(1) kîtahtawê yâhki mîna mitâtasiwak nâpêwak.

(1) Once upon a time, of old, there were ten men.

(1b) âsay mîna tapasîwak, "osâm kika-mêscihikonaw awa wîhtikôw," ê-itwêcik êsa.

(1b) Again, they fled, saying, “That Windigo would destroy us all.”

(1c) pêyak oskinîkiskwêsisa sipwêhtahêwak, osîmisiwâwa. nikwatis êsa nitawi-osîhtâwak wîkiwâw. êkwa êkotê ay-ayâwak. êkwa kinwês êkotê êsa oy-ohpikihêwak ôhi osîmisiwâwa. piyisk ispimihk êsa mistikwa cimahêwak, êkota ê-mânokawâcik, ê-wacistwanihkêcik, ita ê-owîkiyit. kîtahtawê kahkiyaw kêkway êsa pawâtam awa kanâci-oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa kîtahtawê kâ-kiskêyihtahk kita-pimihât. êkwa kotaka nâpêsisa mîna osîmisiw êsa awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(1c) As they went away, they took with them a young girl, their younger sister. Off alone somewhere they went and built their dwelling. And off there they stayed. And there for a long time they must have been bringing up their sister. Finally they set up in the ground a tall tree, and in it they built a lodge, making a kind of nest, in which she then had her dwelling. Then, in time, that pure maiden must have seen all manner of things in her dreams. Then, presently, she knew that she could fly. And there was a little boy, a brother still younger than this young woman.

(2) êkwa ômisi kâ-itât osîmisa: "niwî-nitâmison," itwêw êsa.

(2) Then she said to her younger brother, “I shall gather berries.”

(3) "nimisê, tânitê mâka kê-kî-miskaman mînisa?" "pipon ôma," itwêw êsa awa nâpêsis.

(3) “Big sister, but where will you find any berries? It is winter,” said the little boy.

(4) "nisîmis, namôya nika-kî-pwâtawihtân," itwêw êsa; "ayisk nika-pimihân," itwêw êsa awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(4) “Little brother, not by any chance shall I fail,” she said; “For I shall fly,” said the young woman.

(5) êkwa tâpwê wawêyîw, ê-sipwêhtêt, kotak askiy ê-isi-pimihât awa oskinîkiskwêw. tâpwê êkotê ê-takohtêt akâmaskîhk, mâci-mawisôw. katisk êsa ê-âpihtâ-kîsikâyik êkotê takohtêw. âsay mâci-mawisôw misâskwatômina. pêyak mwêhci ê-sâkaskinahtât omawiswâkan, âsay mîna kotak ê-ati-sâkaskinahtât, kîtahtawê piyêsiwa kâ-pêhtâkosiyit. kayâhtê nâspici-sêkimik. ê-pêkopayit, kayâhtê kâ-wâh-waniskânikot oskinîkiwa. mistahi êkwa êkota miywêyihtam. mâh-mâsihitôwak; owîcimosiw ôhi oskinîkiwa.

(5) Then really the young woman dressed herself and set out and flew to another land. Really, when she arrived there across the sea, she began to gather berries. She arrived there exactly at noon. She began to gather saskatoon berries. When she had filled one of her berrying baskets and was setting about filling the other, suddenly a Thunderer's roar was heard. It frightened her out of her senses. When she awoke, to her surprise, a youth was raising her to her feet. She was very glad. [no translation]

(6) ê-otâkosiniyik iyikohk, kîwêw. tâpwê mînisa kîwêhtatâw. wîkiwâhk ê-takohtêt, mâci-kîsisam ôhi mînisa. mistahi êkwa miywêyihtamiyiwa ostêsa ê-kîsisamawât.

(6) Towards evening, she went home. So really, she brought berries. When she arrived at their dwelling, she set about stewing the berries. Her elder brothers were very much pleased when she gave them the stewed berries.

(7) "tânitê êtokê wêhtinahk kisîminaw ôhi mînisa?" itwêwak ôki oskinîkiwak.

(7) “Where can our sister have got these berries?” asked the youths.

(8) mâmaskâtamwak; oski-mînisa ê-mîcicik ê-piponiyik ohci, kâ-ôh-mâmaskâtahkik, êkwa wiya kâkikê ispimihk wacistwanihk awa oskinîkiskwêw ê-owîkit. âsay mayaw ê-waniskâcik, sipwêhtêwak ôki oskinîkiwak, wiya tahto-kîsikâw piko ê-mâcîcik, ê-isi-atoskêcik, kahkiyaw kêkway ê-mâcîtotawâcik. âsay mîna oskinîkiskwêw nîhtakosîw.

