi êkwa ê-sâkaskinahtât êwako têsipicikan, kotaka mîna osîhtâw têsipicikana, êkota ta-astât owiyâsima. piyisk kinwêsk atoskâtam, ê-nahastât wiyâsa. iyikohk ê-kîsihtât, êkwa osîhtâw pahkêkinwa, ayôwinisa êkwa ê-wî-osîhtawât osîma, tâpwê ê-kîsihtât, ê-pâh-pîmikitahk.

(44) When she had skinned it, she first brought it inside and fastened it to dry. Then she went again to cut up game. When noon came, she stopped to cook a meal, to give her brother to eat. When she had eaten, again she prepared skins of dwarf-moose, and tanned them, and also that buffalo-robe. By evening she had tanned it. Then she stopped, to cook, and they ate. When they had eaten, and again she sewed, then, when it was quite dark, she finished the garments, and the youth put them on, while the woman went on preparing the stores of meat. When it was entirely dark, she went to bed. When she awoke, her brother was still asleep, and eagerly she set about cooking, that she might give her brother to eat. When she had finished cooking, her brother arose, and they ate. When they had eaten, this time he did not burn incense. She went out and set up a drying-frame, on which to hang her meats. Then, when she had filled that drying-frame, she set up other drying-frames, on which to place her stores of meat. She worked a long time at placing the meat. When she had done, she prepared hides, intending to make clothes for her brother, and she finished them and ornamented them with quill-work.

(45) kinwêsk êkwa ê-ayâcik, ômisi itwêw awa oskinîkiw: "hâw, nimisê, kiyânaw cî piko ôma kâ-isinâkosiyahk?" itêw.

(45) When they had stayed there a long time, the youth spoke as follows: “Now, sister, is it only we who look like this?” he asked her.

(46) "ê ê ê, nisîmis, mihcêtiwak ôma ayîsiyiniwak, tâpiskôc kiya êkwa niya êkotôwahk ê-ihtâcik;" "mâka namôya kwayask ê-itâtisicik, ê-mâh-mawinêhotocik, siyâkôcihitotwâwi, ê-nipahitocik." "êwako ê-pakwâtamân, kâ-kî-pê-sipwêhtahitân, ê-apisîsisiyan, 'mâskôc wî-ohpikici,' ê-kî-itêyimitân." "ôtê isi âpihtâwi-kîsikâk isi mihcêtiwak ayîsiyiniwak, mâka ê-maci-nôcihtâcik," itêw; "iskwêwak wacistwanihk ê-akosîcik, awiyak oskinîkiw êkotê têkohtêci, âsay ê-sîhkimiht ta-kîhcêkosît, otihtâci awiyak ta-wîkimât." "mâka nôhtaw nîhcipayiwak oskinîkiwak, ê-nipahisihkik." "êkosi êyakonik ê-ati-môwâcik." "êwako namôya miywâsin." "êkwa ôtê mâmihk, êkotê misâw ôtênaw;" "êwakonik ê-kâ-kakwê-nakatitocik, awiyak nêkatihci, ê-misiwanâcihiht, mîna êyakonik ê-môtocik." "êwako ohci, 'pitanê ohpikihak!' kâ-ôh-kî-itêyimitân." "âyiman nânitaw ta-kî-itohtêyan," itêw osîma.

(46) “Dear me, little brother, in truth there are many people who exist in the same form as you and I; but they are not of decent character; they always challenge each other to contend, and when they have defeated each other, they kill each other. It was because I hated this, that I took you away and brought you here when you were small, thinking of you, ‘Perhaps he will grow up.’ Here, in the direction of noon are many people, but they are of evil purposes,” she told him; “Women are poised aloft in a nest, and whenever any youth arrives there, he is urged to climb up, being told that if anyone reaches them, he may marry them. But before they reach the goal, the youths fall down, falling to their death. Then those people eat them. This is no good thing. And here, in the east, yonder is a great town; the people there run races, and when anyone is outrun, he is destroyed, for these people, too, eat each other. That is why, ‘Would that I might bring him up!’ was my thought concerning you. It will be no light thing for you to go anywhere,” she told her brother.

(47) "hâ, nimisê, wâpahki nika-sipwêhtân," itêw.

(47) “Now then, sister, tomorrow I shall go forth,” he told her.

