(1) kîtahtawê, ayîsiyiniwak ê-pimipicicik, iskwêwak paskêwak, nânitaw nikotwâsik iskwêwak, ê-wî-mônahikêcik mistaskosîmina. êkota pêyak miyosiw iskwêw; namôya awiya onâpêma ôhtâwiya okâwiya pimâtisiyiwa. êkosi wîcihiwêw êwako. êkwa tahki pimohtêwak, ê-mônahikêcik.

(1) Once upon a time, when some people were on the trek, some women left the band, about six women, to dig wild turnips. Among them was one beautiful woman; none of her people, husband, father, or mother, was living. She went along, now, with the others. They kept on walking and digging roots.

(2) kîtahtawê ê-pasahcâyik, êkota awa kâ-miyosit iskwêw mihcêt miskam mistaskosîmina, ê-mônahahk. piyisk osâm kinwês ayâw. namôya kiskêyihtam ê-nakatiht. iyikohk ê-kiskêyihtahk, âsay pahkisimôw. êkwa ê-sipwêhtêt, nama awiya owîcêwâkana. êkosi isi sipwêhtêw. namôya kiskêyihtam tânitê ê-itohtêyit owîcêwâkana.

(2) Then presently, in a valley, this handsome woman found many wild turnips, and dug them up. In the end she stayed too long. She did not notice that she was left alone. By the time she noticed it, the sun was setting. So, when she went away from there, she had no companions. So she set out. She did not know whither her companions had gone.

(3) kîtahtawê oskinîkiwa ka-pêcâstamohtêyit. nîpawiw. otihtik.

(3) Then at one time she saw a young man coming toward her. She stood still. He came to where she was.

(4) "tânêhki ôma?" itik.

(4) “What is the matter?” he asked her.

(5) miyosiyiwa ôhi oskinîkiwa.

(5) This youth was handsome.

(6) "ê-wanisiniyân," itêw; "niwîcêwâkanak ê-nakasicik," itêw.

(6) “It is that I have lost my way,” she told him; “that my companions have left me,” she told him.

(7) "kah! kîspin kinitawêyihtên ta-kîwêhtahitân, ka-kîwêhtahitin."

(7) “Is that so! If you want me to take you home, I will take you home.”

(8) "êha." "namôya mâka kwayask nika-kî-itohtahison," itwêw awa iskwêw.¹

(8) “Yes. But I shall not be able to find the way very well,” she said.

(9) namôya ayisk kwayask isi-nisitohtawêw, "nîkinâhk ê-wî-isi-kîwêhtahit," ê-itêyihtahk; mâka namôya: ôho oskinîkiwa wîkiwâhk ê-wî-itohtahikot.

(9) For she did not understand him aright, and thought he was going to take her home to her dwelling; but no: it was to his people's home that the youth meant to take her.

(10) êkosi kîwêhtahik, ê-pa-pimohtêcik. piyisk ê-tipiskâyik, mistahi ê-tipiskâyik, kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk mîkiwâhp ê-misâyik. êkoyikohk kiskêyihtam namôya wîkiwâhk ê-itohtêt awa iskwêw. êkosi takohtêwak.

(10) So he took her home with him; they walked on and on. At last, at nightfall, when it was quite dark, she saw a large lodge. Only then did she realize it was not to her people's dwelling she was going. So they reached the place.

(11) ê-pîhtokêt, "êhêhêhêhê!" kâ-itwêyit pîsim ôhtâwiya ê-kisêyinîwiyit; "cêskwa, nikosis! pita nika-miyâhkasikân," itwêyiwa.

(11) “When he entered, the Sun's father, who was an old man, said, “Dear me! Wait a bit, my son! Let me first burn incense,” he said.

(12) ê-miyâhkasikêt, "hâw, êkwa nistim ta-pîhtokêw," itwêyiwa.

(12) When he had lit the incense, “There, now let my daugher-in-law come in,” said he.

(13) pîhtokêw awa iskwêw. pôti ôhi kî-wâpistikwânêyiwa kisêyiniwa ê-apiyit, kâ-wâpahtahk wêskwâhtêmihk nanâtohk kêkway ê-astêyiki, ayiwinisa, mîna ospwâkanak, asinîwispwâkanak, mîna wiyâkanihk ê-astêyiki mînisa ê-kîsitêyik.

(13) She entered the lodge. There she saw that white-headed was the old man who sat there, and she saw many kinds of things placed at the far end of the lodge, garments, and pipes, stone pipes, and stewed berries in the bowl.

(14) êkosi, "êhêhêy!" itwêw awa kisêyiniw; "âyiman, nikosis, kâ-pêsiwat nistim!" itwêyiwa; "kîkway kî-asamâyahk? piko mînisa," itwêyiwa.

(14) Then, “Dear me!” said the old man; “It is no easy thing, my son, that you have brought me a daughter-in-law!” he said; “What can we give her to eat? Nothing but berries,” he said.

(15) êkwa mînisa asamik. ê-kîsi-mîcit, kawisimôwak.

(15) Then she was given berries to eat. When she had eaten them, they went to bed.

(15a) ê-mêkwâ-nipât, ê-waskawiyit onâpêma, âsay kâ-pêhtahk, "nikosê, waniskâ!"²

"âsay wî-kîsikâw!" "kipamihtâh kîsikâw!" kâ-itwêyit kisêyiniwa.

(15a) While she was asleep, as her husband stirred, already she heard the old man call, “My son, get up! Day is at hand! Do not forget that you take care of the day!”

(16) isi-waniskâyiwa. wîsta waniskâw, mîna mînisâpoy ê-otinamiyit, ê-asamikocik ôhi kisêyiniwa. kaskitêwêkin otinamiyiwa, êkwa mihkwêkin iyikohk ka-têpipayiyik iskwêw ta-otâsit; êkwa papakiwayânêkin manipitamiyiwa.

(16) At this her husband arose. She too got up, and again the old man took some berry stew and gave it them to eat. He took some black cloth, and enough red flannel to make a woman's leggings; and he tore off a length of cotton cloth.

(17) "hâ, nikosis, êwakoni ani nistim ta-kaskikwâtamâsôw," itêw.³

(17) “There, my son, even these let my daughter-in-law sew into garments for herself,” he told him.

(18) êkosi ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, ati-wayawîw awa oskinîkiw. êkwa awa awa iskwêw osîhtâw oskotâkay, kapê-kîsik ê-kaskikwâsot. mwêhci ê-pahkisimoyit, kîsikwâsôw, kâ-pê-pîhtokêyit owîkimâkana. yâh, miywêyihtam ê-pîhtokêyit.

(18) then, when they had done eating, the young man went out. Then the woman made a dress for herself, sewing all day. Just as the sun set, she finished her sewing, and there, her husband came into the lodge. Oh, she was glad when he came in.

(19) êkosi ôta ayâw, nayêstaw mînisa ê-mîcicik. tâpwê kîkisêpâ mâna ê-sipwêhtêyit onâpêma, kâ-kapê-kîsik namôya ê-takosiniyit, iyikohk pêhkisimoyiki, ê-pîhtokêyit. êkosi namôya kiskêyihtam kêkwaya ôhi onâpêma mîna ôhi osisa. mistahi mâna kaskêyihtam, êkâ wîhkâc kotaka awiya ê-wâpamât.

(19) So she stayed there, and they ate only berries. And truly, her husband, leaving always in the morning, all day he would not arrive, but only at sunset would he come into the lodge. She did not know what manner of men were her husband and her father-in-law. She often felt very lonely, for she never saw anyone else.

(20) kîtahtawê, ê-apit, ê-tipiskâk, "nikosis, kiyîsikâki ta-kî-papâmohtêw nistim." "miyâmay kaskêyihtam," itêw okosisa.

(20) Then at one time, as she sat there at nightfall, “My son, do allow my daughter-in-law to walk about during the day. Surely she must feel lonely,” said the old man to his son.

(21) "êha," itwêyiwa.

(21) “Very well,” he answered.

