(1) kîtahtawê pêyak kisêyiniw, êkwa pêyak nôtokêsiw, êkwa nîso oskinîkiskwêwak otawâsimisiwâwa awa kisêyiniw. kîtahtawê âhkosiw awa kisêyiniw; piyis nipiw. êkwa awa piko nôtokêsiw, êkwa otânisa nîso, nistiwak. êkota ay-ayâwak. piyisk kinwês ayâwak. kîtahtawê mîna âhkosiw awa nôtokêsiw; piyisk kinwês âhkosiw. êkwa wî-nipiw.

(1) Once upon a time there was an old man, and an old woman, and two young women, the children of that old man and his wife. Then at one time the old man feel sick; at last he died. Then there were only three of them, the old woman and her two daughters. They stayed in the same place. They dwelt there, in the end, for a long time. Then, in time, the old woman, too, fell ill; in the end, she was sick a long while. Then she was about to die.

(2) ômisi itwêw: "nitawâsimisitik, sipwêhtêhkêk;" "kakwê-miskawâhkêk awiyak." "kîspin miskawâyêko nâpêw, onâpêmihkêk," itêw; "mâskôc êkota ohci êkâ wî-nipahâhkatosoyêk."

(2) She spoke thus: “My children, go away from here; try to find some people. If you find a man, marry him,” she told them; “Perhaps in this way you will not starve to death.”

(3) "êha," itwêwak ôki oskinîkiskwêwak.

(3) “Yes,” said the young women.

(4) êkosi kiyipa namôya pimâtisiw awa nôtokêsiw.

(4) Thereupon soon the old woman lived no more.

(5) êkwa oskinîkiskwêwak ômisi itwêwak: "ômisi kikî-itikonaw kikâwiyinaw: 'sipwêhtêhkêk, nipiyâni,' kî-itwêw kikâwiyinaw," itwêw awa omisimâw.

(5) then the young women spoke thus: “Our mother said this to us: ‘Go away from here when I die,’ said our mother,” spoke the elder sister.

(6) "tâpwê wâpahki ka-sipwêhtânânaw," itwêwak.

(6) “And so tomorrow we shall go,” they said.

(7) tâpwê ê-wâpaniyik, sipwêhtêwak. kahkiyaw nakatamwak ocayânisiwâwa. piyisk nîswâw ê-nipâcik, sîpiy otihtamwak. mînisa mihcêtiniyiwa. êkwa nôhtêhkatêwak. êkota mînisa mawisôwak, êwakoni ê-mîcicik.

(7) Accordingly, on the morrow they set out. They left behind all their possessions. At last, when they had slept twice on the way, they came to a river. There were many berries. And they were hungry. There they gathered berries and ate them.

(8) ômisi itwêw awa omisimâw: "hâw, nisîmis, êkâ wiya sipwêhtêtân." "êwakoni kâ-mâh-mîciyahk mînisa nakatamahko, ka-nôhtêhkatânânaw," itêw osîmisa.

(8) Thus spoke the dler sister: “Now, sister, let us not go away from here. If we leave these berries which we are eating, we shall starve,” she said to her younger sister.

(9) tâpwê êkota ayâwak. niyôhtêyâpâkwêtwâwi, itohtêwak nipîhk, sîpîhk ê-minihkwêcik. piyisk kinwêsk êkota ayâwak.

(9) Accordingly, they stayed there. Whenever they were thirsty, they went to the water and drank from the stream. In the end they stayed there a long time.

(10) kîtahtawê kinwêsk êkota ê-ayâcik, ê-nitawi-minihkwêcik sîpîhk, konita mêtawêwak êkota, asinîsa ê-pâh-pakastawêwêpinâcik, konita ê-mêtawêcik. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik awiya natimihk ê-pê-mâhâpwêwêyit, ôsihk ê-pimiskâyit.

(10) Then at one time, when they had been there for quite a while, as they went to the river to drink, they played about there, casting pebbles into the water, to amuse themselves. Presently they saw someone coming downstream, paddling a canoe.

(11) "nimisê, awîna nâha?" itwêw awa osîmimâw.

(11) “Sister, who is that?” cried the younger one.

(12) ê-itâpit awa omisimâw, "hê, nisîm, miyâmay nâpêw!" itwêw awa omisimâw; "nisîmis, 'nâpêw wâpamâyêko, wîkimâhkêk, mâskôc êkâ wî-nipahâhkatosoyêko,' kikî-itikonaw kikâwiyinaw," itêw osîma.

(12) When the elder sister looked over there, “Why, sister, surely, a man!” said the elder sister; “Little sister, ‘If you see a man, marry him, and perhaps you will not starve to death,’ our mother said to us,” she told her younger sister.

(12b) piyisk kisiwâk ê-pê-ihtâyit, kâ-nisitawêyimâcik nâpêwa.