(48) mâtôw awa iskwêw, ê-pakwâtahk ê-wî-sipwêhtêyit osîma, "mâskôc ta-misi-wanâcihâw," ê-itêyihtahk.

(48) The woman wept, for she hated her brother's going forth, thinking, “Perhaps he will be destroyed.”

(49) êkosi êkwa ê-tipiskâk, kawisimôw. kîkisêpâ waniskâw awa iskwêw, ê-wî-sipwêhtêyit osîma, ê-kîsitêpot. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, wawêyîw awa oskinîkiw, ê-pasikôt, okitohcikanis ôma ê-tâpiskahk, ôtê ê-astât ospiskwanihk kicohcikanis.

(49) So, when night came, she went to bed. Early she arose to cook for her brother's departure. When that youth had eaten, he made himself ready and rose to his feet, hanging his little flute round his neck, placing it to hang on his back.

(50) "â, nimisê, awiyak wâh-wîhici,‘ opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk’ nika-isiyîhkâson," itwêw awa oskinîkiw, ê-ati-wayawît, ê-sipwêhtêt.

(50) “Now then, sister, whenever anyone is to name me, ‘Flute-Bearer’ I shall be called,” said the youth, as he stepped out of the lodge and went forth.

(51) âpihtâ-kîsikâhk isi sipwêhtêw, êkotê wacistwanihk kâ-akosîyit iskwêwa, êkoni ê-nitawi-wâpamât. nîswâw ê-nipât, êkoyikohk otihtam ôtênaw.

(51) He set out in the direction of noon, toward where the women were poised aloft in the nest, for them he was going to see. When he had slept twice, he reached the town.

(52) ê-takohtêt, "êwahô-ô-ô, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk takosin!" itwêwân.

(52) When he arrived, “Yohoho, Flute-Bearer has come!” was said of him.

(53) hâ, pêyakwayak nitomâw. mistahi miywêyihtamwak ôki ayisiyiniwak, "êkwa kê-mîcisoyâhk!" ê-itêyihtahkik.

(53) Then he was called to one lodge. Those people rejoiced in the thought, “Now we shall eat!”

(54) êkota ayâw wîsahkêcâhk, ôhi okimâwa ê-oy-ôhtâwîhkât, ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa ê-osîmit.³

⁴

tâpwê ê-tipiskâyik, itohtêw wîsahkêcâhk. ê-pîhtokêt, apiyiwa ôhi oskinîkiwa.

(54) In that place dwelt Wisahketchahk, having adopted the chief as his father and those women as his sisters. And so, at night, Wisahketchahk came there. When he entered the lodge, there sat the youth.

(55) "opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk, mâna kipê-wîwi nisîmak," itêw.

(55) “Flute-Bearer, it would seem that you have come to take my younger sisters to wife,” he said to him.

(56) "namôya!" itik.

(56) “No!” the other answered him.

(57) "â, namôya! wâpahki ka-nitawi-wîwin nisîmak." "otihtitwâwi, kika-wîwin, wacistwanihk ê-akosîcik nisîmak," itêw.

(57) “Oh yes! Tomorrow you will come to take my sisters to wife. If you reach them, you shall have them to wife, my sisters who are poised aloft in the nest,” he told him.

(58) "ahaq," itik.

(58) “Oh, very well,” the other answered him.

(59) tâpwê kîwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(59) So Wisahketchahk went home.

(60) "âh, nôhtâ, ê-pê-wîwit êsa ani opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk," itêw.

(60) “Why, father, it seems that Flute-Bearer has come to take wives,” he said to him.

(61) "êahag!" itwêyiwa.

(61) “Oh, yes!” said the other.

(62) piyis wâpaniyiw. wayawîw kîkisêpâ, ê-kîsi-mâh-mîcisowiht awa wîsahkêcâhk.

(62) The next day came. In the morning, when his people had eaten, Wisahketchahk went out of the lodge.

(63) "hâw, hâw, iyiniwitik, pê-wayawîk, pê-wayawîk!" "opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk pê-kitâpamik, ê-wî-nitawi-wîwit!" itwêw, ê-ati-sipwêhtêt.

(63) “Now, now, ye men, come forth, come forth! Come look at Flute-Bearer, who is going to take wives!” he cried, as he went out.