(22) "ayisk kiyânaw mîna kikî-isi-pakitinikonaw kâ-tipêyihtahk kahkiyaw kêkway, ta-pamihtâyan askiy." "niya ê-kî-âyimêyihtamân ta-pamihtâyân, 'kiyâm wiya ê-osk-âyiwit ta-atoskawêw,' kâ-kî-itêyimitân, "kôhtâwînaw kisê-manitow,"" kâ-itwêyit okosisa.

(22) “After all, as for you and me, we were created and set down by Him who orders all things; that you might take care of the earth. When I found too hard the task of caring for it, ‘Let him, who is still young, do the work,’ I thought concerning you, ‘for our Father, the Great Manitou’,” said he to his son.

(23) "hâw, niwîkimâkan, êkâ êpiyâni, kika-papâmohtân ôta." "ôma mîna wâsakâm ay-ihtakonwa mistaskosîmina," itwêyiwa.

(23) “Well them, my wife, when I am not at home, you may walk about here. Here too, round about there are wild turnips,” said he.

(24) tâpwê êkosi tôtam; kâ-sipwêhtêyici owîkimâkana, êkosi wîsta ê-papâmohtêt, ê-mônahahk mistaskosîmina. piyêtâci, wêtâkosiniyiki, kâ-pâh-pîhtonahki, itê ê-apiyit osisa, êkotê ê-pakitinahk. otinam mâna awa kisêyiniw, ê-nanâskomot.

(24) Then really she did so; when her husband had gone away, she too would walk about, digging wild turnips. When she brought them home in the evening, after peeling them, she would put them down where her father-in-law sat. The old man would take them up and give thanks.

(25) "kâkikê nitakâwâtêh ômatôwahk, osâm wâh-wîhkâc ê-asamikawiyân," itwêyiwa.

(25) “Always, you must know, I have longed for the like of these, for very seldom am I give them to eat,” he would say.

(26) iyikohk pêhkisimoyiki, ê-pîhtokêyit onâpêma, êkosi ê-asamât, mistaskosîmina mîna mînisâpoy ê-mîcicik, nama kêkway pîtos ê-mîcicik.

(26) At sunset, when her husband came into the lodge, she would give him food, and they would eat wild turnips and berry stew, nothing else.

(27) kîtahtawê têpiskâyiki, "hâ, nikosis, miyâhkasikê!" ê-itwêyit, kâ-pê-yôhtênamoht, mâna mihkwêkin, âskaw kaskitêwêkin, âskaw papakiwayân, kiki-mînisâpoya, ê-pîhtokêtisinamoht, êkosi ê-otinahk awa oskinîkiw.⁴

(27) Then at times, when night had come, the old man would say, “Now, my son, burn some incense!” and the door of the young man's lodge would be opened, and red flannel, and sometimes black cloth, sometimes muslin together with dishes of berry stew, would be projected into his lodge, and the young man would take them up.

(28) kîtahtawê kiskêyihtam awa iskwêw awâsisa ê-wî-ayâwât.

(28) In time the woman knew that she was going to have a child.

(29) "hâw, êkâya wîhkâc êkwa papâmohtê;" "mâskôc kwayask wî-wâpamâyahko awa awâsis," itik owîkimâkana.

(29) “Well, now never walk about; let us hope that we may without mishap have sight of this child,” her husband told her.

(30) tâpwê pêyakwanohk êkwa ayâw; namôya êkwa mônahikêw awa iskwêw; ayisk kitahamâk owîkimâkana. tâpwê piyisk nôhtê-wâpamêw ocawâsimisa, ê-âhkosit, êkwa ê-wî-wâpamât ocawâsimisa. ê-tipiskâyik, kâ-wâpamâcik, owîkimâkana ê-pamihikot. pôti ôhi nâpêsisa. êkosi miyopayiw. êkwa, â, mitoni ayiwinisa mihcêt ayâwak; ayis namôya kôta-âpacihtâw awa iskwêw, ôhi ocawâsimisa ê-isi-pamihât; ayisk wêyôtisiw awa kisêyiniw. mistahi miywêyihtam awa kisêyiniw ê-oyôsisimit, êwako pâskac ê-kanawêyimât ôsisima, iyikohk ê-miywêyihtahk ê-oyôsisimit, âskaw piko ê-kanawêyimât awa iskwêw ocawâsimisa, ê-papâmohtêt, ê-papâmohtahât, ê-kaskêyihtahk mâna awa iskwêw, êkâ wîhkâc kotaka awiya ê-wâpamât.

(30) Then really she stayed in on place; no longer now did that woman dig roots; for her husband had forbidden it. Really, in due time, she felt the need of having sight of her child, for she grew ill, being about to see her child. In the night they saw it, she and her husband, who was caring for her. It turned out to be a boy. Then she was well. Now, they had, oh, many clothes; for the woman did not lack whatever she would use in caring for that child of hers; for rich was that old man. The old man was very glad to have a grandchild and even tended the child himself, so glad was he to have a grandson, and the woman only now and then took care of the child, walking about, taking the child about, for she was mostly sad at heart because she never saw any other people.

(31) kîtahtawê êkwa ê-misikitiyit okosisa, êkwa ê-papâmohcêsiyit, kîtahtawê mâka mîna kîkisêpâ ê-sipwêhtêyit onâpêma, wîsta sipwêhtêw, konita ê-papâ-sâ-sâkêwêt. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk mîkiwâhpis. itohtêw.

(31) Then at one time, when her son had grown larger and was already walking a bit, then at one time, when her husband, as always, had gone forth early in the morning, she too went out, mounting at random over the crests of the hills. Presently she saw a little lodge. She went there.

(32) ê-takohtêt, "ta-tawâw, nôsisimis!" kâ-itwêyit nôtokêsiwa.

(32) When she came to it, “Come in, my grandchild!” said an old woman.

(33) pîhtokêw.

(33) She entered.

(34) "êêêy, nôhkom êcika awa ita ê-ay-ayât, kâ-kaskêyihtamân mâna!" itêw; "kayâs kî-kiskêyimitân, ôta ê-wîkiyan, ka-pê-kâh-kiyokâtin, nôhkô, iyikohk kâ-kaskêyihtamân mâna," itêw.

(34) “Goodness me, and so here is my grandmother living here, and I lonesome and sad all the while!” she said to her; “Long ago, if I had known that you were living here, I should have been coming to see you, lonesome and sad as I have been all the while,” she said to her.

(35) "hêêy, nôsisê, kikiskêyihtên cî ôma ita kâ-ayâyan?"

(35) “Dear me, grandchild, and do you know what place this is where you are?”

(36) "nama wiya," itêw.

(36) “No,” she answered her.

(37) "ôtê ôma nîhtaskamik ê-kî-ohtohtêyan, kikiskêyimâh cî ana kâ-wîkimat!" itik.

(37) “And down there on the earth below, did you know who he was whom you have married?” the other asked her.

(38) "namôya," itêw.

(38) “No,” she answered her.

(39) "kâ-ayisiyinîwiyan, 'pîsim,' kâ-itwêyan, êkotôwahk ana." "êwako anima ohci kâ-kapê-kîsik êkâ kâ-ôh-apit;" "ê-pamihtât askiy, ôtê nîhcâyihk ê-kîsikâstêskamawât ayisiyiniwa." "êwakonik aniki kitôtêmak kîtahtawê mâna ka-pîhtokêtisinahkik mînisâpoya êkwa ayiwinisa, ê-miyihcik kiwîkimâkan," kâ-itikot.

(39) “That which you as a mortal call ‘Sun,’ even such is he. This is the very reason why all of each day he is away from home; because he is taking care of the earth, shedding in his course the bright light of day upon the mortal men below. It is they, your kinsfolk, who ever from time to time are sending into his lodge cookings of berries, and clothing, gifts which your husband and his family receive,” the other told her.

(40) "hêêy, nôhkô, ka-kî-ci-pihkohin?"⁵

(40) “Alas, grandmother mine, will you be able to bring me back?”

(41) "yâ, nôsisê, wiya miskaman mostoso-mêy sisonê sakâhk ê-astêk, kîspin miskaman, ka-kî-pihkohitin." "êkota anima ê-pakonêyâk ôma kîsik, êkota anima ê-ohci-pihkohot mâna kiwîkimâkan," itik; "nitona," itik.

