(1) kîtahtawê nistiwak ayîsiyiniwak, nîso nâpêwak. ôhi nâpêwa osîmiw awa iskwêw. êkwa pêyak namôya atoskêw osîmimâw. misâskwat otinam; ayâw, ê-saskahohtêt ohci. êkwa ostêsa mâcîyiwa, mîciwin ê-tôtamâkocik.

(1) Once upon a time there were three people, two men and one woman, two men. The men were the younger brothers of the woman. The youngest one did not work. He took a stick of saskatoon willow; he kept it, walking with it as a cane. His elder brother hunted, providing them with food.

(2) kîtahtawê awa nâpêw ostêsimâw, mistahi ê-ayâcik mîciwin, "hâ, nisîm, mahti nika-nitonawâw awiyak kita-owîstâwiyahk, kimisinaw kita-onâpêmit." "êwako owîstâwiyahko, namôya kika-nêpêwisinânaw, nâpêw ôta ayâci."¹

(2) Then at one time, when they had a big supply of food, the elder man said, “Well now, brother, suppose I look for someone to be our brother-in-law, so that our sister may have a husband. If we have him for brother-in-law, we shall not be embarrassed, when a man is here.”

(3) "êha," itik.

(3) “Very well,” the other answered.

(4) kîtahtawê sipwêhtêw, ê-pa-pmohtêt. pêyakwâw ê-kî-nipât, wâpahtam mîkiwâhp. âpihtâ-kîsikâhk itiskwâstawêstêyiw. êkosi pôti kâ-wâpamât kâhkâkiwa ê-okâhkwâskwahikaniyit.²

pôti ê-otihtahk, kâ-kitoyit ôhi kâ-akociniyit mîkiwâhpihk.³

(4) Presently he set out and tramped along. After one night on the way, he saw a tipi. It stood with the door facing the direction of noon. Then as he looked, he beheld a crow holding together the tips of the tent-poles. When he came there, that creature at the top of the tent gave a call.

(5) "tawâw!" itik.

(5) “Come in!” it called to him.

(6) pîhtokêw. kî-pêyakoyiwa nâpêwa. pôti ê-kîsi-mîcisot, nâpêwa kâ-takosiniyit, kotaka oskinîkiwa.

(6) He entered. There was a man all alone. When he had eaten, a man arrived, another youth.

(7) êkwa ômisi itwêw: "kêkway ê-papâ-nâtaman, kâ-papâmohtêyan?" itik.

(7) He said, “What are you seeking, that you wander about?” he asked him.

(8) "â," itwêw, "ômisi ê-itêyihtamân kâ-ôh-papâmohtêyân: 'mahti nika-owîstâwih,' ê-itêyihtamân;" "'nika-miyâw nimisa,' ê-itêyimitân, ê-nayêhtâwîyân, êkâ wîhkâc ê-pîkiskwêt nimis, kâ-ôh-pê-miyitân."⁴

(8) “Why,” he said, “my idea in wandering about is this: ‘Suppose I get a brother-in-law’ is my thought; ‘I shall give him my elder sister,’ is my thought, concerning you, for I am inconvenienced by my sister's never speaking; that is why I have come to give her to you.”

(8b) "êyag," itik; "niya wiya nisâkwêyimon;" "wiya mâka nâha nisîm mâskôc ta-têpêyimôw," itik.

(8b) “Yes,” the other answered him; “as for me, I do not care about it; but perhaps my younger brother right here will like the idea,” he told him.

(9) "hâ, osâm nama iskwa ninihtâ-nipahtân kêkway, ta-kî-wîwiyân wâwîs niya; ahpô kiya kêkway kinihtâ-nipahtân, êkâ tiyêpêyimoyin."

(9) “Oh, as yet I am not good enough at killing things, to be able to marry, I above all, seeing that even you, who are good at killing things, do not like the idea.”

(10) "ahahêy!" itwêw awa ostêsimâw; "ôta kisiwâk wîkiwak nisîmak ê-nisticik, pêyak nistês, ê-nêwicik êwakonik, nisto osîma ê-pamihikot."⁵

"osâm nihtâ-nipahtâwak kêkway êyakonik," itik; "êkosi êkotê ki-ka-itohtân," itik; "êyakonik ka-nitawâpamâwak." "mâskôc pêyak kitatêpêyimôw," itik.

(10) “Dear me!” said the elder; “Near by here live three of my younger brothers and one elder brother, four of them; his three younger brothers take care of him. They are very good at killing game,” he told him; “So you had better go there,” he told him; “You had better go see them. Perhaps one of them will take to the idea,” he told him.

(11) itohtêw. pôti ê-sâkêwêt ôma ispatinâyik, wâpahtam mîkiwâhp. pôti kâhkwâskwahikana wâpamêw, ôhôwa, âsay kâ-kitoyit. itohtêw.

(11) He went there. As he came over the crest of the hill, there he saw a tipi. He saw what held the tips of the tent poles together, an owl, which already was giving its call. He went there.

(12) mayaw ê-otihtahk, "tawâw, wêskinîkiyan!" itâw.⁶

(12) Just as he reached the place, “Come in, young man!” he was told.

(13) êkosi itohtêw. pîhtokêw. asamâw. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, ist oskinîkiwa pîhtokêyiwa. pîhtatwâna âh-akotêyiwa.

(13) So he went there. He entered. He was given food. When he had eaten, look you, a young man came into the tent. He hung up some quivers.

(14) "hâw, tânisi êtiskâyan, ôma kâ-pê-itohtêyan ôta?" itwêw awa ostêsimâw.⁷

(14) “Hello, what is your errand, that you come here like this?” asked the eldest of his brothers.

(15) ômisi itêw: "âh, nimis ê-pê-miyitakok pêyak."

(15) He told him, “Oh, it is that I have come to give one of you my sister, elder than I.”

(16) "niya wiya têpiyâhk ê-asamicik nisîmak." "nama kêkway ninihtâ-nipahtân." "namôya ta-kî-wîcêwak iskwêw," itwêw; êkwa, "hâw, nisîmitik, nikotwâw pêyak itohtêk kiyawâw!"

(16) “As for me, I am only give food by my younger brothers. I am no good at killing any kind of game. I could not have a wife,” he told him; and then, “Now, brothers, some one of you go there!”

(17) itik: "hâh, iyika mâ cêskwa kêkway nihtâ-nipahtâyâhk!" "namôya niya nika-kê-itohtân," itwêwak kahkiyaw.

(17) They answered him, “Ho, as if we were any good as yet at killing game! I shall not be able to go there,” said all of them.

(18) "ahêy, wêskinîkiyan! ôma kâ-osêhcâk awasâyihk êkota wîkiw nôhtâwiy." "mâwaci ê-ostêsimâwiyit okosisa nêwo wîkimêw, êkâ cêskwa ê-wîwicik êwakonik nisîminânak, êkwa nîso oskinîkiskwêwak nisîminânak," itêw; "êkotê itohtê." "mâskôc nôhtâwiy wî-miyikoyêko otawâsimisa nisto, nîso iskwêwa êkwa pêyak nâpêw, wî-miyisk nôhtâwiy," itêw.

(18) “Dear me, young man! At the other side of the hill lives my father. He lives with his four eldest sons, and these our elder brothers are not yet married; nor are the two young women, our younger sisters,” he told him; “Go there. Perhaps my father will give you three of his children, two women and one man, if my father wishes to give them to you,” he told him.

(19) êkosi tâpwê wayawîw. iyâyaw êkotê itohtêw kâ-kiskinôhamâht itê. êkwa ê-ati-sâkêwêt, pôti tâpwê mîkiwâhp wâpahtam âpihtâ-kîsikâhk ê-itiskwâstawêstêyik. êkwa mayaw ê-wâpahtahk, wâpamik kâhkwâskwahikana, kihiwa. sêmâk kitôw awa kihiw. takohtêw mîkiwâhpihk.

(19) Accordingly, he left the tent. Eagerly he went to the place that had been indicated to him. And as on his way he came over the crest of a hill, there really he saw a tipi that stood with its doorway toward noon. As soon as he saw it, he was seen by the creature which held together the tips of the tent-poles, an eagle. At once the eagle gave its cry. He reached the tipi.

(20) "hâw, tawâw!" itâw.

(20) “Ho, come in!” he was told.

(21) pîhtokêw. awîna ôhi, kisêyiniwa, nôtokêsiwa, namwâc awiya wâpamêw, nayêstaw ita ê-ohtapiyit ômatôwahk, ôma nôhtapiwin êkotôwahk ayihtahk, "hâw, tawâw!" kâ-itiht.⁸

(21) He entered. Whom did he see but an old man and an old woman, and no one else he saw but them, sitting alone on a thing like this blanket, like this on which I am sitting now; and, “Come in!” he was told.

(22) ê-kî-pîhtokêt, "hâw, nôtokêsiw, asam! ta-mîcisôw!" itâw.

(22) When he had come in, “Now, old woman, give him food! Let him eat!” was said about him.

(23) ha, kêtahtawê asamâw. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, kâ-pê-tatwêwitamiyit, pê-pâ-pîkiskwêyit iskwêwa. piyê-pîhtokêyit, awîna ôhi, oskinîkiskwêwa. ê-kîsi-nahapicik, kotakak mîna piyê-pîhtokêcik nêwo nâpêwak.

(23) In due time he was given food. When he had eaten, suddenly there came some people with loud noise, two women, talking both at once. When they had come in, he saw that they were young girls. When they had taken their seats, some more people came in, four men.

(24) êkwa ômisi itik: "hâw, wêskinîkiyan, tânisi ôma kâ-ôh-pê-ay-itohtêyan?" itwêw awa kisêyiniw; "ôta cî ôki nitawâsimisak kikî-pê-âh-otihtâwak?"

(24) Then the other said to him, “Now then, young man, how is it you have come tramping all the way here?” asked the old man; “Have you come to be with my children here?”

(25) "êha," itêw.

(25) “Yes,” he answered him.

(26) "kêkway mâka kâ-ohci-papâmohtêyan?"

(26) “But what is the aim of your wandering about?”

(27) "â, êyakonik kitawâsimisak, 'mahti êkota itohtê,' ê-isicik." "ê-nayêhtâwîyâhk nimisinân, piko ê-wîcêwâyâhk, êkâ wîhkâc ê-pîkiskwêt nimis, êkwa pêyak nisîm oskinîkiw, anohc ê-ohci-wîcêwâyâhk." "'mâskôc pêyak kika-owîstâwin êkota; nôhtâwiy ta-sîhkimêw otawâsimisa,' ê-itwêt awa kikosis, kâ-kî-pê-otihtitakok."