(12b) At last, when he had come near, they knew him for a man.

(13) ômisi itwêw awa omisimâw: "âstam! pê-nâtahonân;" "ahpô ka-wîkimitinân," itêw awa omisimâw.

(13) The elder sister called, “Come here! Come fetch us in your canoe; if you like, we will marry you,” she called to him.

(14) tâpiskôc êkâ ê-pêhtahk awa sihkihp êsa awa. êkotê iskwêwa kâ-ayâyit isi sihkôw, kâ-wâpamâcik mîkisa ê-sihkoyit.

(14) Exactly as if he did not hear it that Hell-Diver acted, for he it must have been. He spat in the direction of the women, and they saw that he spat wampum-beads.

(15) "nyâ, nisîmis, êkwa êsa awa mîkisiyiniw!" itêwak.

(15) “Goodness, little sister, this must be the Wampum-Man!” said one to the other.

(16) kîtahtawê, "mîkisiyiniw!" itêw.

(16) Presently, “Wampum-Man!” she called to him.

(17) ômisi itwêw sihkihp, tâpiskôc êkwêyâk ê-pêhtahk, "mâ! tânisi êtwêyêk?"

(17) Thus spoke Hell-Diver, as though only now he heard, “Why! what is that you say?”

(18) "âstam, mîkisiyiniw! pê-nâtahonân." "ahpô kâ-wîkimitinân, ê-itwêyâhk."

(18) “Come here, Wampum-Man! Come fetch us in your canoe. If you like we will marry you, is what we said.”

(19) "êha, cêskwa!" itwêw awa sihkihp.

(19) “Yes, just a moment!” said Hell-Diver.

(20) êkotê isi kapâw. miyosiyiwa ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa. êkwa pôsihêw, pisisik ê-sihkot; mîkisa mâna nipîhk ê-pahkisiniyit. êkosi kîwêhtahêw. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik mostoswa.

(20) He landed there. Those young women were handsome. So he took them on board, spitting all the time, and each time wampum-beads fell into the water. So he started to take them home. Presently they saw some buffalo.

(21) "nâh, ka-minahoh ôma!" "ê-nôhtêhkatêyâhk ôma!" itwêyiwa.

(21) “Goodness, you ought to take this chance to kill something! The fact is, we are hungry!” they said.

(22) "êha, êha, nîwitik! nika-minahon; ka-mîcisonâwâw."

(22) “Yes, yes, my wives! I shall kill some; you shall eat.”

(23) êkwa ê-kapât, "hâw, nîwitik, kanawêyihtamok ôma kitôsinaw," itêw.

(23) Then, when his wives went ashore, “Now, wives, do you keep watch over our boat here,” he told them.

(24) tâpwê ati-sipwêhtêw, ê-wî-minahot. ê-kitâpamâcik ôki oskinîkiskwêwak, tâpwê pâskiswêyiwa; pêyak nipahêyiwa. miywêyihtamok.

(24) So he went off to kill game. As those young women observed him, he shot at the animals; he killed one. They were glad.

(25) "êkwa kê-mîcisoyahk!" "kinôhtêhkatâhtânaw, nisîmis!" itwêw awa omisimâw.

(25) “So now we shall eat! We surely were hungry, little sister!” said the elder.

(26) tâpwê ê-pê-sâkêwêt awa sihkihp, "nîwitik, kika-mîcisonâwâw; niminahon," itêw.

(26) And so, when that Hell-Diver came back down the bank, “Wives, you shall eat; I have killed some game,” he told them.

(27) êkosi sakahpitamok ôma ôsi, ê-âmaciwêcik. wâpamêwak mostoswa ita ê-pimisiniyit.

(27) Accordingly, they tied fast the canoe and climbed up the bank. They saw the buffalo lying there.

(28) ê-takohtêcik, "haw, nîwitik, kakwêyâhok mihta ê-otinamêk." "nika-ispîhci-wiyanihtâkân, ta-kotawêyêk, ta-nâh-nawacîyêk." "kinôhtêhkatâhtâwâw!" itêw.

(28) When they got there, “Now then, wives, work as fast as you can, gathering faggots. In the meantime I shall skin it and cut it up, so that you can make the fire and do the roasting. You said you were hungry!” he told them.

(29) tâpwê kiyipîwak ê-kotawêcik.

(29) So they were quick about making the fire.

(30) "nipapâsêyihtên, nîwitik." "ôtê ôma ê-wîkihk, mistahi ê-wî-miyawâtikwahk, ê-wî-nîmihitohk, nipêhikawinâtokê, êkâ mayaw ê-nitawi-takosiniyân," itêw.

(30) “I am in a hurry, wives. Over yonder in the camp there is going to be a big celebration and a dance, so they must be waiting for me, seeing that I am not getting back in time,” he told them.