(64) â, kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniwak itohtêwak, êkwa ê-wîhkwêpicik tawâyihk êkota ê-cimasot awa mistik. ê-kîsi-apicik, kâ-pê-takohtêt opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk. ê-kitâpamât, capasis ayâyiwa wacistwanihk, ê-takohtêt, sêmâk ê-ati-mâcikiyit. êkosi ê-wî-otihtât wacistwanihk, pa-pakamahwêyiwa mistikwa; kâwi kinwâskosiyiwa. êkwa êkota wîpisisa âpacihtâw, ê-ohci-kîhcêkosît. miyêstinahki, ê-pa-pakamahwât opîhtatwâna, kâwi sâkaskinêyiwa wîpisisa.

(64) Then all the people came and sat in a circle round where that tree stood upright in the ground. When they had seated themselves, there came Flute-Bearer. When he looked at them, they were quite low with their nest, but as he came nearer, at once they began to rise. And when he was about to reach them in their nest, they would beat the tree; it would grow longer again. Then he used his arrows, climbing by their means. Whenever he had used them up, he would beat his quiver, and it would be full of arrows.

(65) êkosi tahki ê-sipwêyâhtawêt, wiya awa wîsahkêcâhk tahki ê-itâpit, "asawâpamihk, ta-pêtakocihk opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" ê-itwêt wîsahkêcâhk.

(65) Then, as he went climbing on and on, and Wisahketchahk was always looking up, the latter cried, “Watch for him, all of you, for Flute-Bearer to come tumbling!”

(66) piyisk nêwâw ê-yahkîmoyit ôhi mistikwa, namôya êkwa wâpahtam askiy. hâw, otinam omistanipîwayân, ê-pôtâtahk.

(66) At last, when four times the tree had lengthened, he no longer saw the earth. Then he took a wisp of fur and blew on it.

(67) "ôtê tahkohc wacistwanihk nika-pônâsin, ôki iskwêwak ita kâ-apicik!" itwêw.

(67) “There to the nest let me be blown, there where those women are!” he said.

(68) tâpwê êkotê pônâsiw.

(68) Truly, he was blown to that place.

(69) "êkosi mâka kê-wîkimitâhk!" itik iskwêwa.

(69) “And so now you will marry us!” said the women to him.

(70) "êha!"

(70) “Indeed, yes!”

(71) otinêw ôhi osîmimâwa, ê-nîhciwêpinât.

(71) He took hold of the younger one and threw her down.

(72) tahki ê-asawâpit wîsahkêcâhk, kîtahtawê kâ-pêtisâpamât, "hywww!" ê-sâkowêt; "êkwa piyêtakocihk opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!"⁵

(72) Wisahketchahk was all the while on the alert, and there suddenly he saw her coming, and whooped, “Hoyoyoyoyo! Here comes Flute-Bearer, tumbling!”

(73) ita ê-isi-ohtiskawapit wîsahkêcâhk, êkota pahkisiniyiwa. awîna ôhi, osîma! mitoni wanâcipayiyiwa.

(73) Right in front of Wisahketchahk, as he sat, she fell to the ground. Why, it was one of his sisters! [no translation]

(74) "wass!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(74) “Fie!” cried Wisahketchahk.

(75) kotaka mîna ôhi nîhciwêpinêw. piyêtisâpamâci wîsahkêcâhk, âsay ê-sâkowêt, "êkwa piyêtakocihk opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" ê-itwêt, mâka piyâhkisiniyici, namôya kwayask isi-wâpamêw osîma.⁶

nêpêwisiw. êkwa awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk pôtâtam ôma mistanipîwayân.

(75) He threw down the other one as well. When Wisahketchahk saw her coming, again he whooped and cried, “Here comes Flute-Bearer, tumbling!” but when she hit the ground, in no seemly way, he saw his sister. He was ashamed. Then Flute-Bearer breathed upon the hair of fur.

(76) "wâhyaw ôtê nika-nîhtâsin!" itwêw.

(76) “Far yonder let me be blown to earth!” he said.

(77) êkosi wîsahkêcâhk ômisi itwêw: "hê hah! tâpwê nikakwâhyakihik, nisîma kita-isi-nêpêwisiyân kâ-isiwêpinât!" itêw; "tânitê kê-pîhcâk askiy ta-itâmoyan?" "niya kiwî-nitawi-nipahitin, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk! kinêpêwihin!"