(8) They marvelled at this, that in winter they were eating fresh berries, and because that young woman always had her dwelling up aloft in the nest. As soon as the young man got up, they went away, for every day they did nothing but hunt, for this was their work, to hunt every kind of creature. Again the young woman came down.

(9) âsay mîna ômisi itêw osîmisa ôhi nâpêsisa: "mîna niwî-nitâmison," itwêw êsa awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(9) Again she said to the boy, her brother, “I am going berrying again,” said the young woman.

(10) tâpwê âsay mîna sipwêhtêw awa oskinîkiskwêw, ê-pimihât. âsay mîna akâmaskîhk takohtêw. âsay mîna êkotê ita kâ-kî-ohtinahk mînisa mâci-mawisôw mîna. pôti âsay mîna pêyakwâw ê-sâkaskinahtât omawiswâkan, âsay mîna piyêsiwa kâ-pêhtâkosiyit. mîna nâspici-sêkimik. kayâhtê piko mîna sâsay kâ-wâpamât, ê-âpahkawisit ôhi oskinîkiwa kâ-kî-wâpamât. âsay mîna mâh-mâsihitôwak. êkota kapê-kîsik ay-ayâwak. ayisk miywêyimêw ôhi oskinîkiwa.

(10) Accordingly, again the young woman set out, flying. Again she arrived in the land across the sea. Again in the place from which she had taken berries, she set about her berrying. Behold, when again she had filled one berrying basket, again the Thunderer's noise was heard. Again he frightened her out of her senses. Again she saw, when she came to, that youth whom she had seen. [no translation] They stayed there all day, for she liked that youth.

(11) ê-otâkosiniyik âsay mîna wawêyîw ê-wî-kîwêt. kîwêw, mîna ê-ati-pimihât. kêkâc êsa ê-tipiskâyik, wîkiwâhk takohtêw. âsay mîna mâci-kîsisam mînisa. âsay mîna âmaciwêw. mistahi miywêyihtamwak mâna ôki oskinîkiwak, mînisa miyîcitwâwi.

(11) Towards evening again she made ready to return home. She went home, again flying. When it was nearly dark, she came to their dwelling. Again she set about stewing berries. Again she went up aloft. Those young men were always very glad when they had berries to eat.

(12) êkwa mayaw ê-wâpaniyik, âsay mîna mâcîwak. mayaw ostêsa ê-kî-sipwêhtêyit, âsay mîna pê-pinasiwêw awa oskinîkiskwêw, ê-pê-nânapâcihtawât otayiwinisiyiwa, omaskisiniyiwa mîna.

(12) As soon as the next day broke, again they went hunting. As soon as her elder brothers had departed, the young woman came down again, to attend to their clothes and their moccasins.

(13) "pêyakwâw mîna niwî-nitâmison," itêw êsa osîmisa.

(13) “Once more I shall go a-berrying,” she must have told her little brother.

(14) tâpwê sâsay mîna wayawîw. êkwa êsa mîna êkotê takohtêw; mâcimawisôw itê kâ-nâ-nitâmisot. âsay mîna pêyakwâw ê-sâkaskinahtât omawiswâkan, âsay mîna sôhki kâ-pêhtâkosiyit piyêsiwa. kayâhtê piko mîna kâ-kiskêyihtahk, iyikohk ê-âpahkawisit, êkota mîna mâh-mâsihitôwak.

(14) Accordingly, again she set forth. Again she arrived at yonder place; she set about berrying where twice before she had found berries. Again when once she had filled a berry-basket, again the thunderer made himself loudly heard. And when again suddenly she had regained her senses, when she had come to, [no translation]

(15) ê-otâkosiniyik, sâsay mîna kîwêhtatâw mînisa. êkwa mîna mâci-kîsisam. ê-kî-kîsisahk mînisa, kâwi âmaciwêw owacistwanihk. ê-takohtêcik, mâmaskâtamok ôki oskinîkiwak, tahto-kîsikâw ê-mîcicik oski-mînisa.

(15) Towards evening, again she took home berries. Again she set about stewing them. When she had stewed the berries, she went back up into her nest. When they arrived, the young men marvelled that every day they ate fresh berries.

(16) ômisi êsa itwêwak: "tânitê êtokê ê-ohtinahk awa kisîmisinaw oski-mînisa?" itwêwak êsa.

(16) They said, “Whence does our sister get fresh berries?”