(31) êkwa ôki oskinîkiskwêwak kâ-otinahkik mihta, "nâ, nisîmis, kêhcinâ awa ê-kihcêyihtâkosit kinâpêminaw!" itêw.

(31) Then, as the young women were picking up sticks, “Goodness, little sister, surely our husband is an important man!” she said to her.

(32) "nâh!" itwêw awa osîmimâw; "nimisê, niya wiya ê-itêyimak, tâpiskôc ê-môhcôwit!" "osâm ma-môhcitonâmôw."

(32) “Pshaw!” answered the younger one; “Sister, as for me, he seems to me just as if he were crazy! He talks too silly.”

(33) "nâh, pasinaw cî nitawêyimâw itê ê-wî-nîmihitôwiht?" "êwako awa miyâmay mîkisiyiniw."

(33) “Why, do you suppose he would be in demand, then, for a dance? Certainly, he is Wampum-Man.”

(34) "namôya," itwêw osîmimâw; "niwâpamâw ana kîmôc mâna ê-otinât mîkisisa, ê-saskamot." "êkota mâna, 'nikitâpamikwak,' êtêyihtahki, kâ-sihkot, mîkisa mâna kâ-sihkwâtât." "namôya ana êwako," itêw, "mîkisiyiniw," itwêw awa osîmimâw.

(34) “No,” said the younger one; “I saw the creature taking beads, on the sly, and sticking them into his mouth. Then, whenever he thinks we are looking at him, he spits, and that is the way he always spits out beads. He is no Wampum-Man, not he,” said the younger sister.

(35) êkosi êkwa êkwa ê-kotawêcik, kêkâc kîsi-wiyanihêw awa sihkihp. ê-kîsi-kotawêcik, itohtêwak.

(35) So then, when they made the fire, Hell-Diver had almost finished preparing the carcass. When they had built the fire, they went to where he was.

(36) êkwa, "ahaw, nîwitik, ita ê-miywâsik wiyâs otinamok, ta-nawacîyêk," itêw.

(36) Then, “Now, wives, take the best parts of the meat to roast,” he told them.

(37) tâpwê iskwêwak ôki otinamwak wiyâs. êkoyikohk kâ-pakocênât awa, wâpahtam awa osîmimâw wiyin.

(37) Accordingly the woman took the meat. When he had opened the belly, there the younger sister saw some fat.

(38) "nê, wîsi niya nika-ayân, ta-aspahcikêyân!" itwêw.

(38) “Ooh, me, let me have the belly-fat, to eat with my meat!” she cried.

(39) "yôhô!" itwêw awa sihkihp, "kêkway mâka kiyi-otakohpiyân ôma kâ-wî-mâh-manicôkâhk?" itwêw.

(39) “Hoho!” cried Hell-Diver, “And what am I then to have for my blanket-robe at the Spirit Dance?” he said.

(40) omisimâw awa, "niya wiya wîkwa nika-manaspahcikanân!" itwêw.

(40) The elder sister cried, “And I, I shall take the kidney-fat to eat as a titbit with my meat!”

(41) "yaw, kêkway mâka kiyi-owîkohkiyân?" itwêw.

(41) “Oho, and what I am I to do for kidney-fat? he cried. [sic]

(42) nicawâc otastotiniyiw wîsi.

(42) His headgear, for want of better, was belly-fat.

(43) "yôhô, kêkway mâka kiyi-otastotiniyân ôma ka-wî-mâ-manicôkâhk?" itwêw awa sihkihp.

(43) “Hoho, and what would I have for my head-dress at the Spirit Dance?” cried Hell-Diver.

(44) êkwa ôki oskinîkiskwêwak ômisi itwêw awa osîmimâw: "nimisê, kêhcinâ awa ê-môhcôwit!" itwêw.

(44) Then of those young women, the younger said, “Sister, certainly he is crazy!”

(45) "nâh! ê-okimâwit awa, kâ-ôh-nitomiht itê nânitaw ê-wî-isistâwiht."

(45) “Nonsense! Because he is a chieftain is why he is called wherever there is to be a ceremony of any kind.”

(46) "â, pêyako-kihcêyimêw awa! ê-môhcôwit niya wiya nititêyimâw!"

(46) “Hee, this person is alone in looking up to him! As for me, I think he is crazy!”

(47) "êkây êkosi isi! kika-pêhtâk," itêw osîma.

(47) “Don't. He will hear you,” she told her younger sister.

(48) êkoyikohk kîsitêpowak.

(48) By this time they had finished their cooking.

(49) "pê-mîciso êkwa!" âta ê-itikot, tâpiskôc êkâ ê-pêhtawât.

(49) Although they called to him, “Come eat!” it was just as if he had not heard.

(50) "nâ, kiya ôma kâ-ititân, mîkisiyiniw!"