(41) “Yah, my grandchild, if you find the buffalo-dung which lies by the grove, if you find it, I shall be able to bring you back. That is where this sky is pierced, and whence your husband always makes his way,” she told her; “Look for it,” she told her.

(42) êkosi wayawîw, ê-nitonahk. namôya kinwês nôcihtâw, ê-miskahk. nitawâpamêw ôhkoma.

(42) And so she went out and looked for it. It did not take her long to find it. She went to see her grandmother.

(43) "nôhkô, nimiskên!" itik awa nôtokêsiw ôsisima.

(43) “Grandmother, I have found it!” the old woman was told by her granddaughter.

(44) "êkosi ani, nôsisê, kika-pihkohon." "nah ôma," itêw, opîsâkanâpîm, "nôsisê, mistikohk tahkopitamôhkan." "êkwa kika-osîhtân wacistwan, ita ta-apiyêk kikosis," itik; "itâp ani nôhtêpayiki nipîsâkanâpîm, ta-sîpêkipayiw," itik ôhkoma; "êkwa nêtê kitaskiy otihtamani, ka-âpihkonên anima ita kâ-wî-pôsiyan." "'nôhkô, êwakwê kipîsâkanâpîm!' kika-itwân." "ka-pê-ohpiwêpinên." "itâp ani ta-pahkihtin ôtê tahkohc," itik.

(44) “Now, grandchild, I can help you to escape. Take this,” she told her, giving her her rawhide thong, “and tie it, later, to a tree. But first you will make a nest in which you and your son will sit,” she told her; “And then, later when my rawhide thong is too short, it will stretch,” her grandmother told her; “Then when you reach yon earth of yours, you will unti that in which you will be riding. ‘Grandmother, here is your rawhide thong!’ you will say. You will fling it aloft towards this place. Then it will come falling here,” she told her.

(45) êkosi sipwêhtêw, êkwa ê-nitawi-osîhtât wacistwan.

(45) So she went away, first to make the nest.

(46) âsay kiskêyihtam awa pîsim ê-wî-sipwêhtêyit owîkimâkana; âsay pakwâtam. mâka nama iskwa kîsi-têtipêwêw ôma askiy.

(46) Then Sun by this time knew that his wife intended to go away; already he felt the grief of it. But he had not yet completed his circuit of the earth.

(47) êkwa awa iskwêw ê-kîsihtât, ê-tahkopitahk mistikohk, ê-pakitâpêkinisot, âta ê-nôhtêpayiyik, tahki sîpêkipayiyiw pîsâkanâpiy.

(47) Then when the woman had made the thong and had tied it to a tree, and had let herself down by the rope, even though it proved too short, the rawhide thong each time stretched to new length.

(48) êkoyikohk ê-kîsi-têtipêwêt awa pîsim. itohtêw ita kâ-ôh-pinasiwêyit owîkimâkana. otinêw asiniya.

(48) By this time the Sun had finished his roundabout course. He went to the place from which his wife had let herself down. He took up a stone.

(49) "hâw, têpiyâhk niwî-pa-pâhpisihâw niwîkimâkan!" itêw, êkota ê-nahikâpawit ôma kâ-pakonêyâyik; "hâw, ostikwânihk ta-pahkisiniyiwa ôhi asiniya niwîkimâkan!" "namôya nika-pistahwêw pîsimôwâsis nikosis!" itwêw êsa, ê-pakitinât asiniya.

(49) “Now then, I shall at least turn the joke on my wife!” he said of her, standing close to that opening; “Now then, let this stone come down upon my wife's head! Let me not by chance injure Sun-Child, my son!” he said, as he let go the stone.

(50) êkosi isi kîwêw, ê-pîhtokêt.

(50) Thereupon he went home and into the lodge.

(51) "nikosis, kimiskawâw cî, itê ê-itohtêt nistim?"

(51) “My son, have you found where my daugher-in-law has gone?”

(52) "êha, nikî-mâtâhâw itê ê-itohtêt, ê-kîwêt," itêw.

(52) “Yes, I have found her tracks, where she went on her homeward way,” he answered him.

(53) "kah! matwân cî kwayask ta-pêsiwêw nôsisima!" itêw.

(53) “Why! I wonder if really she will succeed in bringing my grandchild safely to her home!” he said to him.

(54) "hêha!"

(54) “Yes!”

(55) ê-kîkisêpâyâyik, mwêhci êkwa ê-wî-pônêsihk awa iskwêw, êkoyikohk kâ-atimikot ôhi asiniya.⁶

pahkisiniyiwa ostikwânihk. paskipayiyiw pîsâkanâpiy; pahkisin mohcihk; nipahisin.

(55) When early morning had come, just as the woman was about to alight from her fall, even than [sic] that stone overtook her. It came down on her head. The rawhide thong broke; she fell upon the bare ground; she was killed by her fall.

(56) êkosi êkota pa-pimisin. êkwa awa awâsis êkota ay-ayâw, ê-nâh-nônihtahisot, âta ê-nipiyit okâwiya.⁷

namôya kiskêyihtam ê-nipiyit okâwiya, pisisik ê-ma-mêtawêt êkota, ita okâwiya ê-pimisiniyit. piyisk kinwêsk êkota ayâw. piyisk ati-sîkônêsiniyiwa okâwiya.

(56) There she lay. The child stayed there, sucking from time to time at her breast, even though his mother had died. He did not know that his mother was dead, but kept playing about that place where his mother lay. For a long time, in the end, he was there. In time his mother's body began to decay where it lay.

(57) kîtahtawê ê-papâmi-ma-mêtawêt, kâ-miskahk ita ê-ayât awa pêyak nôtokêsiw, kâ-wâpahtahk okistikânisiyiwa, nanâtohk kêkwaya ê-kiscikêsiyit. namôya kiskêyihtam kêkwaya ôhi awa awâsis, êkota mâna ê-ma-mêtawêt, ôhi kiscikânisa ê-mâh-manipitahk, ê-mêtawâkêt, namôya ê-mîcit, konita ê-mêtawâkêt. êtohtêci okâwiya, êkoyikohk mâna awa nôtokêsiw otihtam okiscikânisa, konita mâna kâ-pimastêyiki, ê-mâh-manipitamiyit awâsisa, kâ-mâtâhât mâna.

(57) Then at one time, as he went about at his play, he found the place where dwelt a certain little old woman, and he saw her little garden, where in a small way she raised different plants. The child did not know what they were, but merely would play round there, pulling up the little plants and playing with them, not eating them, but at purposeless play. When he had gone back to where his mother was, only then would the old woman come to her garden, and there would be her plants lying round, where the child had plucked them up, and then she would see the tracks of him.

(58) "pitanê awa wâpamak!" itêyihtam, ê-wawiyatêyimât, ê-apisîsisiyit pakahkam, ê-itêyihtahk.

(58) “I wish I could get sight of this rascal!” she thought, finding him droll, seeing that surely he must be a tiny fellow.

(59) kîtahtawê êkwa askamawêw, kîtahtawê kâ-pâpahtâyit awâsisa. mistahi wawiyatêyimêw, ê-kitimâkinawât. ê-pâpahtâyit, ê-otihtamiyit okiscikânisa, mâninâkisk mâh-manipitamiyiwa, ê-atiwêpinamiyit. ka-kitâpamêw, ê-wawiyatêyimât. piyisk kisiwâk pê-ayâyiwa, ôta ê-pê-takohtêyit, ôhi ê-mâh-manipitamiyit. môskîstawêw awa nôtokêsiw. iyikohk ê-kiskêyimikot, ê-wî-tapasiyit, âsay nawatinêw, ê-mamawimoyit ê-kostikot.

(59) So then she lay in wait for him. Presently the child came running. incorrectly merged. She thought him very droll, and he touched her heart. As he came running and reached her little plants, without hesitation he began to pluck them up and throw them about. She kept observing him, and found him lovably droll. At last he had come quite near, walking closer, as he kept uprooting the plants. The old woman made a dash for him. By the time he perceived her and tried to escape, she had hold of him, as he cried in fear of her.