(27) “Oh, because those children of yours told me, ‘You had better go there.’ The fact is, we are in a difficult position with our elder sister, because we are alone with her, so that my sister never speaks; that is, I and my one younger brother, a young man, we are alone with her now. ‘Perhaps you will find a brother-in-law in one of them there; my father will urge his children,’ said your son, and that is why I have come to you.”

(28) "hâw, wêskinîkiyan, ôki nitawâsimisak iskwêwak nama êskwa nihtâwikwâsiwak, ta-kî-onâpêmicik, mêkwâc kaskikwâsowin ê-nôcihtâcik." "hâw, êkosi isi nama kikê-miyitin," itik; "hâw, kiyawâw, nitawâsimisitik, pêyak kita-itohtêw," itêw ôhi nâpêwa nêwo.

(28) “Well now, young man, these women children of mine have not yet learned to sew, so that they could take a man; in fact, they are even now engaged in learning to sew. Well, so I cannot give them to you,” he told him; “Now then, as for you, my children, let one of you go there,” he said to those four men.

(29) piko ana, "cê! êkâ mâ cêskwa ê-nôhtê-wîwiyân niya mîna!" itik kahkiyaw ôhi nâpêwa.

(29) Each and every one, “Nonsense! I too am a long ways from wanting to marry just now!” all those men said to him.

(30) "hê ê ay, wêskinîkiyin! ayis nama tâpwêhtamwak nitawâsimisak." "nicawâc ôta ohci kîwê." "awa, êkâ tâpwêhtamani, têpiyâhk ôtê isi êkâ wiya itohtê," itik.

(30) “Dear me, young man! You see that my children will not hear of it. You had best turn back from here and go home. If you will not do that, at least do not go in this direction here,” he told him.

(31) êkosi isi wayawîw. ôma itê kâ-kitahamâht, êkotê itohtêw. pôti ê-ati-pa-pmohtêt ê-osêhcâyik, ê-sâkêwêt, pôti ka-wâpahtahk wîstêpahkwayikamik. itohtêw. iskwâhtêmihk ê-ihtât, ispimihk itâpiw apasôhk: pôti apisîs kâ-pimâpahtêyik. êkosi mwêhci ê-wî-pîhtokêt, ê-paspâpit, awîna ôhi, mitoni nôtokêsiwa. ômisi kî-tôtamiyiwa, ê-nôhtê ê-nipahâyit otihkomiyiwa. ohcikwanihk ayiwâkês môhkitapiw awa nôtokêsiw. êkosi asêhtêw awa oskinîkiw. ê-ay-asêhtêt, nahikohtâkanêmôw, "khhr!" ê-itwêt, "awa nôtokêsiw ômisi kita-tôtam; oskotâkay ta-ayâsêkinam," ê-itêyihtahk awa oskinîkiw. ayiwâkês iskonamiyiwa oskotâkâyiwa.

(31) So he left the tipi. He went in the direction against which he had been warned. As he tramped along and came over the crest of a hill, there he saw a little lodge of smoked leather. He went there. As he stood in the doorway, he looked up at the tips of the lodge-poles: he saw a little smoke coming forth. Just as he was about to enter, as he peeked in, whom did he see, but a very old woman? [no translation] [no translation] [no translation] [no translation] [no translation] [no translation]

(31b) "tawâw mâka, nôsisê!" itêw.

(31b) But do come in, grandchild!” she said to him.

(31c) "â, misawâc nôtokêwiw." "ta-ayâsêkinam oskotâkay," itêyihtam. pîhtokêw. kwêskipayihôw awa nôtokêsiw.

(31c) “Well, at any rate she is an old woman. [no translation],” he thought. He went in. The old woman turned to face him.

(32) "kêkway ê-papâ-nâtaman?" itêw.

(32) “What are you going about for?” she asked him.

(33) "êh, nâpêw ê-papâ-nitonawak, kita-owîstâwiyân," itik.

(33) “I am going about looking for a man to be my brother-in-law,” he told her.

(34) "âta cî kikî-wâpamâwak awa ôta kâ-wîkit nimanâcimâkan?" itik.

(34) “But have you seen my father-in-law who lives close by?” she asked him.

(35) "êha."

(35) “Yes.”

(36) "kitayâwâw cî iskwêw?"

(36) “Have you a wife?”

(37) "namôya."

(37) “No.”

(38) "âta cî kikî-wâpamâwak nitâhkosak!"

(38) “But have you seen my sisters-in-law?”

(39) "êha."

(39) “Yes.”

(40) "êwakonik aniki ê-kiskinôhamawakik kaskikwâsowin." "nihtâwikwâsotwâwi, iyikohk kita-onâpêmicik," itêw; "niya nôcîhkawin," itwêw awa nôtokêsiw.

(40) “They are the ones I am teaching to sew. As soon as they are good at sewing, they are to take husbands,” she told him; “I am the one for you to woo,” said the little old woman.

(41) "âh, osâm kinôtokêwin, nôhkô," itêw.

(41) “Oh, you are too old, grandmother,” he answered her.

(42) "hêy! êkwêyâk ani ayîsiyiniw pêkwâsit!" "kahkiyaw aniki kâ-pê-otihtacik, ninâpêmak aniki, êkâ kâ-tâpwêhtaman ta-wîkimiyan!"

(42) “Why! So now for the first time a mortal man rejects me! All those whom you saw on your way here are my husbands, and here you refuse to marry me!”

(43) "hâ, nôhkô, osâm kinôtokêwin!"

(43) “Oh, grandmother, you are too old!”

(44) êkosi ati-pasikôw, êkosi ê-itât, kwâskwêpayihôw awa nôtokêsiw, ôta ê-itinât, êkwa oskâta ê-wêwêkipayihtât, ôta êkwa ê-âkwaskitinât. êkwa nôtokêsiw wâh-otihtinikêw. ê-âta-pahkwatinât, nama kaskihêw, osâm ê-maskawisiyit ôhkoma. papâmôwatêw, mîna awa nôtokêsiw nipiy ê-wêpinahk, ê-sikitât. nêpêwisiw awa oskinîkiw. êkwa konita papâmohtêw. itohtêw kisêyiniwa wîkiyihk, ita ê-kî-pawâmit awa oskinîkiw. mitoni kisêyinîwiw. ê-ati-takohtêt, kâ-pê-wayawiyit.

(44) He rose to his feet as he said this to her. The old woman made a leap, and took hold of him here, and threw her legs round him, and clasped him here round the neck with her arms. The old woman kept a tight hold. Though he tried to pull her free, he could not move her; his grandmother was too strong. He carried her about like a pack-load, [no translation] The youth was ashamed. Then he wandered helplessly about. He went to the tipi of an old man, a place of which he had dreamt, the youth. He was a very old man. When he arrived, the other came forth from the lodge.

(45) "êyahâ! tânisi kâ-oh-pêtôwatâmikawiyan, nôtokêsiw?" itik.

(45) “Dear me! Why are you being carried here like a pack, wife?” he asked her.

(46) "nâh, ê-pakwâsit awa, 'nôcîhkawin,' ê-ati-itak, ê-pakwâsit, "nicawâc nika-nayômik," kâ-ôh-itêyimak." "nêki kikosâkak, êwakonik ê-mâh-miyosicik, nama awiyak nipakwâtik." "êkâya nânitaw isin." "nikisiwâhik awa, ê-pakwâsit."

(46) “Yah, because this person rejected me when I told him, ‘Woo me!’ Because he rejected me, is why I thought, ‘Then let him at least carry me on his back.’ Those fellow-husbands of yours, handsome as they are, every one, none of them refused me. Do not argue with me. This person has angered me by refusing me.”

(47) "hêy ê êy, wêskinîkiyan! ôtê sâkahikaniwiw." "êkotê mahti itohtê." "êkotê ani ayâwak nîso nôsisiminânak, ê-kitimâkêyimât awa kâ-nayômat." "niya ani wiya nikostâw niwîkimâkan," itwêyiwa.

(47) “Alas, young man! there is a lake close by here. You had better go there. For there stay two of our grandchildren, whom she you are carrying indulges. But as for me, I fear my wife,” said the old man.

(48) sipwêhtôwatêw. tâpwê otihtam sâkahikan, konita kâ-pê-pâhpiyit oskinîkiskwêwa nîso.

(48) He went off with his pack. Really, he came to a lake, and there came two young women, laughing gaily.

(49) "hêy, tânisi mâka mîna kâ-ôh-awâsisîhkâsoyan, kâ-pê-nayômikawiyan?"

(49) “Hey, why are you again acting like a child, being carried here on someone's back?”

(50) "hâh, êkâya nânitaw itwêk, nôsisimitik!" "ê-pakwâsit awa, ê-kisiwâhit, 'nicawâc nika-papâ-nayômik,' kâ-itêyimak."

(50) “Oh, do not reason with me, my grandchildren! When this person rejected me and angered me, I decided, ‘Then at least let him carry me round on his back’.”

(51) ita nêpâci, têpiskâyiki, kêyâpic nayômêw; kikôwatêsin. êkosi nama nânitaw itwêwak ôki oskinîkiskwêwak.

(51) Wherever he slept of nights, still he had her on his shoulders; he lay with his pack. So those young women said nothing.

(52) "nicawâc mahti nipawâmiwinihk nika-itohtahâw," itêyihtam.

(52) “I shall have to take her to my dream-guardians,” he thought.

(53) êkwa papâ-itôwatêw.

(53) So he carried her round to these places.

(54) têkohtêci opawâkana, "êhêhêy, nôsisê, nikostâw!" itâw.

(54) Whenever he reached a dream-guardian of his, “Alas, grandson, I fear her!” he would be told.

(55) nama nânitaw kî-tôtâmâwa ta-pahkwatinimiht. êkosi piyis kahkiyaw opawâmiwinihk nama kêkway. êkwa ayâw.

(55) Nothing could be done to her, to shake her loose. At last he had gone to all his dream-guardians without avail. So there he was.

(56) "piko êkwa ta-nipahit, ta-nipahâhkatosoyân," itêyihtam.

(56) “There is nothing in sight but that she will kill me, that I starve to death,” he thought.

(57) kêtahtawê ay-êtataw takosin ita êtohtêci. piyisk otisinâkwaniyiw ita kâ-nipâci, ê-na-nayômât nôtokêwa. kîtahtawê wâpahtam sîpîsis, ê-otâkosiniyik, amiskwa ê-kî-kipahamiyit. êkota itohtêw. nêtê akâmihk wâpahtam ahkâpaskwa ê-ayâyiki;⁹

âspîs mistikwa ê-oyâskwaniyiki ayâyiwa.