(17) â, âsay mîna mayaw ê-wâpaniyik, sipwêhtêwak, ê-kî-mîcisocik. kahkiyaw sâsay mîna ê-kî-mêsci-sipwêhtêyit, awa oskinîkiskwêw âsay mîna wîhtamawêw osîmisa mîna ê-wî-sipwêhtêt. tâpwê sâsay mîna ati-sipwêhtêw êsa, ê-ati-pimihât. êkotê ê-takohtêt itê mâna kâ-isi-nitâmisot, mwêhci ê-mâci-mawisot, âsay êsa mîna piyêsiwa kâ-mâci-pêhtâkosiyit. âsay mîna nâspici-sêkimik awa oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa ê-âpahkawisit, kayâhtê kî-wâpamêw mîna êkotê oskinîkiwa. miywêyihtam mistahi awa oskinîkiw, ê-âh-otihtikot ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa.¹

(17) Again, as soon as day had dawned, they set out, having eaten. Again, when every one of them had departed, the young woman told her little brother that she was going off once more. Accordingly, once more she set out and flew. When she arrived there where she had been gathering berries, just as she began to pick, again the thunderer began to give his sound. Again the young woman was frightened out of her senses by his sound. And when she came to, once more she saw there the youth. That youth was very glad that the young woman always came there to him.

(18) macikah aciyaw piko ê-kî-mâh-mâsihitocik, âsay mîna kîwêw awa oskinîkiskwêw. âta ê-takohtêt wîkiwâhk, namwâc kaskihôw kita-kî-kîhcêkosît kâ-wîkit owacistwanihk. âta wâh-kîhcêkosîci, pwâtawihôw. nitawâc nahapiw cîki iskwâhtêmihk. "tânêhki ôma?" itêyihtam. ayisk ohcitaw êtokê tôtâkôwisiw awa oskinîkiskwêw, osâm mistahi ê-kihcêyimikot ôhi ostêsa, ê-kikiskawâwasot êsa. mayaw awa ostêsimâw ê-takohtêt wîkiwâhk, êsa ê-paspâpit, awîna ôhi, kî-wâpamêw osîmiwâwa ê-apiyit, ê-kikiskawâwasoyit. namwâc ahpô pîhtokêw, iyikohk ê-nêpêwisit awa oskinîkiw. mistahi pakwâtam. ayisk mitoni kanawêyimêwak osîmimâwa; namôya kiskêyimêwak wîhkâc nâpêwa kita-kî-wâpamâyit. kotak mîna ê-takohtêt, têpiyâhk ê-wâpamât, êkosi isi wâyonîw. kahkiyaw êsa kî-nakatêwak ôki oskinîkiwak, osâm ê-nêpêwihikocik ê-tôtamiyit. kêkâc êsa ê-wâpaniyik, ocawâsimisiw awa oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa êkota ay-ayâw; ôhi piko osîmisa, nâpêsisa, êwakoni piko wîc-âyâmêw.

(18) [no translation] Though she arrived at their dwelling, she was not at all able to climb up to the nest in which she lodged. Whenever she tried to climb, she failed. She needs sat down by the door. “What can be the matter?” she thought. The fact was, no doubt, that this young woman was so treated by the Higher Powers of purpose, because she was thought too much of by her elder brothers; [no translation] As soon as the eldest brother arrived at their lodge, he must have peeped in, and what did he see but their young sister sitting there, [no translation] He did not even go in, so shamed was that youth. He was deeply grieved. For they kept their sister very carefully; [no translation] When the next one arrived, as soon as he saw her, he turned back. All those young men left her, because she had too much shamed them by what she had done. When dawn had almost come, the young woman bore her child. Then she stayed there; she had with her only her little brother, that boy.

(19) mwêhci nîsosâp tipiskâw ê-pêyakocik, êkwa ômisi itêw; ayisk awa iskwêw kâ-ocawâsimisit nâpêsisa ayâwêw: "kanawêyim kitihkwatim;" "niwî-nikohtân," itêw êsa osîmisa.

(19) When they had been alone twelve days and nights, she spoke to him as follows; for that woman's child was a boy: “Take care of your nephew; I am going to gather wood,” she told her little brother.

(20) kahkiyaw otayiwinisiyiwa otinamwêw; nâspic ispimihk akotawêw, ômisi êsa ê-itêyihtahk: "nika-kakwê-sipwêhtân," ê-itêyihtahk êsa awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(20) She took from him all his clothes; she hung them up high, out of his reach, for, “I shall try to go away,” that young woman must have been thinking.

(21) tâpwê ita ê-sakâhk ê-takohtêt, wanakwaya kikamohêw mistikohk; cîkahikan êkota astâw; ayîsiyinîhkâna osîhêw.

(21) So, when she came to the grove of trees, she fastened her sleeve to a tree; she placed an ax there; she made an effigy of a human being.