(77) Then Wisahketchahk said, “Heavens! Truly, he has given me a shock, throwing my sisters in a way to cause me shame!” he said of him; “Whereto in all the extent of the earth will you flee? I shall go out to kill you, Flute-Bearer! You have put me to shame!”

(78) êkosi êkwa ê-nitonikêt, ê-wâh-wâskâpahtât, ômisi isi, tânitê ta-nîhtakosîyit ê-nitonahk. kîtahtawê miskam ita êsa ê-ôh-tapasiyit. êkwa mitihtêw.

(78) Then he made search, running round about, like this, looking for where the other should come to earth. Presently he found the place from which the other apparently had started to flee. Then he tracked him.

(79) "namôya ka-kî-wanihitin, niya ka-kî-osîhtâyân askiy!" itêw, ê-mitihcipayîstawât.

(79) “Not by any chance shall I lose track of you, I who created the earth!” he called to him, as he pursued the trace of him.

(80) kîtahtawê wî-atimik.

(80) Then, in time, he was about to overtake him.

(81) êkwa ê-pêtwêwitamiyit wîsahkêcâhkwa, "hâw, ôta ta-wî-kayâs-âyiwiw acosis!" itwêw awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk, ê-kê-kêtaskisinêt, "â, nimaskisinitik, tapasîk!" ê-itwêt.

(81) Then, when Wisahketchahk came noisily near, “Now, let there be an old arrow here!” said Flute-Bearer, taking off his moccasins, and saying, “Now, my moccasins, flee!”

(82) "yahô!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk, ê-wâpahtahk ôma acosis; "â, kiya ôma opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" itam acosis, ê-wâ-wâpahtahk; "yâ, mâka awa kâ-atimiskanawêt!" "âh, kayâs nimosômipanak ôta kâ-kî-nôtinitocik, êkospî ôma ê-kî-patahotocik ôma acosis!" itwêw.

(82) “Yoho!” cried Wisahketchahk, when he saw that arrow; “Ho, it is you, Flute-Bearer!” he said to the arrow, as he examined it; “Yah, but there go his tracks yon way! No, when my grandfathers fought here of yore, they must have missed a shot with this arrow!” he said.

(83) êkosi isi ê-îkatawêpinahk, êkwa mîna ê-nawaswêt. mayaw ê-âkawêwêt, konita itê isi tapasîw êkwa awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk. wîsahkêcâhk iyikohk itê ê-pônihtiniyiki maskisina, pê-kîwêw.

(83) So he threw it aside, and went on with his chase. As soon as he was over the hill, Flute-Bearer ran off in some other direction. Wisahketchahk, as soon as he had got to where those moccasins had come to rest, turned about and came back.

(84) "yôh! êwako êcika ana opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk kâ-isîhot!" itwêw; "namôya êkwa kika-wanihin!" itêw.

(84) “Oho! So this was the way Flute-Bearer disguised himself!” he cried; “You shall not again get away from me!” he told him.

(85) ê-takopahtât, awînipan acosis, êsa kâ-tapasiyit!

(85) When he got there on the run, there was no trace of the arrow, it was plain that he had fled!

(86) "wînikonê-mahkay!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk, âsay mîna ê-nawaswât.

(86) “Filthy scab!” cried Wisahketchahk, and again gave chase.

(87) kîtahtawê mîna êkwa ê-wî-atimât, kêkâc êkwa ta-atimâpamât, êkoyikohk ê-askôwât, ômisi itwêw awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk: "hâw, nika-iskwêwin! nika-pwâwîn!"

(87) Presently, when again he was about to overtake him, and was close upon his heels, Flute-Bearer said, “Now, let me be a woman! [no translation]”

(88) tâpwê êkosi isinâkosiw. ê-sâkêwêt, awîna ôhi, iskwêwa ka-papâmohtêyit.

(88) Truly he took that form. When he came over the hill, there was a woman walking about.

(89) "namôya êkwa kika-wayêsihin!" "kiya ôma, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" "sôskwâc kiwî-pakamahotin!"

(89) “This time you shall not deceive me! It is you, Flute-Bearer! Now I shall club you!”

(90) mâtôw awa iskwêw.

(90) That woman wept.