(57) Then in time he would scarcely reach any place for which he was bound. At last, what a sight it was, when he slept anywhere, as he kept carrying the old woman on his back! Then at one time he saw a brook, towards evening, a brook which beavers had dammed. He went there. Over on yonder bank he saw some water-weeds; here and there were sticks of wood that had been shaped.

(58) "hâ, êkotê akâmihk nika-nitawi-pimisinin." "kiyâm êkotê nika-nipin," itêyihtam.

(58) “Oh, I shall go lie on yonder bank. I may as well die over there,” he thought.

(59) pôti êtataw pîcitisin.¹⁰

(59) He found that he could barely move as he lay.

(60) "nicawâc nika-pimitâcimon." "ôhcitaw ôma niwî-nipahik awa nôtokêsiw," itêyihtam.

(60) “I had better crawl. It is plain that his old woman means to kill me,” he thought.

(61) kîtahtawê ati-sipwêhtêw. nahisin sisonê kipahikanihk. âsay tipiskâyiw. ati-pimitâcimôw. kêkâc ê-kapât, nôhtêsin.

(61) Presently he started. He lay down by the side of the dam. It was dark now. He kept crawling. When he had almost reached the bank, he could go no farther.

(62) "âh, wâpahki nika-otihtên," itêyihtam.

(62) “Oh, tomorrow I shall get there,” he thought.

(63) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât ayîsiyiniwa; mohyâpitasêkoyiwa; namahcîyiwa;¹¹

pakamâkan ê-pê-tahkonamiyit, konita kâ-câ-cîpipayit ôhi kâ-nayômât.

(63) Then he saw a man; he wore his clothes with the fur on the outside; he was clumsy in his movements; as he came, carrying a club in his hand, she whom he was carrying on his back, suddenly began to wriggle and squirm.

(64) "nicawâc âstam, nîstâ!" itwêw awa kâ-nayômât nôtokêsiwa.

(64) “Pray do come here, brother-in-law!” said he who was carrying the old woman.

(65) êkosi pê-itohtêw. kiskêyihtam ê-kostâyit êwakoni.

(65) He came. He knew that she feared this person.

(66) "yâh, tânisi ôma, nîstâ, kâ-ôh-nayômat awa nôtokêsiw?"

(66) “Ho, how is it, brother-in-law, that you carry this old woman on your back?”

(67) "ôwa, nîstâ! mahti kakwê-pihko!"

(67) “Alas, brother-in-law! Do try to free me!”

(68) "â, nîsta! piko mâka kita-pakamahwak, êkâ wî-pakitiniski!"¹²

(68) Why, brother-in-law! But all you have to do is club her, if she will not let go of you!”

(69) "hêy, nôsisê, kitimâkêyimin!" "kiyâm nika-pimâtisin!" "kêyâpic pêyakwâw wî-mêtawêw kîstâw." "kita-âpacihtât nika-miyâw." "êkosi kita-ôh-sâkôcihtwât kâ-wî-miyak." "kiyâm nika-pimâtisin, nôsisê!" itêw.

(69) “Oh, grandchild, take pity on me! Please let me live! Your brother-in-law will be engaging in contests again. I shall give him things to use. He will defeat people with what I shall give him. Please let me live, grandchild!” she said to him.

(70) tâpwê, "êyag! êkâ wiya kakwê-cîsi nîstâw." "kîspin kakwê-cîsihaci, misawâc nika-pêhtên." "hâw, pakitin!"

(70) Accordingly, “Yes! Do not try to deceive my brother-in-law. If you try to deceive him, without fail I shall hear it. Now then, let him go!”

(71) pakitinik.

(71) She let go of him.

(72) êkosi, "hâ, nîstâ! hâw, ôma mîci!" itik wîstâwa.

(72) Then, “Here, brother-in-law! Eat this!” his brother-in-law said to him.

(73) mînis pêyak mîciw; kâwi wiyinôw; maskawisîw kâwi. êkwa miyik nîso sâponikana, êkwa nîso oskâcihkwa, êkwa asiniya ê-apisîsisiyit; nisto.

(73) He ate one berry; he was in flesh again; he was strong again. Then she gave him two needles, and two awls, and a small stone; three gifts.

(74) "hâw, nôsisê, êyâpic pêyakwâw kika-mêtawân!" itêw awa nôtokêsiw kâ-kî-nayômikot.

(74) “There, grandchild, you will be engaging in contests again!” the old woman told him who had carried her about.

(75) "hâ!"

(75) “Thanks!”

(76) êkosi kîwêw awa nôtokêsiw. êkwa awa kâ-namahcît nitawi-wîwiw omisiyiwa ôhi kâ-otihtât.

(76) Thereupon the old woman went back home. And he who was clumsy in his ways went to marry the elder sister of him he had met.

(77) êkosi sipwêhtêw, ê-wâpaniyik. ê-tahtakwahcâyik, ê-paskwâyik ê-ati-otihtahk, kîtahtawê ê-mêkwâ-pimohtêt, kâ-pê-sâkêwêyit iskwêwa nîso.

(77) So the latter went on, the next morning. When he came to a place where the land was level and wooded, presently, as he was walking along, two women came into sight.

(78) "hêy, nîtimosê, êkota nîpawi!" "awiyak âsiskamâci, êwako kika-wîwin; awiyak nakatihci, kisîma kita-onâpêmiw," itâw.

(78) “Hey there, sweetheart, stand still! Whichever gets there first, her you will marry; whichever is beaten, will have your younger brother for husband,” he was told.

(79) nîpawiw. êkwa nêki oskinîkiskwêwak pê-wayacîwîwak.¹³

êkosi nama awiyak nakatâw.

(79) He stood still. Those young women over there broke into a run. Neither one was beaten.

(80) "hêy, êkwa nîkinâhk itohtêtân!" itâw.

(80) “Well, let us go to our dwelling!” he was told.

(81) êkwa itohtêwak. pôti ôma mîkiwâhp wîstêpahkwayikamik. otihtamwak. pîhtatwâna nayômêw awa oskinîkiw. ê-takohtêcik ôta wîstêpahkwayikamikohk, pîhtokêwak ôki iskwêwak ê-mâh-miyosicik. ê-pîhtokêcik, ôtê isi, namahtinihk iskwâhtêmihk kî-apiyiwa oskinîkiskwêsisa, otakikomiyiwa ê-sâkamoyit, êkwa ê-pikiwaskâpiyit, konita misiwê ohkwâkanihk ihkwa kâ-papâmâhtawêyit awa iskwêsis, wâwîs ostikwânihk, misiwê wiyawihk, oskâtihk, ositihk misiwê ê-ayâyit ihkwa. wâpamêw.

(81) They went to the place. He saw it, a tipi made of bits of old leather. They reached it. The youth was carrying a quiver. When they reached the tipi of old leather, the two pretty women went in. When they entered, over here, at the left of the door-flap, sat a little girl with mucus hanging from her nose, and her eyes all sticky; and lice were climbing about all over this little girl's face, and more, of course, on her head, and all over her body and legs and feet, all over were lice. He looked at her.

(82) êkwa ê-kî-mîcisot awa oskinîkiw, "kêkway ôma ê-papâ-nâtaman?" itâw.

(82) When the youth had eaten, “What are you about seeking?” he was asked.

(83) "hâ, ê-papâ-nitonawak nîso iskwêwak, nisîm pêyak kita-wîwit, êkwa pêyak niya." "âsay wiya nikî-miskawâw kita-owîstâwiyâhk."

(83) “Why, I am going about looking for two women, one for my younger brother to marry, and one for me. I have already found a man to be our brother-in-law.”

(84) "kâh! kiya êcika awa kâ-âcimikawiyan, 'papâ-nitonawêw kita-wîwit,' kâ-itikawiyan!" itik ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa, tahki ê-pâhpiyit.¹⁴

(84) “Indeed! So you are the one of whom they say, ‘He is seeking about for a wife,’ you are the one of whom this is said!” the young women told him, and laughed without cease.

(85) "êha, niya!"

(85) “Yes, it is I!”

(86) "nâha wîwih," itwêwak, ôhi kâ-otihkomiyit.

(86) “Here is one for you to marry,” they said, pointing to the lousy girl.

(87) kitâpamêw.

(87) He looked at her.

(88) "osâm otihkomiw." "namôya nika-kî-wîwin," itwêw awa.

(88) “She is too lousy. I cannot marry her,” he said.

(89) "hâh!"¹⁵

(89) “Hoho, children, do you take him for your husband; he refuses me.” “Good!” [Cree missing?]

(90) tâpwê onâpêmiwak; wâ-wîkimêwak.

(90) Really, they took him for their husband; they both married him.

(91) kîtahtawê konita kâ-papâmitâcimot awa kâ-otihkomit.

(91) Then presently, for no reason at all the Lousy One suddenly crawled about.

(92) "hâh!"

(92) “Ho!”

(92b) kospiwêpinêwak.

(92b) They threw her back.

(93) "tânisi mâka mîna êsi-iyinîhkahit?" itwêw awa kâ-otihkomit;¹⁶

"hêy, nitawâsimisitik, iska ê-atoskêyân, êkoyikohk iska kâ-pôni-kîskwêhkwasiyân, ê-osîhimak ninahâhkim kita-otakohpit." "mistahi ninôhtê-atoskân," itwêw awa iskwêsis kâ-otihkomit.

(93) “How is it he always cures me?” said the Lousy One; “Why, children, I dreamt that I was working; I dreamt that I should stop walking in my sleep as soon as I made something for my son-in-law to use as a blanket-robe. I long greatly to work,” said the little girl, Lousy One.

(94) êkosi kîkisêpâ mâcîw; okwâskwêpayihôsa pêyak nipahêw. pêsiwêw misiwê.

(94) Accordingly, in the morning he went hunting; he killed a jumping-deer. He brought it whole.

(95) "hâ, êkwa, nitawâsimisitik, pahkwêkisohk!" itêw.

(95) “Here, now, my children, skin it!” she told them.

(96) pahkwêkiswêwak.

(96) They skinned it.

(97) "nitawâsimisitik, nitawi-nitomihk nitêm!" itwêw awa kâ-otihkomit.

(97) “My children, go call my dog!” said Lousy One.

(98) tâpwê nitawi-nitomêw otêma awa kâ-otihkomit. pôti ôhi atimwa misiwê ê-pîwâpiskôwiyit.