(60) "nôsisimis, nôsisimis!" ê-itât, ê-oy-ocêmât, "tânitê ôma ê-ohtohtêyan?" itêw.

(60) “My little grandchild, my little grandchild!” she said to him, kissing him again and again; “Where do you come from?” she asked him.

(61) "ôta kisiwâk," itik.

(61) “Right near here,” he told her.

(62) "nôsisimis, nama wiya kikisiwâhin, ôhi nikiscikânisa kâ-misi-wanâcihtâyan." "nawac nimiywêyihtên ê-miskâtân," itêw.

(62) “My dear little grandchild, I am not angry at you for having spoiled these plants of mine. I am too glad I have found you,” she told him.

(62a) êkosi ê-pakitinât; sipwêpahtâyiwa. êkwa ay-askôwêw. pôti kâ-wâpahtahk ita ê-pimisiniyit awiya. êkota takohtêyiwa.

(62a) Then, when she set him down, off he ran. Then she followed him. There she saw someone lying. To that place the child went.

(63) "kêkway awa, nôsisê?" itêw; "êwako cî awa'nikâwiy' kâ-itwêyan?"

(63) “What person is this, my grandchild?” she asked him; “Is this the one of whom you speak as your mother?”

(64) "ahaq! kotak mâka awiyak namôya awiyak;" "êwako awa piko ê-nîsiyâhk nikâwiy," itêw.

(64) “Yes! There is not anyone else; there are just we two, my mother and I,” he told her.

(65) "hêêy, nôsisimis, mistahi êcika ôma ê-kitimâkisiyan, nôsisê!" "ka-kîwêhtahitin." "kika-ayâtin." "namôya awa ê-pimâtisit kikâwiy, ayis awa ê-kî-nipit." "misawâc piyisk ôta ka-misi-wanâtisin, êkâ nakataci." "aspin kâ-askîwik nama wîhkâc êkosi ispayiw, êkâ ê-pimâtisit ta-kî-wîc-âyâmiht," itêw; "ka-kîwêhtahitin," itêw.

(65) “Alas, my dear little grandchild, I see that you are ina woeful plight, my grandchild! I shall take you home with me. I shall keep you as my own. Yor mother here is not alive; she has died. You will surely perish here, in the end, if you do not leave her. Never since this earth began has it been so, has it been possible for one not living to be stayed by,” she told him; “I shall take you home with me,” she told him.

(66) "ahaq!"

(66) “Yes!”

(67) tâpwê kîwê-wîcêwêw ôsisima. takohtahêw wîkihk. hây, kitimâkêyimêw; kitimâkinawêw, ê-asamât. miywêyihtam awa nâpêsis, êkwa ê-wîcêwât nôtokêsiwa. êkosi êkwa pônêyimêw okâwiya.

(67) Really she took her grandchild home with her. She brought him to her dwelling. Oh, she felt sorry for him; she pitied him and gave him food. The little boy liked being with the old woman. And so he ceased thinking of his mother.

(68) kîtahtawê ita ê-ay-ayâcik ôhkoma, "nôsisê, tahki ôma mâna nipapâmohtân." "êkâya wîhkâc nânitaw itohtê." "kanawêyihta mâna kîkinaw, âskaw kita-itohtêyan nikistikânisihk," itêw ôsisima.

(68) Then, presently, as he and his grandmother were living there, “Grandson, I am in the habit of always walking about here. Do you never go off anywhere. Always stay and take care of the house, and from time to time go to my garden,” she told her grandson.

(69) tâpwê kîtahtawê ê-kîsikâyik, "nôsisê, niwî-papâmohtân," itêw, "ê-nitonamân mâna ta-mîciyân," itêw, "mîna âskaw ê-itohtêyân ôtê oskinîkiwak ê-wîkicik wâhyawês," itik.

(69) And really, when day came, “Grandson, I am going to walk about,” she told him, “to look for things to eat,” she told him, “and to go, as I do from time to time, to where some young men live, not very far from here,” she told him.

(70) êkosi mâna ê-sipwêhtêyit, êkwa mâna wiya êkota ê-kîskwêt, âskaw okistikânisiyihk ê-itohtêt, kâ-itohtêci konita ê-mâh-manipitahk mâna okiscikânisiyiwa.

(70) So she would always go away, and he would play there, going sometimes to her garden, and when he went there, pulling up his grandmother's plants.

(71) wêtâkosiki, têkosihki awa nôtokêsiw, "nôsisê, kikî-itohtân cî nikiscikânisihk?" "êha," êtikoci, êkosi ê-itohtêt, konita mâna kâ-pimastêyiki okiscikânisa, ê-mâh-manipitamiyit.

(71) In the evening, when the old woman came, “Grandchild, did you go to my garden?” and when he said, “Yes,” she would go there, and there her plants would be lying scattered about, where he had pulled them up.

(72) "nôsisimis tâpwê ê-kakêpâtisit!" itwê mâna awa nôtokêsiw, ê-pâhpit mâna, ê-môsahkinahk, ê-kîwêhtatât. piyîhtokêci, kâ-otinât mâna, ê-oy-ocêmât, "nôsisimis, nôsisimis!" ê-itât mâna.

(72) “Truly my little grandson is naughty!” the old woman would say, and she would laugh, as she picked them up and carried them home. When she came into the lodge, she would pick him up and kiss him again and again, saying, “My dear little grandson, my dear little grandson!”

(73) kîtahtawê kâ-kakwêcimât ôhkoma, êkwa ê-misikitit.

(73) Then at one time he began to ask his grandmother questions, we he had grown larger.

(74) "nôhkô, kêkwaya ôhi?" itêw, nîswayak wîhkwâhk ê-asiwatêyiki, ê-tahkopitêyiki apasôhk.

(74) “Grandmother, what sort of things are these?” he asked her, of some things that were enclosed in two separate bladders that were tied to the lodge-poles.

(75) "hâ, nôsisê, konita anihi," itik.

(75) “Why, grandson, never mind what they are,” she answered him.

(76) namôya wî-wîhtamawêw kêkwaya ôhi kâ-asiwatêyiki. mâka kiskêyihtam awa pîsimôwâsis ê-waskawipayiyiki mâna ôhi wîhkwaya. êkosi êkota ê-ay-ayâcik, kîtahtawê êkwa mâka mîna ê-sipwêhtêyit ôhkoma, kâ-kimotamawât ocascisimisiyiw, ê-osihtât tâpakwâna.⁸

ê-kîsihtât, tahtwayak ê-pîkopayiyik owîkisiwâw, êkota ê-tâpakwêt, êkwa ispimihk ê-kipahahk wîkiwâw. êkwa pêyak ôma wîhkway kâ-pôskosahk, konita kâ-sâkaskinêyit cahcahkayowa. êkotôwahk êsa ôhi kâ-asiwasoyit. konita ê-sâkôwêt, ê-nôcihât, âta kâ-wî-wayawîhâyit, kahkiyaw tâpakwâtêw. mêscihêw, konita ê-tatâhpit, êkwa ê-mêtawâkêt êwakoni. iyikohk, "ta-takohtêw," ê-itêyimât ôhkoma, êkwa pêyakwayak asahêw, ê-akwanahwât, "êkwa kê-môwâyâhkok," ê-akwanahât, ê-itwêt;⁹

"êkwa kê-môwâyâhk nôhkom," itwêw.

(76) She would not tell him what things were in there. But Sun-Child knew that those bladders were always twitching and moving. And so, as they lived there, once when his grandmother had gone off in her usual way, he filched her little sinew strings and made some snares. When he had made them, wherever their little dwelling was broken, he set a snare, and at the top he closed up the smoke-hole of their lodge. Then, when he had cut open one of those bladders, there, it was full of blackbirds. So these it was were in there. He whooped and yelled, and chased them, and try as they might to fly out of the house, he snared them all. He killed them all, laughing loud and amusing himself with them. When he thought his grandmother was about to arrive, he piled them up in one place and threw something over them, and as he put them under the covering, “Now we shall eat them,” he said; “Now we shall eat them, my grandmother and I,” he said.