(50) “Dear me, it is you I am calling, Wampum-Man!”

(51) "hâ! êkoyikohk!" itêw sihkihp.

(51) “Hah! At last!” Hell-Diver answered her.

(52) "pê-mîciso êkwa!"

(52) “Come and eat now!”

(53) tâpwê nitawi-mîcisôw.

(53) So he went to eat.

(54) "êha, nîwitik, kakwêyâhok ê-mîcisoyêk." "mistahi êtokê ôma nôtamihtwâson, ôma itê kâ-ôh-nitomikawiyân, ka-wî-nîmihitohk."

(54) “Now wives, eat in a hurry. I am delaying pretty badly with all this, seeing that I am being called over there for the dance.”

(55) tâpwê kiyipa kîsi-mîcisôwak. ê-kîsi-mîcisocik, êkwa pôsihtâwak wiyâsa, ê-sipwêhtêcik. kîtahtawê ê-ati-otâkosiniyik, êkota ôma mâna, "ôma kâ-nêyâk kâ-nîmihitohk," kâ-itwêt; mâka nama awiya wâpamêwak.

(55) And so they quickly finished their meal. When they had done eating, they put their meat on board the canoe, and went on. Presently, as it was going towards evening, every little ways he would say, “Just at that next point is the dance,” but they saw no one.

(56) "êhê hehe!" itwêw awa sihkihp; "wâhyaw êcika ani êtokê kâ-mâwacihitoh mâna." "ka-mwêsiskamâhtânaw!" itêw; "âta wiya ohcitaw piko ta-pêhikawiyân, kîspin êkâ ita êyâyâni, namôya môcikihtâwak," itêw.

(56) “Well, well, well!” said Hell-Diver; “It surely does seem that they have taken a far-off place for the council. We might miss the whole thing!” he told them; “Only, of course, they will be sure to wait for me, seeing that if I am not there, they never have any sport,” he told them.

(57) cîki ê-ihtâcik, kâ-pê-sâkêwêyit ayîsiyiniwa.

(57) When they had got near, someone came into view.

(58) "îh pêyak kâ-pê-sâkêwêt!" itwêyiwa.

(58) “Over there is someone coming into view!” cried one.

(59) "nâ, êkota êtokê ôma kâ-itahk kinâpêminaw!" "êkwa kê-miywêyihtamahk, wâpamâyahkwâwi ayîsiyiniwak," itêw osîma awa iskwêw.

(59) “Dear me, I suppose this is the place our husband meant! Now we shall be glad, when we see some people,” the woman said to her younger sister.

(60) ômisi itwêyiwa: "hêhwah, takosin sihkihp!" kâ-matwê-itwêwiht.

(60) They heard that person cry, “Yoho, Hell-Diver has come!”

(61) pôti mihcêt pê-sâkêwêyiwa iskwêwa.

(61) Then a great many women came into view.

(62) "nêê, sihkihp pêtahiskwêwêw!" itâw.

(62) “Goodness me, Hell-Diver is bringing women in his canoe!” was said of him.

(63) "yah, nîwitik, nêhi anihi kâ-itâcik, 'sihkihp,' kâ-itwêcik," itêw.

(63) “Yes, wives, it is that person over yonder they mean, when they say ‘Hell-Diver,’” he told them.

(64) "sihkihp, pê-kapâ!"

(64) “Hell-Diver, come, land!”

(65) âhci piko pimicimêw.

(65) He kept right on paddling.

(66) kîtahtawê kâ-pêhtahkik ôki iskwêwak, "kinêpêwimâw sihkihp! 'mîkisiyiniw,' itihk!"¹

(66) Presently those wives heard, “You are embarrassing Hell-Diver by the way you address him! Call him Wampum-Man!”

(67) "mîkisiyiniw pêtahiskwêwêw!- pê-kapâ!"

(67) “Wampum-Man is bringing women in his canoe! Come to shore!”

(68) "hah, niyâ kâ-itikawiyân, nîwitik!" itêw, ê-kapât.

(68) “Ha, it is to me they are talking, wives!” he told them, and went to the bank.

(69) "mistahi kikaskêyihtamihtâson, êkâ mayaw ê-takosiniyan." "êkosi ani êkwa kî-nîmihitohk," itimâwa onâpêmiwâwa.

(69) “You deprived yourself of much pleasure, coming late. The dancing has gone on without you,” their husband was told.

(70) kîtahtawê kâ-pê-takohtêyit nîso oskinîkiskwêwa, osîma sihkihp, "hêêy!" kâ-itwêyit; "kicâhkosinawak ê-pêsîhcik!" ê-itwêyit.

(70) Presently there came two young women, Hell-Diver's sisters, and, “Hey!” they said; “Sisters-in-law have been brought to us!”