(98) The Lousy One called her dog. That dog turned out to be entirely of iron.

(99) "nitêm, nitawi-mîciso." "ninahâhkim ê-nipahtâsk kita-mîciyan."

(99) “My dog, go eat. My son-in-law has killed something for you to eat.”

(100) môwêw atim awa okwâskwêpayihôsa. âsay misikitiw awa atim, pêyakwâw ê-mîcisot.

(100) The dog ate the jumping-deer. At once the dog grew big, when he had eaten that single meal.

(101) "niyâ!" itêw; "kîwê!" itêw otêma; "êkosi, nitawâsimisitik, nâtamok nisîhkipitâkanêyâpiya!" itêw.

(101) “Begone!” she said to it; “Go home!” she said to her dog; “So now, my children, go get my thongs for stretching hides!” she told them.

(102) êkosi nâtamwak; pêtâwak. osâwâpiskâyiwa pîsâkanâpiya. sîhkipitêw. ê-kîsahpitât, êkosi isi kîsihêw; pîhtokêwêpinêw. awîna ôhi, kî-miyosiyiwa otakohpa awa oskinîkiw kita-otakohpit.

(102) Accordingly, they fetched them; they brought them. The thongs were of yellow metal. She stretched the hide. When she had tied it, she finished it; she flung it inside the lodge. Look you, very handsome was the youth's blanket that he was to have for his robe.

(103) êkosi mîna ê-tipiskâyik, âsay mîna kîskwêhkwasiyiwa.

(103) Then, when night came again, again she walked in her sleep.

(104) iyikohk mîna ê-âpisîhkwasit, âsay mîna, "hêy, nitawâsimisitik, ê-nôhtê-atoskêyân! êkoyikohk kâ-pôni-kîskwêhkwasiyân!"

(104) When she awoke from her trance, again, “Oh, my children, it is because I am longing for work! Then I shall stop walking in my sleep!”

(105) kîkisêpâ mâcîw; wâwâskêsiwa nipahêw. hâ, pêsiwêw misiwê.

(105) In the morning he hunted; he killed a deer. He brought it entire.

(106) êkosi âsay mîna, "hêy, nitawâsimisitik, pahkwêkisohk!" itwêw.

(106) Then, again, “My children, skin it!” she said.

(107) pahkwêkisamawâw.

(107) It was skinned for her.

(108) "êkwa nitêm nitawi-nitomihk." "kita-mîcisôw," itwêw.

(108) “Now go call my dog. He is to have a meal,” she said.

(109) mîcisôw awa atim. kitamwêw. êkwa tâpwê mistahi misikitiw êkwa awa atim. nama kî-pîhtokêw mîkiwâhpihk. âsay misikitiw.

(109) The dog ate its meal. It ate all. then truly very large grew that dog. It could not get into the tent. It has grown large, now.

(110) "hêy, nitawâsimisitik, ay-âskaw ôma tâh-takowâc piko ê-atoskêyân, kâ-isi-miyosiyân," itwêw.

(110) “Oh, my children, it is because only now and then I work, and little at a time, that I am so beautiful,” she said.

(111) êkosi mîna kîsihêw ôhi akohpa. ê-tipiskâyik âsay mîna kîskwêhkwasiw. kiyipa âpahkawisiw. êkosi kîkisêpâ mâcîw. takwahinâwa nipahêw. nôhtêhkatêw awa oskinîkiw; êkwa apisîs wâskitôhk ohtinam wiyâsis, ê-nawacîhisot, ê-mîcit.

(111) Then she finished this robe, too. In the night again she walked in her sleep. Quickly she came out of her trance. So in the morning he hunted. He killed a bull buffalo. The youth was hungry; so he took a small bit of meat from the fleshy part of the leg and roasted it for himself and ate it.

(112) kâ-kîsi-mîcisot, "'ôma kâ-isi-maskawisiyân kita-isi-maskawisîw awa nôsisim!' nikî-itikoh nôhkom!" "mahti nika-sâkohâw awa mostos, ê-wî-otâpêyân!" itwêw, ôhi kâ-kî-nayômât ê-kî-itikot.

(112) When he had eaten, “‘Even as strong as I am, so strong let this my grandchild be!’ my grandmother did say of me! Let me now be strong enough to handle this buffalo which I wish to drag!” he said, remembering what she had said to him, whom he had carried on his back.

(113) êkosi kîwêcitâpêw, "ta-atoskêw êkwa!" ê-itêyihtahk. êkosi ê-takohtahât.

(113) So he dragged home his load, thinking, “Now she will have work!” So he got it there.

(114) "hêy, êkwa kê-pahpakwacîwâyân!" itwêw awa kâ-otihkomit.¹⁷

(114) “Oho, now I shall have a jolly time!” cried the Lousy One.

(115) êkosi ê-kîsi-pahkwêkisomiht, "nitêm nitawi-nitomihk!" itwêw.

(115) So, when it had been skinned, “Go call my dog!” she said.

(116) nitawi-nitomimâwa.

(116) It was gone for and called.

(117) piyê-takohtêyit, "mîciso, nitêm!" itwêw.

(117) When it came, “Eat, my dog!” she said.

(118) êkwa awa atim aciyaw kâ-miyâmât, konita wâsakâmêskawêw; nama wî-môwêw.

(118) Then the dog, sniffing at it a little, merely walked in a circle round it; it would not eat it.

(119) "tânêhki awa êkâ kâ-wî-mîcisot, nêkâ, kitêm!"

(119) “Why will not this creature eat, mother, this dog of yours?”

(120) "nêh, nitawâsimisitik, nama cî mâka kêkway kôtawêyihtam!" itwêw.

(120) “Yah, my children, does he not miss something?” she asked.

(120b) êkosi, "nama cî kêkway kiwêpinên?" itêwak onâpêmiwâwa.

(120b) Then, “Did you not throw away anything?” they asked their husband.

(121) "apisîs wâskitôhk nikî-maniswâw, ê-môwak," itwêw.

(121) “I cut a little from the fleshy part of the thigh and ate it,” he said.

(122) "nêh, ayîsiyiniw êtokê kâ-onahâhkimiyân, nikî-itêyihtêh!" "êcika ani wîhtikôw!" "êyiwêhk mô iskwascikan!" itêw.

(122) “Yah, and here was I thinking, ‘Doubtless a human man is he whom I have as son-in-law!’ So he is a Windigo! At any rate, eat the leavings!” she said to it.

(123) môwêw. kitamwêw. êkwa tâpwê misikitiw awa atim.

(123) It ate it. It finished it. Then truly big was that dog.

(124) ê-tipiskâyik kîsihêw ôhi mostoswayâna.

(124) By dark she had finished the buffalo-robe.

(125) "êwako ana kita-otanâskâniw ninahâhkim," itwêw.

(125) “This let my son-in-law have as his sleeping-robe,” she said.

(126) êkwa mîna ê-tipiskâyik, âsay mîna kîskwêhkwasiw, ê-nôhtê-atoskêt. â, sipwêhtêw kîkisêpâ. ita ê-wacîwiyik êkota itohtêw. wâpahtam wâkayôsi-wâti. takohtêw êkota.

(126) This night again she walked in her sleep, because she longed for work. In the morning he set out. He went to a hilly place. He saw a bear's den. He went up to it.

(127) "nimosô, nipê-nâtên kiyaw, ê-mawinêhokawiyân!" itêw.¹⁸

(127) “Grandfather, I have come to take your body, for I am being challenged!” he said to it.

(128) "cêskwa, nôsisê! ôma nipahiyani, nîso otinamôhkan nimîhistôwâna." "ispisi takohtêyini kîkiwâhk, pêyak macostêhamôhkan." "'pê-kakwê-miska ôma!' itâhkan." "êkwa ani kê-mawinêhwisk manitôwiw." "wâpahki nîkân otihkoma ka-kakwê-miskamwâh." "pêyak miskâmaci, êkosi ani kika-paskiyawâw otawâsimisa ta-kîwêhtahimât," itik ôhi wâkayôsa.¹⁹

(128) “A moment, my grandchild! When you now slay me, then take two bristles from round my mouth. When you reach your dwelling, then throw one into the fire. ‘Come try to find this!’ say then to her. Indeed, she who will challenge you has spirit power. Tomorrow, taking the first turn, you will try to find her lice. If you find one, then you will have won from her the right to take her daughters home with you,” the bear told him.

(129) êkosi pê-wayawiyiwa. nipahêw. â, kîwêcitâpêw. otinam ôhi nîso opîwâyiwa. pêyak, ê-pîhtokêt, macostêham. pêyak kanawêyihtam.

(129) With that it came out from its lair. He killed it. Oh, he dragged it home. He took those two bristles. One, as he entered, he threw into the fire. One he kept.

(130) êkwa ê-takohtêt, "hâw, nitawâsimisitik, nitawi-pahkwêkisohk êwakoni." "ninahâhkim kita-otakohpiw," itêw onahâhkisîma.

(130) Then, as he arrived, “Now then, my children, go skin that creature. My son-in-law shall have a blanket-robe,” she said of her son-in-law.

(131) êkwa ê-kîsi-pahkwêkiswâcik, mâka mîna atim nitawi-nitomâw. êkosi môwêw ôhi wâkayôsa; kitamwêw. êkwa kîwêtisahwêw otêma. êkosi êkwa ôhi wâkayôsiwayâna ôma ohci kâ-osâwâyik opîsâkanâpîm âta ê-sîhkipitât, ê-kîsahpitât, kêyâpic askêkinôwiyiwa. namôya kîsihêw anihi wâkayôsiwayâna. kâwi âpihkonêw.

(131) Then, when they had done skinning it, as usual the dog was sent for and called. Then it ate the bear; it ate it all. Then she sent her dog back whence it came. But then, though she stretched that bearskin with the yellow thong, when she had got it all tied, it turned back into an undressed skin. She could not tan that bearskin. She untied it.

(132) "kotak nâtamok, nitawâsimisitik!" itwêw.

(132) “Fetch another, my children!” she ordered.

(133) pêtâwak kotak pîsâkanâpiy ê-kaskitêwâyik. ê-âta-sîhkipicikâkêt, nama kê-kîsihêw; kêyâpic askêkinôwiyiwa. piyis âpahwêw.

(133) They brought another thong, a black one. Though she worked at the stretching, she could not tan it; it turned back into an undressed hide. At last she untied it.

(134) "mahti kotak, nitawâsimisitik!"

(134) “Come, another, my children!”

(135) pakaski-askîhtakwâpêkaniyiw; pêtâwân. nama kê-kîsihêw êyâpic. êkoyikohk kêkâc wâpaniyiw. âsay mîna âpahwêw.