(22) "awa ôta nâpêsis kâ-ayâ-t, 'nimisê!' itiski, "hâ!" kika-itâw," itêw ôhi ayîsiyinîhkâna.

(22) “When that boy who is here says to you, ‘Sister!’ then ‘Yes!’ you will say to him,” she told that effigy.

(23) tâpwê êkosi isi isi-wêpinêw ôhi otawâsimisa, namôya kayâs ê-kî-nôkohât.²

êkwa kîtahtawê kinwês ê-wâ-wêwêpitât, kîtahtawê ma-mâtoyiwa.³

têpwêw awa nâpêsis.

(23) And so in this wise she abandoned her child which not long before she had borne. Then presently, when for a long time he had rocked the babe, it began to cry. The boy called.

(24) "nimisê, nitihkwatim mâtôw!" itwêw êsa.

(24) “Sister, my nephew is crying!” he called.

(25) "cêskwa! nimêkwâ-nikohtân!" itik êsa ôhi ayîsiyinîhkâna kâ-kî-osîhimiht.

(25) “Wait a bit! I am in the midst of gathering wood!” he was answered by that effigy which had been made.

(26) piyisk êkwa tipiskâyiw. piyisk êkwa wî-kawaciwak. mâh-mâtôwak ôhi oski-awâsisa kâ-kiki-wêpiniht. ê-kî-nêwo-tipiskâyik, kîtahtawê piyêsiwa mistahi kâ-pêhtâkosiyit. kayâhtê piko ôta kî-apiyiwa.

(26) At last darkness came. In time they were almost freezing. They wept, he and the babe with which he had been abandoned. When the fourth night had passed, suddenly the Thunderer's loud roar was heard. Suddenly, there he sat.

(27) "tâpwê mistahi kikitimâkisin, nîstâ," itik êsa ôhi piyêsiwa; "âsay ani mîna onâpêmiw kimis," itik ôhi piyêsiwa; "mâka wiya nipênâtâw awa kitihkwatim." "namôya misawâc ka-kî-pamihtwâson," itik êsa.

(27) “Truly, you are in a sorry plight, my brother-in-law,” the Thunderer said to him; “Your sister by this time has taken another husband,” the Thunderer told him; “But I have come to fetch this your nephew. In any case you would not be able to take care of him,” he told him.

(28) êkwa otayiwinisa ispimihk kâ-kî-akotâwiht nâh-nîhtinamâk ôhi piyêsiwa. mayaw ê-kî-postayôwinisêt, êkosi ati-otinêyiwa ôhi apisîsi-awâsisa. wîsta êkwa wayawîw. otasâma ê-kî-otinât, kâ-wâpahtahk êsa itê omisa ê-isi-sipwêhtêyit. kapê-kîsik pimipahtâw. kîtahtawê êsa ê-ati-otâkosiniyik, ôta wâyahcâhk kî-têpâpahtam maskosiyokân.⁴

ati-itohtêw.

(28) Then that Thunderer took down for him his clothes which had been hung high. As soon as he had put them on, the other took away that infant. He too went forth. When he had taken up his snowshoes, he saw the say along which his sister must have departed. He ran on, all day. Presently, towards evening, there in a hollow of the land, he spied a grass hut. He approached it.

(29) "hwâ, êwako êtokê nimis wîki!" itwêw êsa.

(29) “There, this must be my sister's dwelling!” he said.

(30) pîhtokêw. pônam. ê-kî-pônahk, pa-pimisin. êsa ê-ayîtâpit, kîtahtawê omisa tôhtôsimiyiwa kâ-wâpamât, êsa ê-kî-maniswâyit.

(30) He went inside. He built up the fire. When he had built up the fire, he lay there. As he looked about him, presently, there he saw his sister's breast, which she must have cut off.

(31) "wahwâ, tâpwê nikîsinâcihik!" itêyihtam êsa; "êkwa êwakoni nika-kî-ohci-kâkîcihâhtay nitihkwatim ka-pê-maskamikawiyân!" itêyihtam êsa.

(31) “Alas, truly she brings me to grief!” he thought; “Now with this I could have consoled my nephew that has been taken from me!” he thought.

(32) êkwa êkota kapêsiw. kêkisêpâ mîna sâsay sipwêhtêw. aspin êsa omisa ita ê-kî-ati-itohtêyit, kapê-kîsik ati-mâtâhêw. âsay mîna ê-otâkosiniyik, kotak mîna kâ-wâpahtahk maskosiyokânis. pîhtokêw. pônam. âsay mîna ê-pa-pimisihk, kotaka kâ-wâpamât omisa tôhtôsimiyiwa. âsay mîna mihtâtam ê-kî-pê-nâtimiht otihkwatima. sipwêhtêw kîkisêpâ. kîtahtawê ê-pê-pmohtêt, kîtahtawê kâ-sâkêwêt, ôta mîkiwâhp, kâ-wâpamât omisa pahkêkin ê-mêkwâ-osihtâyit. êkosi isi têpwâtêw.