(77) iyikohk ê-takohtêyit, ê-otâkosiniyik, ê-pîhtokêyit, ômisi itêw: "nôhkô, êkwa ka-mîcisonânaw," itêw.

(77) When she arrived, in the evening, and came into the lodge he said to her, “Grandmother, now we shall eat.”

(78) "kîkway awa kâ-wî-ayâtamihit nôsisimis?" itik.

(78) “What will this dear little grandchild of mine be giving me as a treat?” she asked him.

(79) "êwako anima pâskina, nôhkô."

(79) “Just uncover this here, grandmother.”

(80) ê-pâskinahk, awîna ôhi cahcahkayowa!

(80) When she uncovered it, what did she see but the blackbirds!

(81) mâtoyiwa ôhkoma, "tâpwê nikitimahik nôsisim!" ê-itwêyit; "tâpwê kakêpâtisiw nôsisim!" ê-itikot.

(81) His grandmother wept, saying, “Truly, my grandson has done me grief!” and telling him, “Truly, my grandson is naughty!”

(82) ê-kîskwêyit iyikohk, êkwa otinêyiwa, ê-paskopitâyit. ê-kîsihâyit, êkwa pakâsimêyiwa.

(82) When at last she ceased her lamentation, she picked them up and plucked them. When she had got them clean, she set them to cook.

(83) ê-kîsiswâyit, "nôsisê, kiya piko mîciso," itik.

(83) When she had cooked them done, “Grandson, do you alone eat,” she told him.

(84) tâpwê wiya piko ma-mîcisôw. iyikohk ê-kîspot, pôni-môwêw. ahêyiwa.

(84) Accordingly, he alone partook of the meal. When he had his fill, he quit eating them. She put them away.

(85) "itâp kîhtwâm mîna ka-môwâwak," itik.

(85) “You will eat some more of them later,” she told him.

(86) êkosi ê-ay-ayâcik mîna êkota, tahto-kîsikâw ê-sipwêhtêyit ôhkoma, iyikohk mîna ê-kitamwât ôhi cahcahkayowa, âsay mîna tâpakwêw. êkwa mîna ispimihk ê-kipahahk wîkiwâw, âsay mîna ôma wîhkway pôskosam, konita kâ-kitoyit omîcaskosîsa, konita mâna kâ-sâkôwêt, ê-nôcihât. tahto kâ-wî-wayawiyâmocik, tâpakwâtêw. mêscihêw mâka mîna. âsay mîna pêyakwanohk asahêw, ê-akwanahwât. êkoyikohk kâ-takohtêyit ôhkoma.

(86) So, as they continued to live there, and his grandmother went off every day, when he had eaten all of those blackbirds, again he set snares. Again he closed up their lodge at the top, and again he cut open a bladder, and the place was filled with the twittering of swallows, as he whooped and yelled and gave them chase. As many of them as tried to escape from the house, he snared. He killed them all, this time too. Again he piled them up in one place and covered them up. Then his grandmother came home.

(87) ômisi itêw: "nôhkô, êkwa mîna ka-mîcisonânaw," itêw.

(87) He said to her, “Grandmother, now we shall eat again,” he told her.

(88) "kîkway awa kâ-wî-atamihit nôsisim?" itêw awa nôtokêsiw.

(88) “What treat is this grandson of mine about to give me?” the old woman asked him.

(89) "êwako anima pâskina," itêw ôhkoma.

(89) “Uncover this here,” he said to his grandmother.

(90) ê-pâskinahk, sêmâk êkwa mâtoyiwa.

(90) When she uncovered it, at once she began to weep.

(91) "hâ, nôhkô, kiyâm api! konita mâna kimâton!" itêw.

(91) “Oh, grandmother, be quiet! You are always weeping for no reason at all!” he said to her.

(92) ê-kîskowêyit, ômisi itik: "nôsisê, tâpwê mistahi kikakêpâtisin." "ê-kitimâkisiyan kôh-kitimâkêyimitih, êkwa kâ-mêscihacik nitawâsimisak!" "nitawâsimisak ôki, nôsisê." "sipwêhtê." "nicawâc piyisk nânitaw ka-kî-tôtâtin." "kikisiwâhin, êkwa ê-âta-kitimâkêyimitân, iyikohk kâ-kîsinâcihiyan, nikiscikânisa mîna mistahi ê-misi-wanâcihtâyan;" "êkwa mîna nisâkihâhtayak nitawâsimisak, kâ-mêscihacik." "niyâ, sipwêhtê!" "kimanâkitimahitin, ê-kitimâkisiyan," itik.

(92) When she ceased crying, she said to him, “Grandson, surely you are very naughty. It was because you were in a miserable state that I took pity on you and befriended you, and here you are doing away with all my children! These are my children, grandson. [no translation] [Go away.] In the end I may be led to do you some harm. You have angered me, even though I felt pitying kindness for you when you did me harm and greatly laid waste my garden-plants; I loved and cherished these my poor children whom you have all destroyed. Be off; go away! I do not want to bring you to ruin, poor creature that you are,” she said to him.

(93) êkosi pasikôw, ê-wayawît, ê-sipwêhtêt. konita piko itê isi sipwêhtêw. ita ê-tipiskâyik, konita kawisimôw. ê-wâpaniyik, sipwêhtêw. ê-âpihtâ-kîsikâyik, kâ-wâpahtahk mîkiwâhp, ita mitoni ê-ayâhkwacâwahkâsiyik. êkota itohtêw. pôti ôma kî-masinahikâtêyiw mîkiwâhp.

(93) Accordingly, he arose, went out of the lodge, and departed. He went off in some direction, he knew not whither. Wherever he was at nightfall, he lay down, not choosing where. When day broke, he went on. At noon he saw a tipi in a place where there were many small ravines. Thither he went. He saw that the tipi was covered with painted symbols.

(94) ê-takohtêt, "hâhâ, tawâw, tawâw, pîsimôwâsis!" kâ-matwê-itwêyit oskinîkiwa.

(94) When he reached it, “Oho, come in, come in, Sun-Child!” a young man called out to him.

(95) ê-pîhtokêt, awîna ôhi, kî-wâsakâmêpiyiwa oskinîkiwa, mitoni ê-mâh-miyohoyit, osâm piko pêhpêsâpowayâna ê-wiyâhtamiyit.

(95) When he entered, what did he see byt some youths sitting round the sides of the lodge, splendidly dressed, but wearing only striped robes!

(96) "ôtê ohci!" ê-itikot, namôya tâpwêhtawêw.

(96) When “Over here!” they said to him, he did not heed their invitation.

(97) "ôta kiyâm!" itêw, iskwâhtêmihk ê-nahapit.

(97) “This will do, right here!” he answered them, seating himself by the door-flap.

(98) kîtahtawê, "hayâ, wêsâ nama mayaw kitasamâwâw pîsimôwâsis!" "miywâsinôpan ê-otihtikoyahk!" kâ-itwêyit.

(98) Then soon, “Dear me, we are indecently slow about serving food to Sun-Child! And just now we thought it so glad an event that he came to us!” said one.

(99) "yahâ, kîkway mâka kâ-kî-asamâyahk?"

(99) “Goodness, but what can we give him to eat?”

(100) "cê, kîpa ta-kîsitêk wînâstakay nawacîk! ta-kîsitêw."

(100) “Why, quickly roast a buffalo-stomach to be served well done and piping hot! Quickly roast it done.”

(101) tâpwê nawacîw. kiyipa akwânamiyiwa.

(101) So one put on the roast. Very soon he took it from the fire.

(102) "yahô, matwân cî ôma kîsitêw!" itwêyiwa; "mahti koci-paskêhta!" "namôya pakahkam kîsitêw mâcikôtitan!"

(102) “Dear me, surely it cannot be done!” said another; “You had better bite off a piece to try! Surely you will find it can't be cooked done!”

(103) êwako mîna paskêhtam.

(103) He too bit off a piece.

(104) "namôya kîsitêw," itwêw mîna êwako, "mâcikôtân!"