(135) It was a bright green thong; it was brought for her. Still she could not finish the hide. By this time it was nearly dawn. Again she untied it.

(136) "nitawâsimisitik, mahti anima kâ-mihkwâpiskâk nipîsâkanâpîm êwako nâtamok, êkwa nitahkâmasiniy, êkwa nicîkahikan, êkwa niyîwahikanâpisk, êwakoni." "kakwê-mamiyôk." "êkâya wanâpêkinamok." "wêsâ nika-kwâtakihik, êkâya kî-kîsihak awa, ninahâhkim kita-otakohpit!" itwêw.

(136) “My children, fetch now that thong of mine that is of red metal, and my pounding-stone, and my ax, and my meat-pestle, all these. Do your best. [no translation] This thing is actually tormenting me, this thing I cannot tan, that my son-in-law may have a blanket-robe!” she said.

(137) tâpwê ê-âta-pêtawiht, ohcitaw nama kê-kîsihêw.²⁰

âpihkopitêw, konita itê ê-isi-wêpinât. itâmihk ohci astâw opîsâkanâpîm. âsay wâpaniyiw.

(137) Truly, though the things were brought for her, yet she could not finish the hide. She undid the tying, and flung it away, she cared not where. She placed her thong down below. By this time it was daylight.

(138) "nitawâsimisitik, mahti êkwa otinihk ninahâhkim ka-wî-otakohpit."

(138) “My children, take this now, which my son-in-law is to have for a blanket-robe.”

(139) iyâta-otinâcik, kêyâpic askêkinowiyiwa.

(139) When they took it up, it was back in the state of an undressed skin.

(140) êkosi, "hêy, êkwa mâka pêyakwâw âsay nisâkôcihik ninahâhkim!" "kêyâpic pêyakwâw!" itwêw; "mâka wiya ninahâhkim wiya nîkân kita-pimotahk!" itik.

(140) Then, “Dear me, so now once my son-in-law has beaten me! Let us try again!” she cried; “But it is my son-in-law who is to try first!” she said of him.

(141) hâh, otinam ôma wâkayôs opîwâyiw.

(141) He took that bear's bristle.

(142) "wâpahta ôma! kîspin êkâ miskamani, kitawâsimisak nika-kîwêhtahâwak," itêw.

(142) “See this! If you do not find it, I shall be free to take your daughters home with me,” he said to her.

(143) wêpinam. ê-âta-nitonahk awa iskwêsis, nama kî-miskam.

(143) He threw it away. Although the little girl looked for it, she could not find it.

(144) kîtahtawê, "hêy, mahti kita-otinâkaniwiw!"

(144) Presently, “Ho, let it be found!”

(145) wâpahtam; wiya awa oskinîkiw otinam.

(145) She saw it; it was the youth who took it into his hand.

(146) "ôma ita!"

(146) “Here it is!”

(146b) tâpwê.

(146b) Truly there it was.

(147) "hâ, mâka êkwa mâka ninahâhkim kê-kakwê-miskawât nitihkoma pêyak!"

(147) “Ho, but now let my son-in-law try to find one of my lice!”

(148) astêyiwa ocîkahikan, otahkâmasiniy, pîwâpiskwa pisisik.

(148) There lay her ax, her pounding-stone, and all the things, all iron.

(149) êkwa, "hâh, ôta mâka kita-aspiskwêsimôw!" ohcikwanihk.

(149) Then, “Very well, but let her lay her head here!” on his knee.

(150) mayaw ê-nahisihk awa iskwêsis, nama kêkway otihkoma. ma-misiwê ita ê-âta-nitonawât awa oskinîkiw, nama kî-miskawêw.

(150) As soon as the little girl lay down in position, gone were her lice. Though vainly the youth sought them all over, he could not find them.

(151) "haw, ninahâhkim, ayis nama kikî-miskawâw; êkwa mâka kê-pakamahotân!" itêw.²¹

(151) “Now then, my son-in-law, since you have not been able to find one, now I shall club you!” she said to him.

(152) "êg! iyikohk ôhi sâkohtâyani, êkoyikohk kika-pakamahon!"

(152) “Oho! When you get over these, then you shall club me!”

(153) sâponikana cimatêwêpinam. pôti ôhi ê-misâyiki pîwâpiskwa aspin itâmi, ispimihk, mîna ôtê mohcihk.

(153) He threw the needles so that they stood on end. There, they turned into huge iron things, going deep into the ground and high aloft and over the earth.

(154) "hêy, ninahâhkim, iyikohk mâka sâkohtâyâni ôhi, êkoyikohk kê-pimitisahotân!"

(154) “Hey, son-in-law, but when I have got past these, then I will chase you!”

(155) ê-âta-cîkahahki, piyisk mêscihtitâw ocîkahikan.²²

êkwa otahkâmasiniy mêscihtitâw mîna êwako.

(155) Vainly she chopped at them; at last she had worn out her ax. Then she wore out also her pounding-stone.

(156) êkwa, "hêy, tâpwê nikisiwâhik ninahâhkim!" "nitêm, âstam!" itêw otêma; "hâw, nitêm, mîci ôhi!" itêw.

(156) Then, “Hey, truly my son-in-law is driving me into a rage! My dog, come here!” she called to her dog. “Here, my dog, eat these!” she called to it.

(157) mayaw ê-sâmahtahk awa atim, tâpiskôc wiyâs. kiyipa kitâw.

(157) As soon as the dog had touched them with its snout, they were like meat, and quickly it devoured them.

(158) "nyâ, nitêm, kîwê! niwî-nitawi-pakamahwâw ôyâ ninahâhkim!"

(158) “Be off, my dog, go home! I am going off to club my son-in-law who has just now left!”

(159) pimitisahwêw; cîkahikan piko tahkonam. kisiwâk ê-askôkot, otâhk isiwêpinam oskâcihk.

(159) She pursued him; she had only her ax in her hand. When she was close upon him, he threw an awl behind him.

(160) "ôta misi-okâminakasîwâhtikwak kita-ohpikiwak!" itwêw awa oskinîkiw.

(160) “Here let great thornberry-trees grow forth!” said the youth.

(161) ôtâhkimihk tânôtâni misi-okâminakasiyak! wêtihtahk awa, iyâta-cîkahahk, kiyîskikahwâci, wêcipitâci, pôti nama pihkohôw, ta-kî-tawinahk. otêma têpwâtêw. tâpwê takosiniyiwa.

(161) Behind him, what numbers of great thornberry-trees! When she reached them, though she hewed at them and split them with her ax, and pulled them up, yet she could not get through, could not make an opening through them. She hallooed for her dog. Truly, it came.

(162) "hâw, nitêm, môw ôki!" itêw.

(162) “Now, my dog, eat these!” she told it.

(163) âsay mîna ati-môwêw ôhi mistikwa okâminakasiya. mîna êwakoni kitamwêw.

(163) Again it went eating, this time the thornberry-trees. These too it ate up.

(164) "niyâ, kîwê, nitêm!" itwêw.

(164) “Be off, go home, my dog!” she cried.

(165) kîwêw awa atim. nawaswêw awa iskwêsis kâ-otihkomit. kêyâpic ocîkahikan pimiwitâw. kisiwâk ê-askôkot, ôhkoma ka-kî-miyikot asiniya ispâhkêwêpinêw.

(165) The dog went home. The Lousy Little Girl went in pursuit. Again she was carrying her ax. When she was close at his heels, he flung up into the air the stone his grandmother had given him.

(166) "ôta otasinîwacîwîw! itâmihk êkotê nika-ayân!" itwêw.

(166) “Here is a place of rocky mountains! Underneath there I shall be!” he cried.

(167) êkwa iyâta-wâ-kakwê-pîkinikahwât ôhi asiniya, piyisk mêsci-misi-wanâcihtâw otâpacihcikana.

(167) Then, though she tried to smash those rocks with her ax, at last she wore out every one of her tools.

(168) "hâw, nitêm, pê-sipwêhtê!" itwêw, ê-tâpwêt.

(168) “Ho, my dog, come here!” she cried, shouting.

(169) tâpwê kiyipa takosiniyiwa.

(169) Truly, quickly it came there.

(170) "nitêm, nâha itâmihk kâ-pimisihk nitawi-nipa!" itêw.

(170) “My dog, go kill the one that lies down yonder below!” she told it.

(171) êkwa atim awa asiniya ati-môwêw. piyis otihtêw.

(171) Then that dog went eating the rock. At last it reached him.

(172) "êkâya pîkopis, nitêm! têpiyâhk kaskikwên!"

(172) “Do not tear him to pieces, my dog! Only strangle him!”

(173) êkosi tôtam, nipahêw.

(173) So it did. It killed him.

(174) êkwa nâha ayîsiyiniw kâ-kihtimit, osîma awa êwako, êsa wîstâwa kâ-sipwêhtêyit, omisa piko nîsiwak. êkwa nâha misâskwat ayâw êskosit ê-iskwâyik, nanâtohk ê-itasinahikâtêyik. ispimihk tahkopisoyiwa mîkwana pêyak. êkwa êwako piko otinam. omisa kâmwâtapiyiwa, ê-pîkiskâtâyit osîmiyiwa.

(174) Then that lazy man off yonder, this one's younger brother, was all alone with his sister, for it seems that his brother-in-law had gone away. He had a saskatoon stick which was as long as he was tall, with all kinds of designs on it. At the tip a feather was fastened. Only this he took. His sister was sitting there, moodily, longing for her absent brother.

(175) "hâw, nimisê," itwêw, "mahti nistês nika-nitonawâw!" itwêw; "êkwa awa pôni-wêpâpîhkêpayici, 'êkoyikohk êsa mêsi-wanâcihot nisîm,' kika-itêyihtên," itwêw, ê-wayawît, ê-wêpâpîhkêwêpinât opîhtatwâna.

(175) “Now, sister,” he said, “suppose I go look for my brother!” he said; “And when this thing ceases to sway as it hangs, then ‘Now it appears that my brother has gone to destruction,’ you will think,” he said, and went out of the tent, after setting his quiver a-swinging by a push of his hand.

(176) wa-wêpâpîhkêpayiyiwa. sipwêhtêw. misâskwacos tahkonam. kisîkocin, kâ-sipwêhtêt. êkwa tâpwê otihtêw ostêsa, ê-pimisiniyit, ê-nipiyit. ôhi mîkwana ômisi isi yâyahwêw, ôma ohci omiscikomis.