(32) Then there he spent the night. In the morning he set out again. Along the path that his sister had taken from there, he tracked her all the day. Again, towards evening, he saw another little lodge of grass. He entered it. He fed the fire. Again, as he lay there, he saw his sister's other breast. Again he lamented that his nephew had been fetched away. He set out in the morning. Presently, as he went on, he came out upon a place where was a lodge, and there he saw his sister tanning a hide. At once he called to her.

(33) ômisi itêw: "nimisê!" itêw; "nitakosinin!"

(33) “Sister!” he called to her; “I have come!”

(34) êkwa ômisi itwêw awa oskinîkiskwêw: "namôya awiyak nôh-osîmisin." "êkosi ôma piko ê-kî-isi-pêyakoyân," itwêw êsa awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(34) Then that young woman said, “I have never had any younger brother. I have always been alone, as I am,” said the young woman.

(35) "tâpwê niya nikî-pê-maskamikawin nitihkwatim," itwêw êsa.

(35) “As for me, truly, my nephew was taken away from me as I came,” he said.

(36) sêmâk kisiwâsiw awa oskinîkiskwêw. môskîstawêw ôhi nâpêsisa, cîkahikan ê-ohci-pakamahwât, ê-nipahât. mitoni pîkinatahwêw.

(36) At once the young woman grew angry. She ran at the boy and struck him with an ax, killing him. She chopped him to bits.

(37) mâka wiya ê-kisêwâtisicik sawêyimêwak âpakosîsak, ê-wî-kakwê-pimâcihâcik ôhi kâ-nipahimiht nâpêsisa.

(37) But some kind mice took pity on him, deciding to try to revive that boy who had been killed.

(38) êkwa tâpwê, "niya nika-awatâw!" itwêw êsa itôwahk kâ-misikiticik âpakosîs.

(38) Then, accordingly, “I, I shall take him away!” said a mouse, one of those which are large.

(39) tâpwê êsa nânapâcihêwak. ayisk kayâs kî-ayîsiyinîwiwak; osâm kahkiyaw kêkwayi ê-wîcihikôwisicik, êwako ohci kâ-ôh-ispayik.⁵

tâpwê pimâcihêwak.

(39) Accordingly, they attended to him. For of old they had human form; because by all the Higher Powers they were aided is why it could happen so. Really they restored him to life.

(40) êkwa kîkisêpâ awa nâpêw kâ-wîwit ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa kâ-môhcôwiyit, osîmisiyiwa kâ-nipahâyit, ômisi itêw: "nitawi-asamik ôki âpakosîsi-nôtokêwak," itêw êsa.

(40) Then, in the morning, that man who had to wife the young woman who was so mad and had slain her brother, spoke thus to her: “Go feed those Old Mouse Women,” he told her.

(41) êkwa tâpwê nitawi-asamêw awa oskinîkiskwêw. ê-pîhtokêt, kâ-wâpamât ôhi ka-kî-nipahât nâpêsisa.

(41) Then accordingly, the young woman went to give them food. When she entered, there she saw the boy she had killed.

(42) "âsay êcika ôki mîna ê-kî-pimâcihâcik maci-nôtokêsiwak!" itwêw êsa.

(42) “So it seems that these evil old women have brought him back to life!” she said.

(43) êkwa ômisi itwêw awa nâpêw: "kiyâm êkâya, niwîkimâkan." "kêyiwêhk ana nika-wîcêwâw miyâcîyâni," itêw.

(43) Then the man said, “Never mind, do not kill him, my wife. After all, I can take him with me when I hunt,” he told her.

(44) êkosi pônihêw awa oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa tâpwê ôki nôtokêwak wawêyîhêwak ôsisimiwâwa, ta-mâciyit.

(44) So the young woman left him alone. Then, accordingly, the old women made their grandchild ready, that he might hunt.

(45) tâpwê awa nâpêw ê-wî-mâcît, "âstam, wêskinîkiyin!" "iskêkâni nahâhkapiyani," itâw awa awâsis.⁶

(45) So, when that man was ready to go hunting, “Come here, young fellow! It would seem you are staying with people,” the child was told.

(46) êkwa tâpwê wawêyîw awa awâsis, êkwa ê-sipwêhtêcik, ôhi ê-wîcêwât ôhi nâpêwa, ê-mâcîyit.