(104) “It is not done,” said this one too; “Just see for yourself!”

(105) kotaka miyêw, ohpimê ê-ati-paskêhtahkik. piyisk wâsakâmê-paskêhtamwak ôki oskinîkiwak.

(105) He gave it to another, and each took a bite next to where the other had bitten. When they got through, these youths had bitten off morsels all round the edge of the gizzard.

(106) âsay nâha nôtokêsiw pê-sipwêhtêw, awa pîsimôwâsis ka-pê-nakatât nôtokêsiwa, ê-kiskêyihtahk ê-otihtâyit otawâsimisa pîsimôwâsisa. êwako êsa ana nôtokêsiw ôhi otawâsimisa oskinîkiwa kâ-mitâtasiyit.

(106) By this time yonder old woman had set out to come here, the old woman from whom Sun-Child had parted when he came, for she knew that Sun-Child had reached her sons' abode. For these ten youths were that old woman's sons.

(107) piyisk kahkiyaw ôki oskinîkiwak paskêhtamwak.

(107) At last all the youths had taken bites.

(108) "kîsitêw ôma," itwêwak.

(108) “It is cooked done,” they said.

(109) "âh, êkosi isi asamihk!" itêwak pîsimôwâsisa.

(109) “Ho, so now let him eat!” they said of Sun-Child.

(110) otinam môhkomân, wâsakâm ê-wâskâsahk ôma wînâstakay. ê-kîsi-manisahk, sisikoc macostêwêpinam. êkosi isi wayawiyâmot, "kimêscihikonawak pîsimôwâsis" kâ-itwêyit. tâpwê kahkiyaw nipahêw. sîsîkwêwa êsa ôhi.¹⁰

mêscihêw.¹¹

êkosi tapasîw.

(110) He took his knife and cut all around the edge of the stomach. When he had pared off the edge, suddenly he threw the trimming into the fire. At once he fled out of the lodge, as they cried, “Sun-Child is killing us all!” Indeed, he had killed thm all. For they were rattlesnakes. He had done away with them all. And so he fled.

(111) êkosi nâha nôtokêsiw pê-nawaswêw, pîsimôwâsisa ê-pimitisahwât.

(111) And now yonder old woman came in pursuit, chasing Sun-Child.

(112) "êkwa ani kikisiwâhin, pîsimôwâsis, mitoni kâ-kitimahiyan, nitawâsimisak êkwa ê-mêscihacik!"

(112) “Now you have really angered me, Sun-child, doing me so many griefs and now destroying all my sons!”

(113) êkosi isi êkwa nawaswâtik êkwa nôtokêsiwa, piko itê ê-itâmot. kîtahtawê kisiwâk êkwa ê-askôkot, êkwa sêkihik.

(113) So now he was chased by the old woman, and fled he knew not where. In time, when she was close upon him, he became frightened.

(114) ômisi itwêw: "nôhtâ, kisiwâk pimohtê!" "niwî-nipahik sîsîkwêw nôtokêsiw!" itêw.

(114) He cried, “Father, come near in your course! The Old Rattlesnake Woman means to kill me!” he said to him.

(115) tâpwê capasis pimohtêyiwa ôhtâwiya pîsimwa. mistahi kisitêyiw, piyisk ê-wî-kîsisot awa nôtokêsiw. pôyôw.

(115) Truly, low in his course came his father, the Sun. It grew very hot, until at last the old woman felt herself about to be roasted. She gave up.

(116) "êkosi ani ê-pimâtisiyan, pîsimôwâsis! kipônihitin," itik; "mâka êkota ohci êkâ wiya, êkâya wîhkâc mostâhtak nahapi!" itêw awa nôtokêsiw pîsimôwâsisa.

(116) “And so you have saved your life, Sun-Child! I give you up,” she said to him; “But owing to this, do not, do never seat yourself on the bare ground!” said the old woman to Sun-Child.

(117) tâpwê nawac ispimihk pimohtêyiwa ôhtâwiya. kîwêw awa nôtokêsiw. êkwa awa pîsimôwâsis ê-pimohtêt, miskawêw asiniya ê-napakâpiskisiyit. otinêw êwakoni, ita ê-wî-nahapit, êkota ê-ahât, ê-anâskasot ôhi asiniya. tahki êkosi tôtam, mîna ê-wî-nipât, ê-anâskasot asiniya, wiyâpaniyiki, sêpwêhtêci, ê-pimiwihât asiniya.

(117) Accordingly, his father went higher in his course. The old woman went home. And Sun-Child, as he walked on, found a stone of flat shape. He took it up, and wherever he meant to sit down, there he placed it, using that stone as a seat. He did this every time, putting the stone under him also when he went to sleep, and in the morning, when he went on, taking the stone with him.

(118) kîtahtawê ôma ê-papâmâcihot, kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk ôtênaw. êkota takosin. ispatinâhk nîpawiw, ê-kitâpahtahk ôhi mîkiwâhpa.

(118) Then at one time, ash he wandered about, he came upon a town. He reached it. He stood on a rise in the land and looked at the tents.

(119) "yahô, pîsimôwâsis takosin!" itwêwân.

(119) “Oho, Sun-Child has arrived!” was said in his hearing.

(120) âsay pêyak pê-itohtêyiwa, ê-pê-nitomikot.

(120) Soon one came to him, to invite him in.

(121) "hâ, pîsimôwâsis, kiwî-pê-itohtân!"

(121) “Ho, Sun-Child, you are to come!”

(122) "êha hê."

(122) “Oh, very well.”

(123) wîcêwêw.

(123) He went along with him.

(124) ê-pîhtokêt mîkiwâhpihk, "nhâ, ta-tawâw!" itâw.

(124) As he entered the lodge, “Oh, come in!” he was told.

(125) ê-nahapit, "hâ, asamihk kiyipa! nôhtêhkatêtokê!" itâw.

(125) When he sat down, “There, quickly give him food! Surely he must be hungry!” was said of him.

(126) "êhêhêhêy, haha, pîsimôwâsis!" "âyiman ani ita kâ-takohtêyan pisisik ê-mêtawêhk, ê-manitowi-mêtawêhk." "êkosi niyanân tahki ê-sâkôcihikawiyâhk." "âsay ôma kîsêyihtamôtokê, ê-wî-mawinêhosk pîwâpisko-mostos."¹²

"âyimisiw ani; nama wîhkâc nisâkôcihânân." "êkosi âta sâkwêyimoyâhko, ôhcitaw nika-misi-wanâcihikonân," itwêyiwa.

(126) “Why, gracious heavens, it is Sun-Child! Truly it is no light thing that you have come here, where unceasing are the contests, the contests of spirit-animals. And indeed, it is we who are always defeated. By this time doubtless he has already decided to challenge you, the Iron Bull. Most dangerous is he; never have we defeated him. And so, no matter how unwilling we are to contend, he is determined to destroy us completely,” the other explained.

(127) "namôya ê-papâ-mêtawêyân," itêw.

(127) “I do not happen to be going about in search of contests,” he told him.

(128) "mâskôc ohcitaw ka-mawinêhokwak." "awiya mastaw kâ-takosiniyit, sêmâk mawinêhwêwak," itâw; "mâka otâkosin anohc." "wâpahki mâskôc ka-mawinêhokwak," itâw.

(128) “Doubtless they will challenge you none the less. They challenge at once any new arrival,” he was told; “But it is evening now. Tomorrow probably they will challenge you,” he was told.

(129) êkosi êkwa asamâw. piyisk tipiskâyiw. êwako kîkisêpâ, ê-kî-mîcisocik, sâsay kâ-têpwêwiht.

(129) Then he was given food. At last darkness fell. Then, the next morning, when they had eaten, already he heard the announcing call.

(130) "hahâw hahâw hahâw! wawêyîk!" "pê-nitawâpahkêk!" "wî-mêtawâniwiw!" "ê-papâ-mêtawêt, ê-itwêhk, kâ-takohtêt otâkosihk pîsimôwâsis, wî-mêtawêw pîwâpisko-maskwa!" "pê-wayawîk!"