(176) It kept swaying as it hung. He went away. He held the saskatoon stick in his hand. As soon as he had left, he went with great speed. Then really, he reached his elder brother, where he lay dead. He stroked him, like this, with that feather, with that stick of his.

(177) "nistêsê, waniskâ!" itêw.

(177) “Brother, arise!” he said to him.

(178) waniskâyiwa. êkosi tâpwê pimâtisiw awa kâ-yâyahoht. wîcêwêw ostêsa. itohtêw.

(178) He arose. So he really came back to life, when he had been stroked with the stick. He went with his elder brother. He went there.

(179) ê-takohtêt, "hâ, nistêsê, kê-wâpahk pê-itohtêhkan," itêw.

(179) When he arrived, “Now then, elder brother, tomorrow do you come here,” he told him.

(180) "êha," itik.

(180) “Very well,” the other answered him.

(181) êkwa itohtêw ôhi kâ-otihkomiyit, kâ-pê-sâkêwêyit oskinîkiskwêwa.

(181) Then he went toward where that Lousy One was, and there from over the hill came the young women.

(182) "hêy! êkotê ayâ!" itik; "awiyak âsiskâkêci, êwako kika-wîwin," itâw.

(182) “Hey! Stand still where you are!” they said to him; “The one who outdistances the other, her you will take to wife,” he was told.

(183) pâpahtâyiwa. nama awiya nakatimâwa; tâpiskôc takopahtâyiwa.

(183) They ran toward him. Neither was left behind; at the same time both reached him.

(184) "êkwa nîkinâhk itohtêtân!" itik.

(184) “Now let us go to our dwelling!” they said to him.

(185) â, tâpwê itohtêwak. hâh, ê-pîhtokêcik, kêyâpic êkosi isinâkosiw awa iskwêsis.

(185) So they went there. There, when they entered, that little girl again looked as she had looked before.

(186) "hêy, kêkway ôma ê-papâ-nâtaman?"

(186) “Hey, what are you going about seeking, like this?”

(187) "â, iskwêw ê-nitonawak, ê-wî-wîcêwak," itwêw.

(187) “Oh, the fact is, I am looking for a woman to marry,” he said.

(188) "êkwa nâha wîwih!"

(188) “Then marry this one here!”

(189) kitâpamêw.

(189) He looked at her.

(190) "osâm otihkomiw," itêw.

(190) “She is too lousy,” he said of her.

(191) "hêy, nitawâsimisitik, kiyawâw êtokê ê-itêyimot!" "kiyawâw onâpêmik!" itik.

(191) “Oho, my children, it must be you he has in mind for himself! You take him to husband!” she said of him.

(192) êkwa ê-tipiskâyik, kawisimôw. kîskwêhkwasiw awa iskwêsis.

(192) Then, when night came, he lay down to sleep. That little girl walked in her sleep.

(193) "mitoni ninôhtê-atoskân! mistahi ninôhtê-atoskân!" "êtokê ê-kihtimit awiyak kâ-pê-nahâhkapit!" itwêw awa iskwêsis.

(193) “Greatly I am longing to work! Much I am longing to work! It seems as if some lazy person has come here to stay as son-in-law!” said the little girl.

(194) sêmâk kîkisêpâ sipwêhtêw. mitoni kiyipa otihtam ostêsa ita kê-kî-ohci-nipahâyit wâkayôsa. êkota takohtêw.

(194) In the morning at once he went off. Very quickly he came to where his elder brother had found and killed the bear. He walked to the spot.

(195) "nimosô, kipê-nâtitin, ê-mêtawêyân anohc kâ-kîsikâk!" itêw.

(195) “Grandfather, I have come to fetch you, for I am engaging in a contest this day!” he said to it.

(196) "ahaq, nôsisê! cêskwa nîso nimîstowâna otinamôhkan." "môya âta wiya kinêsôwêyimitin." "wayêsiyawâw kistês." "êkosi mayaw takohtahiyini, sêmâk otêma ta-nâtisahwêw, otâpacihcikana" itêw; êkosi, "hâw, êkwa!" itik.

(196) “Yes, my grandchild! But first do you take two hairs from round my mouth. To be sure, I do not think you lacking in power of your own. Your elder brother was deceived by an unfair stroke. Now, as soon as you have brought me there, she will send for her dog, who is an instrument of her power,” it told him; and so, “Very well, come now!” it told him.

(197) pakamahwêw; nipahêw. kîwêcitâpêw. kîkisêpâ mitoni takohtahêw. mayaw ê-pîhtokêt macostêham ôma pêyak; pêyak pimiwitâw.

(197) He clubbed it; he killed it. He dragged his burden home. Very early in the morning he arrived with it. As soon as he entered, he threw one of those things into the fire; one he kept on his person.

(198) êkwa ê-pahkwêkisomiht, "nitawâsimisitik, nâtamok nicîkahikan, nimihkihkwan, nimânihtoyâsk, nitahkâmasiniy, nisêkipitâkanêyâpiya, êhtahtiki nitâpacihcikana."²³

"êkwa kiya, nitânis, papâ-nitonaw nikosis kistês," itêw; piyisk, "hâw, nitawi-nitom kiya nitêm," itêw otânisa pêyak; "êkwa, 'osâm otihkomiw,' okî-itwâh!"

(198) Then, when the game had been skinned for her, “My children, go get my ax, my hide-scraper, my stick for treating hides, my pounding-stone, my thongs for stretching hides, as many as are my tools. And you, my daughter, go round and look for my son, your elder brother,” she told them; and then, finally, “Now, do you call my dog,” she told one of her daughters; “For I do not forget that he said, ‘She is too lousy!’”

(199) ayis kisîmâw, kâ-ôh-nâtitisahwât okosisa. êkwa ê-pê-takohtêt awa atim, iskwâhtêmihk ispayihôw awa oskinîkiw. nama isko ê-sîhkipitimiht ôhi wâkayôsiwayâna, âsay kâ-pê-takosihk awa atim. êkosi ê-pîhtokêt, konita kâ-pê-patapâyôwêyit, kâ-pê-sasawâpikiyit, tâpiskôc kêkway ê-kostahk.

(199) For she had been angered by the speech; that was why she was sending for her son. Then, when that dog arrived, the youth threw himself toward the door. The bearskin had not even been stretched, when the dog arrived. Then, when it came into the tent, though no harm had been done to it, it had its tail between its legs, and cringed as it came, just as though it feared something.

(200) êkwa ômisi itêw awa misâskwacos kâ-ayâ-t ôhi; ômisi itêw ôhi atimwa: "awa cî ê-mamisîyan?" itêw, ê-sâmahwât ôhi atimwa.

(200) Then He Who Had the Saskatoon Stick spoke of it thus; thus he spoke of that dog: “Is it on this creature that you rely?” he said of that dog, and touched it with the stick.

(201) pîkopayiw awa atim; yâwâpiskipayiw.

(201) That dog broke into bits; it crumbled into tiny bits of metal.

(202) ôhi mîna ê-asastêyiki, "ôhi cî ê-mamisîyan?" itêw, otâpacihcikaniyiwa akinê ê-ati-sâmahamwât. êkosi ê-ati-pîkopayiyiki, nama kêkway awa iskwêsis iskohtâwân; mêscihtâwân tahto kâ-mamisît.

(202) And of those things that lay there in a pile, “Is it on these things that you rely?” he asked her, and touched her tools one after another with the stick. When then, one after another, they fell to pieces, that little girl had nothing left her; all the things on which she relied had been destroyed.

(203) "hâw, êkwa kitihkomak nika-nôcihâwak." "pêyak miskawaki, êkosi kitawâsimisak nika-kîwêhtahâwak," itêw.

(203) “Well, now I shall hunt your lice. If I find one, then I shall be permitted to take your daughters home with me,” he said to her.

(204) "êha," itwêw awa iskwêsis.

(204) “Very well,” said the little girl.

(205) ê-kitâpamikot, misiwê ohkwâkanihk ihkwa; êkwa pisinê ê-pê-otihtapiskwêyit, âsay sâmahamwân ostikwân; nama kî-kotâwîyiwa otihkoma. mâninâkisk takwâpiskatahwêw ihkwa. kîtahtawê kê-kwêtipiskwênêw;²⁴

piko itê êtâpici ihkwa pisisik. kîtahtawê kâ-pakicîtotâkot ihkwa awa miscikos kâ-ayâ-t. êkwa ê-kwâhkotêyik êkota itisinam ôma miscikos. kwâhkotêyiw, êkwa ôhi kâ-pakiciyit ihkwa êkota omistikomihk kâ-matwêtayêhkasoyit. mêkwâc êkosi ê-tôtahk, kîtahtawê kâ-takosihk awa oskinîkiw, wîpac kayâhtê kâ-wâpamât okâwiya ê-nôcihimiht otihkomiyiwa.

(205) When he looked at her, all over her face were lice; then, at the very moment when she sought to lower her head, already her head had been touched with the stick; her lice had no time to disappear. Without mercy he smashed the lice against the stony ground with his long stick. After a while he turned her head to the other side; wherever he looked, it was full of lice. Then suddenly some lice came and settled on Him Who Had the Saskatoon Stick. At that he pointed his stick toward the blazing fire. A flame leaped up on the stick, and the lice that had settled on him were there on the stick, roasting until their bellies burst with a pop. While he was doing all this, in time that young man arrived, and at once saw to his surprise how his mother's lice were being hunted down.

(206) "hêy, kêkway ôma ê-kî-nâtaman, awa kîstâskîs kâ-mêsci-misi-wanâcihtât nitâpacihcikana?" itik.

(206) “Hey, on what errand were you off, while your brother-in-law here was destroying my tools to the very last one?” she called to him.

(207) tâpiskamiyiwa kicohcikanis, êkwa mohyâpiciskânis okicohcikanisihk ê-tahkopitêyik; êkwa pîwâpiskos ê-apisâsiniyik pîmakâmêskamiyiwa.

(207) The son wore a little flute round his neck; the flute was tied with a small hide thong with the fur turned out; and a small piece of iron he wore across his shoulder.

(208) êkwa, "hâh, nêkâ, kitôsâmi-mêscihâwak kitihkomak," "kêswân êkâ sâkohikawiyahko, êyakonik ta-mêkinawêyan." "ayis nikî-pê-nitomikawin, ayîsiyiniw ê-kitimâkêyimiht, nîsta ê-wîhtamawak, êkwa êkâ ma-mayaw kâ-ôh-pê-kîwêyân." "osâm, nêkâ, kimaci-nôcihtân," itik okosisa.