(71) ê-itâpicik, awîna ôhi, kî-câh-cîpikocêsiyiwa, ê-tâpihcêpisoyit atimo-mêya ê-pâstêyik. êkosi wîcôhkamawâwak, owiyâsimiwâwa ê-tahkohtaciwêhtatâwiht owiyâsimiwâwa.

(71) When they looked there, why, they were sharp-nosed little things, [no translation] So then they were aided in the task of carrying their meat up the high bank of the stream.

(72) "êkosi ana êkwa kê-mânokêhk ita kâ-wî-nîmihitohk," kâ-itwêwiht, êkosi wiyawâw mîna mânokêwak ôki oskinîkiskwêwak, sihkihp awa wîwa. ê-kîsi-mânokêwiht wîkiwâw, êkwa ê-mîcisocik, âsay kâ-pê-nitomiht.

(72) “They are putting up the tipis by the dancing-place,” the people said; so those young women, too, Hell-Diver's wives, set up their tent. When their tent was set up, and they were eating, already he was summoned.

(73) "sihkihp, êkwa kinitomikawin," itâw.

(73) “Hell-Diver, you are being called,” he was told.

(74) tâpiskôc êkâ ê-pêhtahk. êkosi kîwêyiwa kâ-pê-nitomikot. piyisk kôtawi-pêhâw.

(74) t was just as if he had not heard. Soon the one who had come to call him went back. At last they grew impatient waiting for him.

(75) "yô, tânisi êtat, êkâ mayaw kâ-pê-itohtêt sihkihp?"

(75) “Hoho, what did you say to Hell-Diver, that he is so long about coming?”

(76) "'kîpa êkwa kinitomikawin,' nititâw."

(76) “‘You are summoned to come at once,’ I said to him.”

(77) "yahahâ, kinêpêwimâw êtokê!" "'mîkisiyiniw, kinitomik kîci-mîkisiyiniw,' nitawi-itihk."

(77) “Aha, no doubt you embarrassed him with your speech! ‘Wampum-Man, your fellow-Wampum-Man summons you,’ go say to him.”

(78) "ahaq."

(78) “Very well.”

(79) "mîkisiyiniw!"

(79) “Wampum-Man!”

(80) "wêh!"

(80) “What is it?”

(81) "'kîpa êkwa ta-pê-itohtêw,' kititik kîci-mîkisiyiniw."

(81) “‘He is to come right away,’ your fellow-Wampum-Man says to you.”

(82) "ahaq," itwêw awa sihkihp.

(82) “Very well,” said Hell-Diver.

(83) "haw, nîwitik, pêtâk ê-misâk wiyâkan." "mistahi ani mâna nitasamikawin ita ê-miywâsik kîsitêw."

(83) “Now them, wives, bring a big dish. You see, I am always given a big share of the best hot food.”

(84) êkwa wawêyîw.

(84) Then he put on his finery.

(85) "hah, omihcim, pêtâ wîsi!"

(85) “Here, Aînée, bring the belly-fat!”

(86) miyêw. êwako akwanahôw. wiyin êkwa pakwahtêhôw.

(86) She gave it to him. This them he wrapped round himself as a robe. And a piece of fatty meat he used for a belt.

(87) "pêtâ anima wiyin!"²

(87) “Bring that fat!”

(88) itisinamawêw, êkwa êwakoni ê-pa-pîmoyit âyîtaw. êkwa mîna otastotiniw, wîsi ê-postastotinêt.

(88) She handed it to him, and this he twisted round him at both sides. Then he put on his head-dress; belly-fat he wore as his head-dress.

(89) êkosi êkwa ê-wî-ati-wayawît, "ahâw, nîwitik, êkâya pê-nitawâpahkêk mêyâkwâm." "misawâc nika-pêtân ta-mîciyêk pêtonawân," itêw wîwa; "êkâ wiya wiya pê-nitawâpahkêk." "misawâc nika-kiskêyihtên, pê-itohtêyêko," itêw.

(89) So then, as he was about to go out of the lodge, “Now, my wives, be sure not to come and look on. Have no fear, I shall bring you some of the ceremonial food to eat,” he told his wives; “Be sure, however, not to come and look on. I shall know it without fail, if you come there,” he told them.

(90) êkosi aspin ê-itohtêt. mihtâtamwak ôki iskwêwak, ê-kî-nôhtê-kitâpahkêcik.

(90) So off he went. Those women were disappointed, for they were eager to look on.

(91) ômisi itwêw awa osîmimâw: "nimisê, nama cî ôyâ ê-pîwêyihtâkosit?" "ê-môhcôwit miyâmay!"

(91) Then the younger one said: “Sister, cannot it be that that person who has just gone is held in contempt? It surely seems that he is crazy!”