(91) "mîna êcika ana êwako êkâ kê-kitimâkinawit!" "ôta kâ-pimipahtât, 'êkâya nakasin! ahpô ka-wîkimitin!' ê-ati-itak, êkâ kâ-tâpwêhtawit!" "kayâs ê-nitawi-mônahikêhk ê-kî-wanisiniyân," itwêw awa iskwêw; "êkosi ê-ati-itak,‘ hâw, osâm wîsahkêcâhk ninawaswâtik, ê-wî-nipahit!’ nititik," itwêyiwa.

(91) “So it seems that this one, too, will not take pity on me! That one who ran by here, even though I said to him, ‘Do not leave me! I will marry you, if you like!’ yet he gave me no heed! A long time ago, when we went to dig tubers, I got lost,” said the woman; “Even though I said this to him, he said to me, ‘No, Wisahketchahk is too hot in pursuit of me, to kill me!’” Thus spoke the woman.

(92) "â, namôya! namôya kika-wayêsimin! kiya ôma, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" itêw.

(92) “Oh, no! You shall not deceive me! This is you, Flute-Bearer!” he told him.

(93) "kiyâm kitimâkêyimin!" "êkâ wiya nakasin!" "ahpô ka-wîkimitin!" itêw wîsahkêcâhkwa.

(93) “Do take pity on me! Do not leave! If you like, I will marry you!” he said to Wisahketchahk.

(94) "mahti mâka nîpawi otâhk!" itêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(94) [no translation]

(94a) êkwa ômisi tôtam, ê-wî-tâhkinât.

(94a) [no translation]

(94b) "kah! tâpwê êsa ani kiya iskwêw!" itêw; "pêhin ôta;" "nika-nitawi-nipahâw opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk;" "mitoni ôma ninêpêwihik, nisîma ê-nîhciwêpinamawit." "êkâya nânitaw itohtê!" itêw.

(94b) [no translation] he said to him; “Wait here for me; I am going off to kill Flute-Bearer; the fact is, he has greatly shamed me by throwing down my sisters. Do not go off anywhere!” he told him.

(95) "êha! kiyipa mâka takohtêhkan," itik.

(95) “Very well! But come soon,” he answered him.

(96) "êha." "êkota pêhin, niwîkimâkan!" itêw.

(96) “Yes, [sic] wait here for me, my wife!” he said to him.

(97) êkosi ê-sipwêpahtât, mayaw ê-âkawêwêt, tapasîyiwa. mâka mîna wâhyaw ê-ayât, omaskisiniyiwa piko kî-astêyiwa.

(97) Then, when he ran off, as soon as he was round a bend, the other fled. Again, when he had gone a long ways, there lay only the other's moccasins.

(98) "êhêhê! êkota mâna ka-kisiwâhit opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" "namôya êkwa kika-wayêsihin!" "ita êkwa kê-wâpamitân, êkwa ka-pakamahotin! ka-nipahitin!" "kikisiwi-nêpêwihin, nisîmak êkâ kwayask ê-isi-wêpinamawiyan!" itêw.

(98) “Dear me! This is the way Flute-Bearer always gets me angry! You shall not deceive me this time! Wherever I see you, I will strike you down! I will kill you! You made me furious with shame, when you threw my sisters down to me in unseemly wise!” he cried to him.

(99) ê-takopahtât, awînipan ôhi iskwêwa, êsa kâ-tapasiyit.

(99) When he came there on the run, where was that woman! Plainly, the other had fled.

(100) "hâ hah! êkota mâna kâ-kisiwâhit opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" "namôya êkwa ka-wanihin!" "êkoyikohk mistahi ê-pimipahtâyân, osâm ê-kisiwi-cîsihiyan, iskwêw ê-itêyimitân!"

(100) “Hoho! This is the way Flute-Bearer always gets me angry! This time you shall not escape me! Now I have done enough running, and letting you fool me to the uttermost rage, thinking you a woman!”

(100a) kîtahtawê ê-pa-pimipahtât, âsay mîna kisiwâk askôk.

(100a) Presently, as he ran on and on, again he was close upon his heels.

(101) "hâw!" itwêw, mistikwa ê-otinahk, tâpiskôc wâskahikan ê-itastât; "hâw, ta-kayâs-âyiwiw wâskahikan!" itwêw.