(208) Then, “Why, mother, too greatly are you wasting your lice. It happens that even if we are not defeated, you are to give them up. For I have been called here to be present at the blessing of mortal man, that I too may give him mystic knowledge; and that is why I was so slow about coming home. You have gone too far in your evil pursuits, mother,” her son said to her.

(209) awâsis awa ê-mistatayêt, ê-mosêskatêt, mistatayêwi-awâsis awa; okosisa awa kâ-otihkomit.

(209) “He was a pot-bellied child and went naked; Pot-Belly Child was he; he was Lousy One's son.

(210) "hâw, nîsta, êkwa mâka niya!" itwêw.

(210) “Now then, brother-in-law, now is my turn!” he said.

(211) êkosi pôni-pakicîyiwa ihkwa. êkosi otinam mohyâpiciskânis. êkwa êkoyikohk kâ-takosihk awa atimwa kâ-kî-nipahikot.

(211) Then the lice ceased coming down. Then he took the little thong with the fur on it. Then he arrived who had been killed by the dog.

(212) "hâ, nistêsê, wâhyaw nispiskwanihk ayâ!"

(212) “Ho, elder brother, stay far behind my back!”

(213) êkosi isiwêpinam.

(213) He flung the thing like this.

(214) "nawatahaman ôma, êkosi kê-paskiyawiyan!" itik.

(214) “If you catch this on the fly, you have won it from me!” he told him.

(215) iyâta-wâ-kakwê-nawatahwâci kamâmakosa ê-wâpiskisiyit, âskaw nama wâpamêw, kayâhtê mâna kisiwâk kâ-pmakociniyit mâna.²⁵

(215) Though he tried to hit it in the air with his stick, in the form it had taken of a white butterfly, yet from moment to moment he could not see it, and then again, suddenly right close there it would be in the air.

(216) "nika-sâkôcihikoh!" itêyihtam.

(216) “He will surely defeat me!” he thought.

(217) kîtahtawê ê-wâpiskâyik ôma omiscikomis yâyinam; wâpiskâyiw. ôta ê-pimakociniyit, âkwask itisinam, êkota akohkêw awa kamâmakos. otinêw. otinam; konita itastâw.

(217) Then presently he rubbed the white part of his stick; it was white. As the thing flew past, he held it in front of it. There the butterfly clung to it. He took it into his hand. He took the thing, now lifeless; he laid it down carelessly.

(218) "êkwa ôma!" itik.

(218) “Now try this!” the other said to him.

(218b) âpahamiyiwa pîwâpiskos; nêtê isiwêpinam awa mistatayêwi-awâsis; misâyiw pîwâpisk ê-nôtimâyik.

(218b) He untied the little piece of iron; over yonder Pot-Belly Child threw it; it was a huge round block of iron.

(219) "sâkohtâyani ôma, kê-paskiyawiyan!" itik.

(219) “If you can handle this, you have won it from me!” he told him.

(220) êkwa ê-wî-kakwê-âhtastât, nama kaskihtâw. kêtahtawê ê-nayawît, ê-wâ-wâpahtahk ôma mistik, kâ-wâpahtahk ê-askihtakwâyik. sâminam; êkota ocihcîhk misiwê ay-isihtitâw. otinam ôma pîwâpisk; sôskwâc ohpinam tâpiskôc ê-yâhkasiniyik.

(220) Then, when he tried to move it from the spot, he could not budge it. Presently, as he grew tired, as he looked at that stick, he saw that it turned green. He touched it with his hand; he placed it against every part of his hand. He took hold of the iron bar; at once he lifted it up, as though it were light.

(221) "hê, nîstâ, êkwa mâka kê-mâsihitoyahk, ta-wîcêwâyahkok, ta-nitomâyahkok." "awiyak sâkohihci kita-otahwâw otâpacihcikana." "- nêkâ, kahkiyaw cî kitâpacihcikana?"

(221) “Ha, brother-in-law, but now we shall come to grips, and we shall call to us whatever beings are to be on our side. Whichever of us is beaten shall lose the instruments of his power. Mohter, are all your implements gone?”

(222) "namôya." "êyâpic aniki opahcâwiyak, ita kita-nîpawiyan," itêw okosisa.²⁶

(222) “No. There are still those instruments of levitation upon which you may stand,” she told her son.

(223) "hâw, kiya nîkân nitom kita-wîcêwacik!"

(223) “Now then, do you first call those who are to be on your side!”

(224) kitohtâw awa mistatayêwi-awâsis; misahci-pêcimêw kiyikaw mohcihk ohci. êkwa awa misâskwacos kâ-ayâ-t êwako misiwê itê itwahikâkêw kiyikaw mohcihk. êkwa owîcêwâkaniwâwa ê-akimâcik, pôti awa misâskwacos kâ-ayâ-t pêyak ayiwâkipayiyiwa opawâkana. itâmihk kâ-ayâcik askîhk ocapîhkêsîsak ê-wâpiskisiyit, ayiwâkipayiyiwa pêyak êwakoni. êkwa mâsihitôwak wîstâwa, aspin ispimihk ê-yahkîmohki ôhi ita kâ-nîpawicik.

(224) Pot-Belly Child blew his whistle; with his call he brought in great number all manner of beings from the earth. And He Who Had the Saskatoon Stick pointed in every direction all over the ground. Then, when they counted their supporters, it turned out that He Who Had the Saskatoon Stick was by one follower ahead. Of the spiders that dwell under the ground, a white one of them was the odd one. Then he and his brother-in-law contended, as those things on which they stood stretched up into the air.

(225) kîtahtawê nâha êkwa pîhtatwân mistahi wêpâpîhkêpayiw. êkwa nâha, "êkwa êsa nisîm miyêtawêt!" itêyihtam; "âta wiya pakahkam manitôwiw;" "kahkiyaw kêkway kî-wîhtamawâw," itêyihtam.

(225) Then, at this time, that quiver off yonder began to sway greatly. And yonder woman thought, “Now, it appears, my brother is contending! However, by all means he has spirit power; all manner of mystic knowledge has been communicated to him,” she thought.

(226) kêtahtawê, "nêkâ, niwî-sâkohik." "kimêstinên cî?"

(226) Presently, “Mother, he is about to defeat me. Have you used it all up?”

(227) "namôya ninayawîn," itwêw awa kâ-otihkomit iskwêsis.

(227) “I am not yet weary,” said the little girl, Lousy One.

(228) "mahti êwako pêtâ! nika-têhcikâpawin."

(228) “Then bring me what you have! Let me stand on it.”

(229) "namôya êkotôwahk, nikosis!" itwêw.

(229) “It is not of that kind, my son!” she said.

(230) mistikwak êskosicik, êkoyikohk ê-pê-ayâcik, kâ-otinahk opîway awa kâ-otihkomit, ômatôwihk wahcîhk ê-otinahk.²⁷

pakamaham ôma miscikos. nama kê-yahkîmôw.

(230) They were aloft now at the height of the trees, when the Lousy One took one of the hairs from here, on her body. With it she struck that stick. It could no longer grow in length.

(231) êkwa nâha pwâstawâc wêpâpîhkêpayiw.

(231) Then that thing off yonder barely swayed a bit as it hung.

(232) "hêy, oskac ê-pawâmiyân, ocapîhkêsîs, misiwê kîsikohk askîhk ta-papâmâpêkamowa kipîsâkanâpîma!" itêw.

(232) “Hey, as first I dreamt, spider, everywhere in the sky and on the earth, your strings would be tied about!” he cried.

(233) mâkohâw êkwa. hâ, papâmâmôw êkwa, ê-nawaswâtiht. êkwa nâha iskwêw pêhpêkahâkan ayâw, êkwa ê-apisâsiniyik ahkâmasinîs. pakamaham.²⁸

²⁹

piyisk pîwâpisk tâpiskôc ê-ati-misâyik, têhcikâpawiw.

(233) He was now being close pressed. He fled about, and was pursued. And that woman off yonder had a stone mallet encased in leather and a small pestle-stone. She struck them. With them she beat something. [no Cree] At last, when, like iron, it widened out, she stood on it.

(234) "oskac ê-pawâmiyân, nayêwac ta-pimakocihk, ta-sipwêhtahit awa kâ-mâkohât nisîma!" "êkotôwahk nikî-wîhtamâkoh!" "êkwa niwîkimâkan opakamâkan kita-ôh-pasastêhwak awa kâ-têhcikâpawiyân," itwêw.

(234) “At first I dreamt, through the air he is to fly, and to take me hence, he who presses close upon my brother! It was the like of him, after all, that gave me mystic knowledge! And let it be with my husband's war-club that I strike this being on which I stand, that it may speed fast through the air!” she spoke.

(235) pakamaham.

(235) She beat it.

(236) "itê nisîm omiscikomis kâ-ayâyik, êkotê itohtahin!" itwêw.

(236) “There where is my brother's stick, thither take me!” she said.

(236b) pimakocin. mêkwâc namôya kwayask ihtiw; otâsiyâniw awa iskwêw, ê-otihtât osîma.

(236b) She sped through the air. [no translation] [no translation]

(237) "hêy, otihkomiw-iskwêw! mistatêw kâ-nayawîhât nisîma nikitimâkêyimimâh!" itwêw.

(237) “Hey, Lousy-Woman! Do not forget that I love my brother whom Pot-Belly is tiring!” she cried.

(238) âpihkonêw otâsiyâna; pasastêhwêw ôhi kâwiya.

(238) [no translation] with it she beat those porcupine quills.

(238b) mistatayêwi-awâsis pahkisin, ôki mîna kâwiyak.

(238b) Pot-Belly Child fell to the ground, and so did those quills.

(239) "hêy, nîsta, k-ôtahon nitâpacihcikana." "êyâpic pêyakwâw kiwî-mêtawân." "êwakoni nikâwiy otihkoma êwakoni kika-âpacihâw, êkwa ôhi pîwâpisk." "ati-miyoskamiki, mitoni nîpihki, êkota kâ-wî-mêtawêyan."

(239) “Ho, brother-in-law, you have won from me my implements. Again some time you will be engaging in a contest. These, my mother's lice you will have for your use, and also these things, the iron and the other. As the warm weather comes on, well on into summer, that is when you will be contending.”

(240) êkosi kîwêwak. takosinwak wîkiwâhk.

(240) Thereupon they went home. They came to where they dwelt.

(241) "hâ, êkwa wâwîs mistahi manitôwiw!" itêyihtam awa nôtokêwa kâ-kî-nayômât.

(241) “Ha, now he is more of a manitou than ever!” thought He Who Had Carried the Old Woman on His Back.