(92) "nâh!" itwêw awa omisimâw; "pasinaw cî mistahi nitawêyihtâkosiw, ôma nânitaw kâ-isistâwiht?" "ê-okimâwit êtokwê ôyâ!" itwêw awa omisimâw.

(92) “Nonsense!” said the elder sister; “In that case, could it be that he is so greatly in demand at whatever ceremony his people are having? No doubt that man is a chief!” said the elder sister.

(93) "namôya!" itwêw awa osîmimâw; "okimâwit ana, namôya ta-akwanahôw wîsi."

(93) “No!” said the younger; “A man who is a chief will not put on a blanket-robe of belly-fat.”

(94) "nâh, tahki piko awa ê-pîwêyimât!" itêw osîma.

(94) “Yah, this girl is always belittling him!” she said of her sister.

(95) "cikêmâ nama nipîwêyimâw, ê-ma-môhcôwit!" itêw.

(95) “And I suppose I should not think little of him, when he is entirely daft!” she answered her.

(96) kîtahtawê kâ-pêhtahk ê-matwê-sâkôwêwiht, ê-nîmihitôwiht.

(96) Presently she heard the whooping, as the people danced.

(97) "nimisê, nika-nitawâpahkân!"

(97) “Sister, I am going to look on!”

(98) "êkâ wiya!" itêw osîma; "ka-kisiwâhânaw." "ê-manitôwit êtokwê ana kâ-ôh-kihcêyihtâkosit."

(98) “Do not!” she said to her younger sister; “We shall get him angry. I have no doubt that she has supernatural power, the way he is esteemed.”

(99) "pasinaw cî kihcêyihtâkosit, wiyinwa akwanahôw?" itêw.

(99) “Is it likely that one who is held in esteem would wear pieces of fat for his blanket-robe?” she asked her.

(100) "tahki piko awa ê-pîwêyimât!"

(100) “She is always belittling him, this girl, and no one else!”

(101) "nah, kiya mâka piko kâ-kihcêyimat wiya môhcôyinîwit!" "kiyâm nika-nitawâpahkân, nimisê."

(101) “Bosh, it is only you who hold him in esteem that crazy-man! Please let me go look on, big sister.”

(102) "ahaq." "aciyaw piko." "mâcikôtitân kê-tôtâkoyahk, wâpamiski!"

(102) “Very well. Just for a short while. You will see what he does to us, if he sees you!”

(103) "itâp namôya nika-kakwê-wâpamik."

(103) “Well, I shall try not to let him see me.”

(104) tâpwê nitawâpahkêw. ê-paspâpit, kâ-wâpamât ôhi onâpêmiwâwa ê-ta-tahkiskâmiht, "sihkihp ayôtôcikâniwiw!" ê-itwêwiht, ostikwânisiyiw piko ê-sâkamoyik, asiskiy misiwê ê-ayâyik, ôma wiyin kâ-akwanahoyit mitoni ê-mêstiskamoht. wâwîs êkwa pîwêyimêw.

(104) Accordingly, she went and looked on. When she peeped in through the door, why, there she saw her husband being kicked about, while the people cried, “They are having a lot of fun with Hell-Diver!” and there was only his little head sticking out, for he was all covered with dirt, and the fat he wore as a blanket was all trodden to bits. She despised him more than ever.

(105) kâ-wâpamât awa sihkihp owîkimâkana ê-paspâpiyit, kâ-pasikosipahtât awa sihkihp, nôtokêsiwa êkota ê-apiyit, êwakoni ê-ta-tahkiskawât awa sihkihp, "sihkihp ayôtôcikâniwiw!" ê-itwêt, "nââ, kitimahêw sihkihp nôtokêsiwa!" ê-itwêwiht.

(105) When Hell-Diver saw his wife peeping in, up he jumped to his feet, and an old woman who sat there, her he kicked and kicked, crying, “They are having a lot of fun with Hell-Diver!” whereupon, “Heavens, Hell-Diver is abusing an old woman!” the people said of him.

(106) kîwêpahtâw awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(106) That young wife ran home.

(107) ômisi itwêw: "nimisê, mistahi êsa ôyâ ê-pîwiyiniwit kinâpêminaw kâ-kihcêyimat!" "kiyâm sipwêhtêtân!" "niya wiya nipakwâtâw, ê-môhcôwit," itêw.

(107) She said, “Sister, that husband of ours must be indeed of small account, he whom you admire so! Come, let us be off! As for me, I hate the crazy fool,” she said to the other.

(108) "nâ, ê-manitôwit êtokwê ana! ka-nipahikonaw ana!"

(108) “Goodness, I am sure he has manitou power! He will kill us!”

(109) "pasinaw cî ta-tahkiskawâw manitôwit ana? namôya êkosi ta-tôtawâw." "ê-môhcôwit ana, kâ-ôh-mêtawâkêhk," itêw.