(101) “Now!” he said, taking up some sticks and laying them in the shape of a wooden house; “Now, let there be an old wooden house!” he said.

(102) nîso mîna mistikwa otinêw, ê-pôh-pôtâtât.

(102) Then he took two saplings and breathed upon each.

(103) "hâw, kiyawâw iskwêwak kika-êkotôwinâwâw, âpihtawikosisâniskwêwak!" "êkwa niya nika-kisêyinîwin âpihtawikosisân!" "mitoni nika-kawikihkân!" itwêw.

(103) “Now, you, you are to be women, half-breed women! And I shall be an old man, and half-breed! I shall be very old!” he said.

(104) tâpwê kisêyinîwiw. pîhcâyihk ayâwak. kîtahtawê wîsahkêcâhk kâ-sâkêwêpahtât. wâpahtam wâskahikanis.

(104) Truly he turned into an old man. They were inside the house. Presently Wisahketchahk came running over the hill. He saw a little wooden house.

(105) "hâw, ohcitaw piko kika-pakamahotin!" "kiya ôma, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk, kâ-isîhoyan!" itêw.

(105) “Ha, I shall club you all the more surely! This is but your disguise, Flute-Bearer!” he called to him.

(106) ê-ati-takopahtât, kâ-pê-wayawiyit oskinîkiskwêwa.

(106) When he came a-running, out from the house came the young women.

(107) "kikî-kisiwi-nêpêwihin!" "sôskwâc êkwa kika-nipahitin, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" itêw.

(107) “You have angered me by putting me to shame! Now I shall kill you at once, Flute-Bearer!” he said to them.

(108) "nâ, mîna êcika ani êwako êkâ kê-tâpwêhtâkoyâhk!"⁷

"'awiyak otihtikoyahko, wîkimâhkêhk,' ê-kî-itikoyâhk nôhtâwînân, osâm ê-kisêyinîwit, êkâ ê-kî-pamihikoyâhk, ê-ati-ayâkoyâhk." "'osâm wîsahkêcâhk ninawaswâtik, ê-wî-nipahit,' kâ-itwêt awa ôta kâ-pimâmot, kiya kêkoc kitimâkihtawinân!" "ahpô ê-isi-nîsiyâhk ka-wîkimitinân!" itik.

(108) “Gracious, and so this one, too, will pay no heed to us! ‘If anyone comes to where we are, do you marry him,’ our father told us, for he is so very old, he cannot care for us, though he is with us. One man who ran by here said, ‘Wisahketchahk is too hot on my trail; he wants to kill me.’ So do you at least hear us with pity. If you like, the two of us will marry you!” they told him.

(109) "yahô! tâpwê ninôhtê-wîwin âpihtawikosisâniskwêwak!" "osâm ninêstosin." "pita nika-kapêsin." "wâpahki iyikohk, nika-nitawi-nipahâw." "kî-nipahaki, êkoyikohk ka-pê-pamihitinâwâw," itêw.

(109) “Really, I do fancy taking half-breed women for wives! And I am very tired. Suppose I do stop here till tomorrow. Tomorrow I shall go kill him. When I have killed him, then I shall come here and provide for you,” he told them.

(110) "pîhtokê mâka!" itik.

(110) “But do come in!” they said to him.

(111) ê-pîhtokêt, awîna ôhi, kisêyiniwânêsa kî-apiyiwa.

(111) When he went in, who was that! An old man was sitting there.

(112) "êy, tâpwê kitimâkisiw kôhtâwiyiwâw!"

(112) “Dear me, your father is really to be pitied!”

(113) "hêha."

(113) “Yes, indeed.”

(114) "ka-pamihitinâwâwan, kâ-isi-nitawêyihtahk kôhtâwiyiwâw," itêw.⁸

(114) “I shall take care of you both for him, in whatever way your father desires,” he told them.

(114a) â, apiw nipêwinihk, tahki ê-mâsihikot, âyîtaw ohci ê-apiyit.

(114a) [no translation]

(114b) piyis ê-tipiskâyik, "ninêstosin, nîwitik. pita nipâtân," itêw.

(114b) [no translation] [Finally, when it was night, he said, “I am tired, wife. Let's sleep.”]