(130) “Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Make ready! Come to look on! there will be a contest! Last night arrived Sun-Child, who, it is said, is going about seeking contests; he is to contend with the Iron Bear! Come forth!”

(131) âsay pê-itohtêyiwa.

(131) Already the other had come.

(132) "hâw, pîsimôwâsis, kiwî-wawêyîn, pîwâpisko-maskwa ê-wî-mawinêhosk."

(132) “Come, Sun-Child, you are to come forth, as the Iron Bear is to challenge you.”

(133) êkosi, "hâw, êyiwêhk wawêyî." "misawâc âta êkâ tâpwêhtamani, ohcitaw ka-kakwê-misi-wanâcihik," itik ôhi wîkiyihk kâ-pîhtokêt, ôma ita kâ-apit.

(133) Then, “at any rate, go forth. In any case, even if you pay no heed, none the less he will seek to destroy you,” he was told by him into whose lodge he had come, where now he stayed.

(134) "êha." "namôya nôh-papâ-mêtawân," itwêw; "êyiwêhk mâka," itwêw.

(134) “Very well. It is not true that I am going about seeking contests,” he said; “but never mind,” he said.

(135) êkosi ê-wawêyît. sâsay ita ê-tahtakwahcâsiyik, êkota ê-itohtêyit.

(135) Accordingly, he made ready. Already, where there was a stretch of level land, thither the other had gone.

(136) "hâ, kiyipa pê-wayawî!" itâw.

(136) “Ho, quickly, come forth!” he was told.

(137) êkosi wayawîw, ê-itohtêt. sâsay wîhkwêkâpawiyiwa.

(137) Accordingly, he went out and proceeded to the place. They were already standing about in a circle.

(138) ê-takohtêt, "haw, pîsimôwâsis, kipapâ-mêtawân, kititikawin." "kiya mâka nîkân ka-pimotên."

(138) When he arrived, “Now then, Sun-Child, you are going about engaging in contests, it is said concerning you. You shall have the first shot.”

(138a) "namôya! kiyawâw nîkân! êka_mâ niya wêh-mêtawêyân."

(138a) “No! You first! Seeing it is not of my own will I am contending.”

(139) "êêg," itwêw awa wâkayôs.

(139) “Very well,” said that bear.

(140) âsay ômisi itêyihtam: "hâw, nôhtâ, kisiwâk ohci kanawêyimin!" itwêw, ômisi ê-itêyihtah: "mâskôc kisâstêki, ta-nayawapit," ê-itêyimât ôhi wâkayôsa.

(140) Already he thought as follows: “Now, O my father, watch me from close by!” he said, thinking this: “Perhaps, if the weather is hot, he will tire,” thinking this of the bear.

(141) tâpwê ati-kisitêyiw, ê-ati-kisâstêyik.

(141) Really, it grew hotter and hotter, as the bright glow of the sun increased.

(142) "haw, nêtê nika-pê-ohtohtân." "nêwâw ka-wâyonîstâtin; mwêhci nêwâw êkota nika-pimakocinin," ê-wî-otihtinikot, ê-wî-kakwê-nipahikot.

(142) “Now then, from yon place I shall come. Four times I shall start for you; and on the fourth time I shall spring,” meaning that he would seize him, that he would try to kill him.

(143) mâka kisitêyiw. mistahi ati-sipwêhtêw awa wâkayôs, êkotê ê-ohci-pê-sipwêhtêt, ê-pê-nâtât pîsimôwâsisa. tâpiskôc ê-yôskahcâyik, ê-pê-pimohtêyit, iyikohk ê-kotâwahcinamiyit. kisiwâk ê-ihtâyit, wâyonîyiwa. mîna êkotê ohci pê-sipwêhtêyiwa. ayiwâkês êkwa iskoskiwêyiwa. mîna kisiwâk ê-ihtâyit, wâyonîyiwa. âsay mîna pê-sipwêhtêyiwa, tahki ayiwâk ê-iskoskiwêyit. kêyâpic wâyonîyiwa êkwa, êkota êkwa ka-kakwê-nipahikot. mâka sâsay mistahi nayawapiyiwa. ispî kisiwâk êkwa ê-ayâyit, pisisik pîwâpisk isinâkosiyiwa.

(143) But it was very hot. The bear went off a long ways, starting from a good distance to come running at Sun-Child. Just as if the ground were soft swamp, when he came, he sank deep into it. When he was near he turned back. Again he started from the same place. This time he sank even farther into the ground. Again, when he had come near, he turned back. Again he started hither, always sinking deeper into the earth. Now he turned back once more, and now was when he would try to kill him. But by this time he was very tired. When he was near, he looked as though all of iron.

(144) konita ê-sâkôwêwiht, "êkwa miyâmay wî-pê-kwâskwêpayihôw!" ê-itêyihtahk, ôhi owîcêwâkana ita kâ-kî-pîhtokêt êwakoni, "âhkamêyimo!" tahki ê-itikot, êkwa ê-pê-kwâskwêpayihoyit, kawipayihôw. nama wâpamik. iyâta-isi-kwâskwêpayihoyit, ita kâ-kî-nîpawit, âsay itê kâ-ohtohtêyit, êkotê âsay nîpawiw awa wâkayôs, ê-kwêskipayihot.¹³

pôti kî-nîpawiyiwa. êkosi ê-môskîstawât. wâh-otihtâci, ê-kawipayihoyit, namôya wâpamêw, konita mâna kâ-sâkôwêwiht owîcêwâkana pîsimôwâsis, ê-miywêyihtamiyit ôhi ê-mêtawâkâtât. piyisk wî-nipahatâhtamiyiwa. ôki mîna ayisiyiniwak mâkôhkasôwak, osâm kisiwâk ê-ayâyit pîsimwa. piyisk pêyakwanohk nîpawiw awa wâkayôs, ê-wî-nipahatâhtahk. piyisk êkwa otinam wîpisisa, nêhi nôtokêsiwa kâ-kî-ohpikihikot êwakoni ê-kî-osîhtâkot.¹⁴

ê-tâwatiyit awa wâkayôs, ê-wî-nipahatâhtahk, êwakoni kâ-pimwât otôniyihk; ayisk êkota piko namôya pîwâpiskôwiyiwa. aspin ê-pîhtokêhâyit kêhkêhkwa, ê-sâpowêyawihâyit, otêhiyiw ê-ati-tahkonamiyit, ka-sâkôwêwiht owîcêwâkana pîsimôwâsis.

(144) Those on his side were yelling wildly. “Now surely he will come leaping!” he thought. His comrade at whose house he was staying kept telling him to take heart. And then, as the other came leaping, he flung himself down on the ground. The other did not see him. In vain the other tried to hurl himself to the spot whence he had stood; already he stood there when the other had come, throwing himself from place to place. Then he saw the other stand still. At once he attacked him. When the other, as soon as he was upon him, flung himself down, he could not see him; wildly all this time his companions were whooping for Sun-Child, happy that he was giving that other a fight. At last the other was helpless from want of breath. Those men, too, were oppressed by the heat, for the Sun was too near. At last he stood still in one place, that bear, almost dead from want of breath. So then he took his arrows, which that little old woman who had raised him had made for him. Where that bear stood with open mouth, helplessly panting, he shot him in the mouth; for only there was the other not of iron. In flew a hawk, flying clear through the creature's body, seizing his heart, while Sun-Child's companions cheered him.

(145) "hâw, pîsimôwâsis, ôtê âpihtâ-kîsikâhk isi kwâhkonin." "êkotê, 'ê-pîwâpiskôwit wâkayôs nikitimâkêyimik,' itwêci ayisiyiniw cêskwa kâ-wî-ohpikit, ta-tâpwêw," itwêw.

(145) “Very well, Sun-Child, throw me in the direction of noon. There, when mortal man, who in time is to grow forth, says, ‘The Iron Bear has taken pity on me,’ he will speak true,” said he.

(146) "hêy, isi-kawipayiho!" itêw.

(146) “Ho, throw yourself to the ground facing so!” he told him.

(147) êkosi isi-kawipayihoyiwa.