(109) “Is it likely he would be kicked about, if he had manitou power? He would not be treated that way. Because he is crazy, they use him as a butt,” she told the other.

(110) "tânisi mâka tê-tôtamahk?"

(110) “But how can we do it?”

(111) "mistikwak nîso nika-otinâwak," itêw awa osîmimâw.

(111) “I shall take two tree-trunks,” said the younger sister.

(112) "êha," itêw.

(112) “Yes,” she answered.

(113) tâpwê nâtêw ôhi mistikwa, ê-iskosicik, iyikohk ê-iskosihât ôhi mistikwa. ita ê-pimisihk awa oskinîkiskwêw, êkota ahêw ôhi mistikwa.

(113) Accordingly, she went and got those trees and chopped them to the length of those women. In the place where she was to lie, the young woman laid the one tree-trunk.

(114) "hâw, âmôwak ôta ka-mihcêtiwak!-" "pâskinikoyêko ôyâ sihkihp, mâmawôhkawâhkêk, ka-nôtinâyêk!" "êkosi!- êkwa kiya!" itêw omisa.

(114) “Now then, there are to be many bees here! - When he uncovers you, that Hell-Diver, assail him in full number, and fight him! There! Now, you!” she said to her elder sister.

(115) êkota mîna ahêw mistikwa, ê-akwanahât.

(115) Over there, too, she placed a tree-trunk, and pulled the coverlets over it.

(116) "hâw, ôta ta-mihcêtiwak manicôsak!" itêw.

(116) “Now then, here shall be many bugs!” she said to it.

(117) êkosi ê-isi-akwanahât, "wî-kawisimoci ôta, tahkwamâhkêk, manicôsitik!" itêw.

(117) Then, when she thus covered them, “When he lies down here, bit him, bugs!” she told them.

(118) "ha, nyâ, nimisê! tapasîtân!" itêw.

(118) “Now, come, sister! Let us flee!” she said to her.

(119) tapasîwak.

(119) They fled.

(120) êkwa iyikohk kêkâc ê-wâpaniyik, pôyowân, êkwa ê-kîwêt sihkihp. tâpwê pêtâw ôma ita ê-miywâsiniyik wîhkohtôwin.

(120) Then, when it was almost daybreak, the dancing stopped, and Hell-Diver went home. He really did bring some of the good food from the feast.

(121) "ôma ita, nîwitik, pêtonawân!"

(121) “Here, wives, is the ceremonial meal!”

(122) namôya kitotik.

(122) They said nothing to him.

(123) "wâcistakâc ôki kâ-pôsâhkwâmicik!" itwêw.

(123) “A nine days' wonder, what sound sleepers they are!” he said.

(123b) êkosi nahastâw, êkwa ê-nahapit, ê-kêtayôwinisêt, ê-wî-kawisimot. ôhi omisimâwa kawisimototawêw. mayaw ê-kîsi-akwanahot, sêmâk tahkwamik manicôsa.

(123b) [no translation] [no translation] [no translation]

(123c) "yâ, êkâ wiya, omihcim! kiyâm ôma kî-mâ-manicôkâniwiw," itêw, ê-kisiwâsit, "ê-nîmihitôwiht, ê-wîcihiwêwak!" ê-itêyihtahk, owîkimâkana.

(123c) [no translation]

(123d) tahki ê-tahkwamikot manicôsa, piyis waniskâw.

(123d) [no translation]

(123e) "wâcistakâ kâ-kâhkwêyihtaskit!" itêw; "mahti osîmim!" itwêw, êkotê mîna ê-kawisimot.

(123e) [no translation] [no translation]

(123f) âsay mîna âmôwa ta-tahkwamik.

(123f) [no translation]

(123g) "êkâ wiya, osîmim! niwî-nipân; ninêstosin, iyikohk ê-nîmihitoyân!" ta-kî-nêstosit, ê-kî-ta-tahkiskâht mitoni! "namôya êcika ani ta-kî-nahi-wîcihiwêyân ita ê-nîmihitohk, iyikohk kâ-kâhkwêyihtaskiyêk!" itwêw.

(123g) [no translation] [no translation]

(123h)

(123h)

(124) nicawâc ôta konita ita kawisimôw. iyikohk ê-âkwâ-kîsikâyik, êkoyikohk pêkopayiw. ê-ohpiskwêyit, kêyâpic nipâyiwa owîkimâkana.

(124) So he needs lay down somewhere or other. It was broad daylight, when he awoke. When he raised his head, his wives were still sleeping.

(125) "waniskâ, omihcim! âkwâ-kîsikâw!" itwêw.

(125) “Get up, Aînée! It is broad day!” he said.

(126) namôya waniskâyiwa.

(126) She did not get up.

(127) "kiya kêkoc, osîmimâw!"

(127) “You, at least, Cadette!”