(46) Then the child made himself ready, and they set out, as he accompanied that man on his hunt.

(47) iyâta-mâtâhâtwâwi, "namôya êwako," itik mâna; "osâm apisîsisiw," itik mâna.

(47) Although they would come upon some creature's trail, “Not this one,” the other would say to him; “He is too small,” the other would say to him.

(48) êkwa tâpwê kotaka mitoni ê-mâh-mahkiskamiyit, êwakoni êti-pimitisahwâyit misi-iyâpêwi-wâwâskêsiwa, wîpac êti-nipahâyit. nâway ê-takohtêt, âsay kêkâc kîsi-wiyanihêyiwa.

(48) Then really, when they saw the trail of another whose tracks were of enormous size, then the man went off pursuing this giant stag, and soon off there slew him. When the boy later arrived, the other had almost finished preparing the carcass.

(49) êkwa ômisi itik: "nawacî ôma otakisiy," itik.

(49) Then the man told him, “Roast this tripe,” he told him.

(50) tâpwê nawacîw.

(50) So he roasted it.

(51) êkwa ê-kîsisahk, ômisi itêw: "âyîtaw ohci kika-mîcinânaw," itêw.

(51) When he had cooked it done, he said to the man, “Let us eat it from either end.”

(52) êkwa, "tânêhki kâ-ôh-itwêyan?" itwêw awa nâpêw; "kiya ôma kitawâsisîwin, mistahi kâ-nitawêyihtaman kita-mîciyan," itêw êsa.

(52) Then, “What makes you say that?” said the man; “You, you are but a child, to be wanting to eat so much,” he told him.

(53) "mâka ayisk namôya nikaskihtamâson kêkway," itwêw awa nâpêsis.

(53) “But since I have no power of any kind!” said the boy.

(54) "êha," itik.

(54) “Yes, very well,” the other said to him.

(55) tâpwê ê-kîsisahk ôma mayaw otakisiy, tâpwê âyîtaw ohci miciminamwak, ê-mîcicik. êkwa kêkâc ê-kitâcik, maskamêw.

(55) Accordingly, as soon as he had cooked done that tripe, they each took hold of an end, and ate it. Then, when they had almost eaten it up, he snatched it away from the man.

(56) "hâw, ôma mîci, piyêsiw!" itwêw êsa.

(56) “Come, eat this, Thunderer!” he said.

(57) "ô, kêkway ita kê-kitimâkêyimikoyan?" itik êsa ôhi nâpêwa; "kakwêyâho!" itik êsa; "ati-pasikô!" itik êsa.

(57) “Ho, what sort of thing will give its aid to you?” the man said to him; “Get to work!” he told him; “Up with you!” he told him.

(58) ita kisiwâk ostikwân ohpimê ê-astêyik, otinamiyiwa itê isi kâ-isi-kâsitêskanêyit; nayahtahik. kawiskosow.

(58) Close by there, off to one side, where lay the stag's head, the man took it up by the beast's pointed horns; he put it on the boy's back, for him to carry. He sank to the ground under the weight.

(59) "kakwêyâho!" itik; "pasikô!" itik: "mâ ani âta ê-manitowakêyimoyan, ita wiya ati-atimitâni, kika-nipahitin;" "kika-ati-patakwâtimâtitin."⁷

⁸

(59) “Look lively!” he told him; “Get up!” he told him; “Believe it or not, though you think yourself of manitou kind, if I overtake you on the way, I will kill you; I will stamp you under my snowshoes.”

(60) tâpwê ati-sipwêhtêw awa nâpêsis. cîki wîkiwâhk ê-ati-ayât, âsay kisiwâk kâ-pêcâstamohtêyit, ê-atimikot. êkosi isi sâ-sâkwâkimâtik. êkwa êsa nipahik; êskana kâ-kîhcitâskamâk. êkwa mistahi miywêyihtam awa oskinîkiskwêw, nôhtaw ê-pê-nipahimiht.

(60) So the boy started off. When he had got close to their lodge, the other had already come near, and now overtook him. At once he crushed him under his snowshoes. He killed him; he jabbed the horns into him. Then the young woman was very glad that he had been killed before reaching the place.

(61) êkwa âsay mîna ôki nôtokêsiwak kâ-kî-pimâtisihâcik mîna itwêwak, "pêyakwâw ta-kakwê-pimâcihâcik!"

(61) Then again those old women who had restored him to life said, “Let them try once more to bring him to life!”

(62) tâpwê awa kâ-misikitit nôtokwêw âpakosîsi-nôtokêw awatêw êwako. tâpwê âsay mîna pimâcihêwak. êsa mâna wâh-pimâcihâtwâwi, matotisiwak.