(242) êkosi ê-nîpiniyik, kêkâc êkwa wîstâwa ta-takosiniyit, kîtahtawê ê-picicik, itê ê-kapêsicik, kîtahtawê kâ-pê-sâkêwêyit ayîsiyiniwa mitoni ê-kawâhkatosoyit, miscikos kâ-ayâ-t, nâh-nâway kâ-tahkopitêyiki ê-kaskipitêyiki, êkwa awa kayâhtê miscikos kâ-ayâ-t.

(242) Then, when summer came and it was almost time for his brother-in-law to arrive, then at one time, as they moved camp and were stopping for the night, there came into sight a very lean man carrying a stick to which at intervals covered-up bundles were tied; they were surprised that this person, too, carried a stick.

(243) êkwa ê-pê-takosihk, "tawâw!" itâw.

(243) Then, as he came to where they were, “Come in!” they said to him.

(244) êkwa, "â, tânisi ôma? tânitê ê-ohtohtêyan!" itêw awa ostêsimâw.

(244) Then, “Why, what is this? Whence do you come?” the elder brother asked him.

(245) "misâskwacosihk."

(245) “From the willow-wood.”

(246) "tânitê mâka?"

(246) “But whence?”

(247) "misâskwacosihk, nititwân!"

(247) “From the willow-wood, I say!”

(248) "kêkway mâka ê-papâ-nâtaman?"

(248) “And what are you seeking, as you go about?”

(249) "nipê-wîwin." "tânitê awa kâ-apit kimisiwâw?"³⁰

"osâm kîstâwâw kipapâmaskatikowâw."

(249) “I have come to take a wife. Which of the women sitting here is your sister? For your brother-in-law leads you too much of a chase, always going away.”

(250) "namôya ka-kî-wîwin."

(250) “You cannot have her to wife.”

(251) "ôta nisîmak kisiwâk pê-ayâwak, kiyawâw mîna êyakonik ta-wîwiyêk."

(251) “My younger sisters have come with me and are staying close by here, so you may marry them in return.”

(252) hâ, nama tâpwêhtamwak.

(252) They did not accept this offer.

(253) "nicawâc kika-mêtawânânaw!" itwêw awa kâ-kawâhkatosot êwako.

(253) “Then we shall have to settle it by a contest!” said the lean one.

(254) "hâw, kiya nîkân!" itâw awa ihkwa kâ-ayâwât.

(254) “Very well, you first! he was told who had the lice.

(255) kiyâm mamitonêyihtam, ihkwa ta-pakiciyit. pakicîtotâk awa kâ-kawâhkatosot. nicawâc kwâhkotêhk itisinam ôma miscikos kâ-tahkonahk, êkwa ê-kîsisocik ôki ihkwak, nanâtohk maci-pisiskiwak, mohtêwak, ayîkisak, êwakoni ê-otihkomit awa. êkosi kêkâc ê-mêscihimiht, pôyôw. êkwa ôma mohyâpiciskân; sêmâk ômisi isiwêpinam; akohkêw êkota. ôma pîwâpisk nêtê isiwêpinam; sêmâk awa kâ-kawâhkatosot otinam pêyak ocihcîhk, ê-sinikonahk ôma pîwâpisk; nêtê ê-isiwêpinahk, kî-apisâsiniyiw. êkwa awa nitomêwak kita-owîcêwâkanicik. pôti awa kayâhtê kâ-ayâ-t misâskwacos pêyak ayiwâkipayiyiwa, itâmihk askîhk kâ-ayâcik mohcêsa ê-wâpiskisiyit.

(255) He merely fixed his thought on the idea that lice were to come down. They came down and settled on the lean man. He pointed the stick which he was carrying toward the blazing fire, and the lice burned up, all the different evil animals, such as worms and toads, which he had as lice. So when they had been almot all destroyed, he quit. Then he tried the string with fur on it. At once he moved his stick like this, and there, the thing clung to it. Then he threw the piece of iron over yonder; at once the lean man took it up into one of his hands and rubbed it; when he threw it back yonder, it was small again. Then they summoned those who were to be their followers. It turned out that he who had surprised them by also having a saskatoon stick had one follower more, a white worm of those that stay under the ground.

(256) "êkotê êcika ani kî-itâmoyân, kî-itâmoyâhk!" ê-itêyihtahk, kîtahtawê pahkisimohk êkotê, "hêêy, nîstâ, tawayâk! nakatamok kimistikomiwâwa! niwî-takohtân!"³¹

(256) Then, just as he was thinking, “And so I must flee; we must flee!” suddenly from the west came the call, “Hey, brother-in-law, make room! Let go your sticks! I am coming!”

(257) kêkway êtokê kâ-pêtôwêkotêyik, kâ-pahkihtihk ôma kaskipicêsa, kâ-tahkopitêyiki êwako. pahkihtin mohcihk. êkwa ôma kêyâpic cimatêw ôma miscikos, kâ-pê-takosihk, hâw, awa kâ-namahcît, ka-mohyâpitasêkot.

(257) Then something came a-flying with noise, and down fell the little bundles that were tied fast to that stick. It fell to the ground. And that stick stood upright in the ground again, when he arrived, none other than that awkward man, who wore his garments with the fur turned out.

(258) "ôma cêskwa ayîsiyiniw kita-otinam ocêpihk." "'maskihkiy,' kita-isiyîhkâtam, kâ-ôh-pê-kitimâkêyimât nîstâw." "êkwa ôma, nîstâw kâ-ayâ-t ayîsiyiniw, 'misâskwat, nîpisis,' ta-isiyîhkâtam, ta-ôh-pimâcihot." "hâw, kîwê, nîstâ." "iyinînâhk itohtê." "êkâ wiya kakêpâci-tôta." "êkâ wiya nipahtâkê," itik wîstâwa; "êkwa kiya kâ-pê-mêtawêyan, nâtakâm itohtê." "êkwa kisîmak iskwêwak ôtê âpihtâ-kîsikâhk kita-isi-sipwêhtêwak." "osâm tahki kiwî-papâ-mêtawân, ê-oyasowêhk ta-miywâsik askiy, ayîsiyiniw ta-sâkaskinêt askîhk," itwêw; "êkwa niya ôta mohcihk nika-isi-kîwân." "kahkiyaw nika-kitimâkêyimik ayîsiyiniw kiki niwîkimâkan." "êkwa kiya, nîstâ, âpakosîsak kâ-kinwâyowêcik kika-êkotôwiwin." "êkwa niya, 'cîposcowiyâkanisîs,' kâ-itwêcik ayîsiyiniwak, êkotôwahk niya!"

(258) “In time to come, mortal man will take up this root. ‘Medicine,’ he will call it, with which my brother-in-law has blessed him in the hither course of time. And this which my brother-in-law has here, mortal man will call ‘saskatoon willow,’ and with it will preserve his life. Now then, go home, my brother-in-law. Go to the land of mortals. Do not act wantonly. Do not kill,” his brother-in-law said to him; “And as for you, who have come here to engage in contest, go to the wooded country of the north. And let your sisters set out toward the south. For you are ever too eager to engage in contests, now that it has been arranged that the earth is to be good, so that man may be plentiful upon earth,” he said; “And as for me, I shall return here to the ground. All mortal men shall take pity on me and on my wife. And you, my brother-in-law, the long-tailed mice, of these you shall be. And I, those whom men call ‘sharp-nosed mice,’ such a one I shall be!”

(259) kîpipayihôw; âpakosîsiwiw owîkimâkana kiki; mitoni apisîsisiwak.

(259) He threw himself down; he turned into a mouse, and so did his wife; they were very tiny.

(260) êkoyikohk êskwâk âtayôhkêwin.

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

Footnotes

¹LB: On account of the brother-and-sister tabu; the sister's husband would make communication possible.

²LB on êh-okâhkwâskwahikaniyit: English-speaking informants could not tell what kâhkwâskwahikan was. Literally, it is “thing for tightening (?) sticks.”

³Is kitowiyit relational, or just 'kitoyit'?

⁴LB: On account of the brother-and-sister tabu.

⁵LB on ê-nîsicik: He means ê-nisticik, and I have so translated. Informant is given to slips of the tongue as regards numbers and opposites.

⁶CHECK weskinikiyan

⁷IC of atoskê ?

⁸CHECK ?? ay-ihtâ -hk (vai ‘exist’)?

⁹LB on ahkâpaskwah: A water-weed, not identified. I do not understand this passage.

¹⁰LB: If the record is right, the word is analysable as initial stem pîcit-: “draw toward one”; connective -i-; animate finale -sin: “come down, lie”; one would expect ts for the t. Meaning?

¹¹LB: Perhaps, “he was left-handed”; the meaning in the text is common.

¹²CHECK pakamahwak

¹³CHECK weyacawiwak

¹⁴CHECK âhi - does ôhi fit in any better?

¹⁵CHECK

¹⁶LB: I take this to be ês-iyinihkahit: “the way he cures me,” but it does not make sense.

¹⁷LB on kê-pahpakwacîwayân: If an intransitive verb can be formed with -îwâ- (from pahpakwat-: “amuse”), this form is intelligible. More likely it is either an error of record or a nonsense form, starting as a verb, but ending with the nominal final -wayân: “hide of fur.”

¹⁸CHECK â -> ê-

¹⁹CHECK -imât

²⁰CHECK pêtwâwiht

²¹LB on nnahâhkim: Her sudden violation of tabu in addressing him directly implies that he no longer counts as a person; it is all up with him.

²²Would êyâta be better as iyâta ?

²³LB on nimânihtwiyâsk: Some tool; the final is -âskw-: “wood, stick”.

²⁴CHECK kêh-

²⁵CHECK double IC

²⁶LB on opahcâwiyak: Animate plural noun; meaning? The translation is surely wrong. Later in the story it seems that the things, whatever they are, consist of kâwiyak: “porcupine quills”.

²⁷LB on wahcîhk: As pîway is “body-hair” this word is probably “armpit” or “pubes.” It is evidently a dependent noun, i.e., one which always has a possessive prefix.

²⁸LB: Out of construction; he should have said kik-âpacihimâwa, since the object is obviative. Similarly, though ôhi: “these” is plural, only one of the objects, the iron, is mentioned, the thong omitted.

²⁹KR: Evidently the book is missing a Cree sentence, referred to in the note and appearing in the translation.

³⁰LB: Literally, “In which place is this one who sits your sister?” - there being three seated women. Questions of identity are often put in this form.

³¹CHECK anih, kiy (related to E dialect kiyi ‘[future]’?)