(147) So the other threw himself to the ground, facing that way.

(148) ômisi itwêw: "niwîcêwâkanitik, êkâ wiya nipahihkok kâ-astwâkawiyêk," itêw;¹⁵

"tahki êkosi tôtamêko, namôya ta-kî-ohpikiw ayisiyiniw," itêw; "êkosi ka-pônihtânâwâw kâ-mêtawêyêk," itêw.

(148) Thus he spoke: “My comrades, do not kill those who have been given as stakes by your opponents,” he told them; “If you always do thus, mortal man will not be able to grow forth,” he told them; “In this wise you are to cease from your contests,”

(149) "êkosi tâpwê!" itwêyiwa owîcêwâkana.

(149) “Truly, that is right!” said his companions.

(150) otiyinîmiwâwa êsa ôki mâna ê-kî-astwâtocik, mâka ê-sâkôcihât, kâ-ôh-kitahamawât, tâpwêhtâk. êkwa kostik; namôya awiya êkwa ta-kî-mawinêhokot, êkoni piko ê-manitôwiyit kâ-sâkôcihât. êkosi wêtinahk êkwa ê-ayâcik ôki ayisiyiniwak.

(150) For in fact these people were accustomed to stake their followers; but now that he had overcome them and prohibited it, they obeyed him. For they feared him; there was no one now who could challenge him, since he had defeated the one among them who had most spirit power. So now these people lived in peace.

(151) kîtahtawê ê-sipwêhtêt, ispatinâhk ê-nahapit, wani-kiskisiw asiniya mâna ê-anâskasot. kîtahtawê kâ-môsihât ê-kwayasitêyit ôtê, ita kâ-ôh-mîsît, kinêpikwa sîsîkwêwa, nêhi kâ-kî-mêscihimât otawâsimisiyiwa nôtokêsiwa, êwakoni ê-tôtâkot. ayis, "êkâya wîhkâc mostâhtak api!" kî-itik. êkwa ê-âta-kakwê-pihkohât, nama kî-pihkohêw. piyisk owîcêwâkana otihtik. ôma ê-mâkohikot, ê-wî-nipahikot, piyisk mihcêtiwân ita ôma kâ-ayât, tahki ê-sîhkimikot ta-kakwê-nipahât ôhi sîsîkwêwa, osâm ê-miywêyimikot ôhi ayisiyiniwa. tahki ispimihk ati-itohtêyiwa; ôtê piyisk ostikwânihk asiwasoyiwa. êkwa ôtê êkwa wî-kâh-kîskwêw, ê-wî-nipahikot. kêkway omôhkomân nitotam. miyâw. êkwa ê-manisahk ôta, ê-wî-kakwê-pakonêhahk ostikwân, piyisk pakonêham.

(151) Then at one time, as he went forth and sat down on a hilltop, he forgot to follow his custom of using the stone as a seat. Presently he felt something crawl in here, [no translation] a rattlesnake; it was yon old woman whose children he had wiped out, was doing this to him. For, “Never sit on the bare ground!” she had told him. Then, try as he might to get the creature out, he could not get it out. At last his comrades came to where he was. As thus he was tormented by that creature which was trying to kill him, at last many came to where he was, urging him to try to kill that rattlesnake, for dearly those people loved him. The creature kept going higher and higher; at last it got into his head here. And when it was here, he began to be delirious, as it was killing him. He asked for something to use in the way of a knife. It was given to him. Then he cut a piece away from here, trying to make a hole in his head, and at last succeeded.

(152) "hâw, nôhtâ, nimâkohik; niwî-nipahik sîsîkwêw! kisiwâk pimohtê!" itêw ôhtâwiya.

(152) “Here, father, the rattlesnake is tormenting me and means to kill me! Come near to me!” he said to his father.

(153) tâpwê kisiwâk ayâyiwa. ôki ayisiyiniwak pinasiwêwak, osâm mistahi ê-kisisocik. kîtahtawê kâ-wayawiyâhtawêyit, ê-nipahîhkasoyit. êkosi pimâtisiw. êkwa ôma ostikwân ômisi isi sinikonahk, iyiniwîw.

(153) Really, the latter came near. Those people went down from the hill-top, because they were too hot. Presently it came climbing out, forced to extremity by the heat. So his life was saved. Then, when he rubbed his head like this, it healed.

(154) êkoyikohk ôhtâwiya êkota kâ-nîpawiyit, "êhêhêhê haha!" ê-itikot; "ayisk kî-kakêpâtisiw kikâwiy, kâ-kî-sipwêhtahisk, êkâ awiyak kâ-ôh-kakêskimisk, kâ-papâ-misi-wanâtahkamikisiyan, kâ-ôh-kakêpâtisiyan." "tahki ayiwâkês kika-ati-misi-wanâtahkamikisin, nikosis." "nicawâc ka-kîwêhtahitin." "osâm kikakêpâtisin." "tahki êkosi papâ-tôtamani, namôya ta-miywâsin." "namôya êkosi nitisi-nôcihtân," itik.

(154) Then, there stood his father, saying to him, “Alas and alas! No wonder, seeing how foolish was your mother who took you away with her, so that there was no one to instruct you, no wonder that you went about making a ruin of things at large, and that you are a fool. You will continue to make a greater and greater mess of things, my son. It will be better if I take you home with me. You are too much of a fool. If you continue to go about as you have, no good will come of it. I do not wish such things to be,” his father told him.

(155) êkosi ê-kîwêcik, ispimihk wîkiyihk ê-itohtahikot, aspin omosôma ê-wîkimât.

(155) So they went home, his father taking him aloft to where he dwelt; and from that time on he stayed with his grandfather.

(156) êkoyikohk êskwâk âtayôhkêwin.¹⁶

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

Footnotes

¹LB on nikwayask: The speaker starts to compound kwayask: “properly” with the following verb. This is contrary to habit; he corrects himself by starting the verb all over again. I have often observed the same thing in Menomini, where a similar “incorporation” is permitted but awkward.

²LB on êh-waskawiyit: One should expect “when he budged” to follow his father's call.

³LB ad ta-kaskwâtamâsôw: For kaskikwâtamâsôw.

⁴merged two sentences

⁵Is this “cî” acting as a preverb?

⁶LB on ê-wîh-pônêsihk: Plainly so heard; perhaps pônêsin is a different word from the transparent pônisin, formed with initial pôn-: “cease,” final -sin: “come down, fall,” and connective -i-.

⁷LB ad êh-nâh-nônihtahisot: Informant first said êh-na-nâh-nôhisot, where -na- is a slip of the tongue; in correcting this he substituted the longer derivative verb in the text.

⁸CHECK tapakwanan

⁹LB ad êh-akwanahât: If this is correctly recorded, informant was hesitating between two words akwanahêw (for older -ahyêw): “he places him covering” and akwanahwêw: “he covers him with something, or by tool.” The latter is attested by the occurrence of the corresponding form with inanimate object, akwanaham, and of other derivatives; not so the former, whose inanimate would end in -astêw.

¹⁰CHECK sisikweyiwa

¹¹Characteristic obscure passage of the type not due to extraneous difficulties of dictation or recording. One or more causes may be at work, such as laziness, fatigue, impatience at the slow pace of dictation, obstructive attitude toward the recorder, desire to withhold information from the foreigner, actual tabu, or traditional omission. Probably the last-named was here operative; informant had heard the story told in this way and would not add to it. For he could not be induced to dictate the explanation which he voluntarily gave: The rattlesnake-youths have left each a poison-fang in the edge of the maw, to kill Sun-Child when he eats. By throwing their fangs into the fire he kills the rattlesnakes.

¹²LB ad pîwâpisko-mostos: Error; the beast is a bear, below.

¹³LB ad wâkayôs: Slip of tongue; it is Sun-Child who stands there; so translated.

¹⁴CHECK osihtwakot

¹⁵CHECK ?? kâ-astâkêwiyêk, a 2p relational on VAI astâkê ‘use as stakes’? Or, as above, an impersonal of an unlisted VTA

¹⁶LB: Informant adds that Sun-Child was turned into the Morning Star.