(62) Then, accordingly, that big old woman, that Old Mouse Woman took him off with her. they succeeded in bringing him again to life. It seems that they took a steam-bath whenever they were about to bring him to life.

(63) êkwa âsay mîna kîkisêpâ, "nitawi-asam kôhkominawak," itwêw êsa awa nâpêw.

(63) Then again, in the morning, “Go feed our grandmothers,” said the man.

(64) tâpwê ê-itohtêt awa oskinîkiskwêw, kî-pimâtisiyiwa ôhi nâpêsisa.

(64) When, accordingly, the young woman went there, the boy was alive.

(65) "âsay êcika ôki mîna kîhtwâm!" "nikî-miywêyihtamwâh ê-nipahimiht!" itwêw êsa.

(65) “And so they have done it again! I was glad he had been killed!” she exclaimed.

(66) "kiyâm êkosi ana pêyakwâw mîna nika-wîcêwâw," itwêw awa nâpêw.

(66) “Never mind, I shall simply take him with me again,” said the man.

(67) tâpwê pônihêw awa oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa wawêyîw awa nâpêsis. mâcîwak. pê-wîsâmik ôhi nâpêwa. âsay mîna sipwêhtêwak; âsay mîna mâtâhêwak wâwâskêsiwa.

(67) Then the young woman left him alone. Then the boy made ready. They went hunting. The man came to take him along. Again they set out; again they came upon the trail of a stag.

(68) "awa cî?" ê-ati-itât, "namôya! osâm apisîsisiw," itik.

(68) “Is this the one?” he asked him, but, “No! He is too small,” the other answered.

(69) mitoni nâspic ê-mâh-mahkiskamiyit, êwakoni pêmitisahwâyit, "itâp kika-pê-atimin," itik.

(69) When one had left hoofprints of enormous size, this one the man pursued; “You will catch up to me later,” he told him.

(70) tâpwê mwêstas êkotê ê-takohtêt, âsay kêkâc kîsi-wiyanihêyiwa.

(70) Truly, later, when the boy got there, he had already nearly finished cleaning the carcass.

(71) âsay mîna, "hâw, awâsis, ôma nawacî;" "mîcîhkahk ôma otakisiy," itik êsa.

(71) Again, “Come, child, roast this; let us later eat this tripe,” he told him.

(72) tâpwê, "âyîtaw ohci mîna kika-mîcinânaw," itêw êsa.

(72) Then, “Let us eat it again from either end,” he told the man.

(73) tâpwê, "nîswâw êkwa êkosi kititwân," itik êsa.

(73) Then, “Now for the second time you say thus,” the other answered him.

(74) "ayisk niya nikitimâkisin," itwêw êsa awa nâpêsis.

(74) “After all, as for me, I am but a poor creature,” said the boy.

(75) "êha," itwêw êsa awa nâpêw.

(75) “Yes, very well,” said the man.

(75b) êkwa tâpwê, "itê niya kâ-isi-misâk, êkotê isi niya nika-isi-mîcin," itwêw awa nâpêsis.

(75b) Then, “Let me have the big end, let me eat from the big end,” said the boy.

(76) piyisk mîna sâkôcimêw. êkwa tâpwê âyîtaw ohci miciminamwak ê-mîcicik. apisîs ê-iskwahtahkik, ispimihk isiwêpinam awa nâpêsis.

(76) At last he talked the man into it. So then they took hold of it at either end and ate it. When they had but a little uneaten, the boy flung it aloft.

(77) "haw, ôma mîci," itwêw êsa, "piyêsiw!" itwêw êsa.

(77) “Come, eat this,” he said, “O Thunderer!”

(78) êkwa âsay mîna ohpimê astêyiw ôma ostikwân, âsay mîna êwako kâ-otinamiyit, ê-nayahtahikot. âsay mîna pasikôtisahok, "kakwêyâho!" ê-itikot. êkwa ati-sipwêhtêw. mitoni papâsimik.

(78) Now again, off to one side lay the head, and again the man took it and put it on the boy's back. Again he drove him to his feet, telling him, “Look lively!” He started out. The man hurried him on with shouts.

(79) "kîspin ita atimitâni, kika-ati-mâtakoskâtin nitasâmak ohci!" itik êsa.

(79) “If anywhere I catch you, I will stamp you flat with my snowshoes!” he called to him.

(80) tâpwê sipwêhtêw. kisiwâk êkwa wîkiwâhk ê-ati-ayât, kâ-pê-atimikot.

(80) He went off. When he had got near the lodge, the other overtook him.

(81) ômisi itwêw êsa ê-wî-pê-nipahikot: "piyêsiw, êwako ana nipahtamawin! niwî-nipahik!" itwêw awa nâpêsis.