(128) êkâ ê-waniskâyit, wiya waniskâw. ôhi osîmimâwa ê-pâskiwêpinât, kahkiyaw âmôwa ohpihâyiwa, ê-mâmawôhkâkot, piko ita ê-tahkwamikot, piyis misiwê ohkwâkanihk, mîna ositihk ôhi manicôsa ê-tâh-tahkwamikot. piyisk wayawîyâmôw, apisîs ê-tôhkâpit, âmôwa ê-tôtâkot.

(128) When she did not get up, he got up himself. When he threw back the younger one's covers, all the bees flew up, and the whole swarm went for him and stung him here and there, until his face was all covered, and meanwhile those bugs kept biting his feet. At last he ran out of the tipi, with his eyes barely a little open, what with the way the bees had treated him.

(129) ômisi itâw, mistahi ê-pêhtâkosit wîkihk: "nama cî wiya ê-nipahât owîkimâkana?" itâw; "mahti!" ê-itwêwiht.

(129) When people heard the noise he was making in his tipi, they said, “Is he not perhaps killing his wives? Let us go see!” they said of him.

(130) wiya nipîhk itohtêw sîpîhk, ê-kî-otinahk mihko. êkosi pôsiw, ê-ati-nikamot.

(130) As for him, he went to the water, to the river, taking with him some blood. Then he embarked, singing the while.

(131) "nama cî wiya ê-nipahât owîkimâkana, ê-wî-nipahisot?" itâw.

(131) “Is he not perhaps, having killed his wives, about to kill himself?” they said of him.

(132) môhkomân ê-otinahk, "êy, wî-tahkamisôw!" itâw.

(132) When he drew his knife, “Hey, he is going to stab himself!” they said of him.

(133) tâpwê tahkahtam ôma mihko, konita ê-sîkipayiyik mihko, "nipahisôw!" ê-itiht.

(133) And really, he stabbed the vessel full of blood, and, when the blood spurted all over, “He is killing himself!” they said of him.

(134) êkosi kwatapîw, êkotê sîpâ ê-pimi-micimît ôsihk.

(134) Then he tipped his canoe and got under it, holding to it as it drifted along.

(135) "ê, nipahisôw sihkihp! kwatapîw!"

(135) “Hey, Hell-Diver has killed himself! His canoe has tipped!”

(135b) êkosi ê-sipwêyâhokot.

(135b) [no translation]

(136) "tâpwê kîsinâcihêw owîkimâkana! kakwê-otinihk!" itwêwân, ôsihk ê-nâtahoht.

(136) Then, as he was carried away by the current, “Truly he is bringing grief on his wives! Try to get hold of him!” was said of him, and they went to fetch him in a canoe.

(137) otôsi ôma otinamwân; namôya êkota ayâw, ê-kôkît.

(137) They got hold of his canoe; he was not in it, for he had dived.

(138) "tâpwê êsa ani ê-nipahisot!" itâw.

(138) “It seems that he has really killed himself!” they said of him.

(139) wâhyaw êkotê kapâw, kotak ê-sâkahikanisiwiyik êkotê ê-itohtêt. kîtahtawê êkotê kâ-matwê-nikamot, "êsa ani ê-kakwê-cîsihikoyahk sihkihp!" "ôtê matwê-nikamôw!" "nicawâc pahkopêk;" "miskawâyêko, nipahâhkêk kâ-kîsinâcihât wîwa!" ê-itiht.

(139) Far from there he went to shore, having reached a little lake. Presently they heard him singing in yonder place. “So he is trying to fool us, is Hell-Diver! Over there he is singing! You will have to get into the water; if you find him, kill him; he is bringing grief upon his wives!” was said to him.

(141) êkwa misiwê ê-nitonâht nipîhk, piyisk kêkway miskoskahkwâwi, kîtahtawê ê-ta-tahkiskahkik, kîtahtawê tâpiskôc ê-matwêwêyik ê-itihtahkik, "okâwiya êsa ôhi ê-pâskatayêskâmiht; êkosi kinipahânaw!" ê-itwêyit ôhi ayîsiyiniwa.

(141) Then, when they sought him everywhere in the water, at last, when they felt something underfoot, and gave it a few kicks, then they heard something go off like a gun. “They have stepped on his mother's belly and it has burst with a bang; so now we have killed him!” said those people.

(142) pônihik.

(142) They left him alone.

(143) ha, êkoyikohk êskwâk âtayôhkêwin.

(143) Well, that is the end of the sacred story.

Footnotes

¹LB's footnote on kinêpêmâwâw: Thus the record here and below; the usual form is nêpêwimêw: “he shames him by speech”.

²LB on wîyinoh: If correctly recorded, for wiyinwah: (plural) “pieces of fat meat,” but the particle anima: “that” is singular number.