(114c) êkwa kawisimôwak. pêyak wêhtiskawisinôstawâci, kwêskipitik ôhi pêyak, "pê-kwêskisin!" ê-itikot. piyisk kapê-tipisk êkosi ê-tôtâkot, nama kî-nipâw. iyikohk kêkâc ê-wâpaniyik, êkoyikohk mitoni nêstohkwasiw. mayaw kâ-nipât, tapasîyiwa ôhi kisêyiniwânêsa.

(114c) [no translation] [no translation] [no translation] [no translation] [no translation]

(115) ômisi itêw kâhkâkiwa awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk: "ôta mîtosihk akosî!"⁹

"'waniskâ, wîsahkêcâhk!' itâhkan;" "'kikî-nawaswâh!' itâhkan;" "''mâka ana êkwa nikisiwi-itisahok!' kititik,' itâhkan;" "'ita atimici, 'êkwa nika-nipahâw!' kititik,' itâhkan."

(115) Thus spoke Flute-Bearer to a raven: “Perch here on the poplar! ‘Get up, Wisahketchahk!’ do you say to him; ‘Don't forget you were giving chase!’ do you say to him; ‘“But now he has got me angry, chasing me!” he says to you,’ do you say to him: ‘“Wherever he overtakes me, there I shall kill him!” he says to you,’ do you say to him.”

(116) êkosi isi ê-sipwêhtêt.

(116) With that he made off.

(117) "ta-wî-nama-kêkwayiw ôma wâskahikanis!" itwêw, êkosi êkosi ê-sipwêhtêt.

(117) “Let this little wooden house disappear!” he said, and off he went.

(118) kîtahtawê kâ-kâh-kitot kâhkâkiw. pêkomik wîsahkêcâhk. ê-tôhkâpit, awîna ôma, wayawîtimihk kî-nipâw! âyîtaw ôta mistikwa kî-pimisiniyiwa; êwakoni"iskwêw" kâ-kî-itêyimât.¹⁰

(118) Presently there the raven gave its call. It awakened Wisahketchahk. When he opened his eyes, what was this? He had been sleeping out of doors! At either side of him lay a stick of wood; it was these he had taken for women.

(119) "wînikonê-mahkay tânitahtwâw êkwa ka-wayêsihit" itêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(119) “Filthy brute! How many times has he cheated me!” Wisahketchahk said of him.

(120) ê-kitoyit kâhkâkiwa, "â, wîsahkêcâhk!" "'nikisiwâhik êkwa!' kititik awa opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk;" "'ita êkwa atimici, nika-nipahâw êkwa!' kititik ani opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk," itik.

(120) Then the raven called: “Ho, Wisahketchahk! `He has got me angry now!' says Flute-Bearer to you; `Wherever he overtakes me now, I shall kill him!' is what Flute-Bearer says to you,” it told him.

(121) "yahô!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; "ta-wî-ta-tâpwêw ôyâ!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk; "âsay ôma nistwâw niwayêsihik." "namôya wîhkâc êkoyikohk awiyak niwayêsimik!" itwêw; "hâ, nika-pônihâw! nika-kîwân," itwêw; "êkosi ani ê-pimâtisiyan, opipikwan kâ-nayahtahk!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(121) “Yoho!” said Wisahketchahk; “The fellow might be telling the truth!” said Wisahketchahk; “The fact is, he has fooled me three times now. Never has anyone fooled me as much as that!” he said; “Well, I will leave him alone! I will go home,” he said; “So now you have got away with your life, Flute-Bearer!” said Wisahketchahk.

(122) êkoyikohk ê-iskwâk âtayôhkêwin.

(122) That is the end of the sacred story.

Footnotes

¹LB: A good instance of bravado: one lets a bad situation go far, and then, before acting, belittles the danger by giving a trivial reason for the delay.

²CHECK wayawîwêpinayi

³LB ad êkotah ayâw wîsahkêcâhk, In the succeeding episode Wisahketchahk seems to play merely the role of one of the spirit-animals. At the end of the story he is more in character. The same is true of a version obtained on Star-Blanket Reserve.

⁴CHECK êh-oy-ôhtâwîhkât

⁵LB on hywww: Call made with palm alternately pressed over mouth and removed.

⁶CHECK piyâkisiniyici

⁷CHECK ân -> ani

⁸CHECK TA relational?

⁹[sic] punctuation

¹⁰interesting gender mismatch