(81) As the other was about to come upon him and kill him, he cried, “Thunderer, kill this one for me! He wants to kill me!” said the boy.

(82) êkwa tâpwê piyêsiwak sôhki pêhtâkosiwak. nipahêwak ôhi nâpêwa, awâsisa kâ-wî-nipahâyit. êkosi pê-wayawî-kwâskohtiw awa oskinîkiskwêw. âsay mîna kîhtwâm nipahêw ôhi osîmisa.

(82) Then truly the Thunderers made themselves loudly heard. They killed that man who was going to kill the child. Then the young woman came leaping out of her dwelling. Again she slew her little brother.

(83) "kîhtwâm êkwa pimâcihâyêko, ka-mêscihitinâwâw!" itêw ôhi nôtokêsiwa.

(83) “If you again restore him to life, I will kill you all!” she said to those old women.

(84) "haw," itwêwak ôki nôtokêwak, "misawâc namôya ta-kî-nipahikonaw." "kiyâm kêyâpic pêyakwâw pimâcihâtân," itwêwak.

(84) “Now,” said those old women, “in any case she will not be able to kill us. Let us revive him once more,” they said.

(85) tâpwê mîna sâsay osîhtâwak ôma mâna ita kâ-pimâcihâcik. tâpwê kîsihtâwak. âsay mîna kîkisêpâ ê-nitawâpamât, ê-pimâtisiyit ôhi nâpêsisa awa oskinîkiskwêw, kakwê-nipahêw.

(85) Accordingly, again they built that in which they always revived him. They completed it. When the young woman went to see them in the morning, and the boy was alive, she tried to kill him.

(86) mwêhci ê-wî-nipahât, "awa niwî-nipahik, piyêsiwitik!" âsay mîna itwêw awa nâpêsis.

(86) Just as she was about to slay him, “This one means to kill me, O Thunderers!” the boy said again.

(87) tâpwê mistahi pêhtâkosiwak piyêsiwak.

(87) Truly with great noise the Thunderers were heard.

(88) "hâw," ômisi itik; "nitawâc ôtê ispimihk kita-isi-kîwêhtahitân," itwêw awa piyêsiw; "âsay nikîsi-ohpikihâw kâ-kî-kîwêhtahak kitihkwatim." "ôma kâ-isinâkosiyân, êkosi wîsta isinâkosiw," itik ôhi piyêsiwa.

(88) “Now then,” they said to him; “I shall needs take you home with me aloft,” said the one Thunderer; “I have already brought to maturity your nephew whom I took. Even as I look, so looks he too,” the Thunderer said to him.

(89) tâpwê sipwêhtahik; ati-wêpinik piyêsiwacistwanihk. êkwa êkota tahtwâw ê-kî-nêwo-tipiskâyik, êkospîhk êsa ôhi kîs-ôhpikiw ê-piyêsiwit.

(89) So he took him away from there; he dropped him into a Thunderer's-nest. And there, when four nights had passed, by that time he had grown to maturity as a Thunderer.

(90) êwako pêyak âcimôwin.

(90) That is one tale.

Footnotes

¹?? better normalization for the reduplication?

²LB on isi-wêpinêw: Hyphen is used, because the meaning is here isi: “thither, thus” plus wêpinêw: “she abandons him.” By contrast, the very common unit word isiwêpinêw: “he throws him that way or there” has -wêp-: “throw” as a non-initial stem. This illustrates the difficulty of drawing a clear line between simple words and compounds; for a native speaker it would be easy. The repetition of isi is worth noting; it is perhaps due to the existence of the much commoner homonym; as homonymy is rare in Cree, the combination isi-wêpinêw is inadequate and disturbs the speaker.

³CHECK wewepitot, CHECK reduplication length

⁴LB on maskosîwakân: Normal form doubtless maskosîwikân, and below, the diminutive, normal: maskosîwikânis.

⁵CHECK kekwayi

⁶LB on nahâhkapiyani: The verb nahâhkapiw: “he is staying, as son-in-law, with his wife's people”; it applied here only in so far as during this stay a son-in-law is supposed to show himself a good worker. Irony.

⁷LB on kik-âti-patakwâkimatitin: The medial stem is -âkimê-: “snowshoe” (verbal), cf. Ojibwa âgim, Menomini âkim (animate): “snowshoe.” The word used in Cree is asâm (animate): “snowshoe.” I did not catch the word when dictated, but succeeded in making informant repeat it. As a result it is not used in the recurrence of the incident, below.

⁸CHECK whether lexicon has typo - LB's note implies stem should have -âkim-