(1) mîkiwâhpis ê-ayâcik, ê-nîsicik, pisisik ê-papâmohtêcik, ê-nitonahkik ka-mîcicik, nama wîhkâc ayîsiyiniwa wâpamêwak. nôhtê-wâpamêwak ayîsiyiniwa.

(1) The two had a small tipi, and all the time they walked about, looking for things to eat, and never saw any people. They wished to see people.

(2) "mâskôc nâpêw wâpamâyahki, ka-wîkimânaw, ka-mîciyahk ta-nipahtât," itwêw awa omisimâw; "êkâ wiya pakwâtâhkan." "kiyâm piko isi mâyâtisici nâpêw ka-wîkimânaw," itwêw awa omisimâw.

(2) “If by any chance we see a man, we shall marry him, that he may kill things for us to eat,” said the elder sister; “Do not then reject him. Rather let us marry a man, no matter how ugly,” said the elder sister.

(3) "êha," osîma.

(3) “Yes,” said the younger.

(4) êkwa êkota ay-ayâwak pêyakwanohk.¹

(4) There they stayed on.

(5) kîtahtawê, ê-tipiskâyik, ê-wî-nipâcik, ê-kitâpamât awa omisimâw acâhkosa, pêyak kîhkânâkosiyiwa; pêyak apisîsisiyiwa; namôya kîhkânâkosiw.

(5) Then at one time, after dark, as they were about to sleep, when the elder sister looked at the stars, one looked bright, and another was small and did not shine brightly.

(6) ômisi itwêw awa omisimâw: "hê êy, nisîmis, tânêkâ ôki onâpêmiyahk, tâniki nêki acâhkosak!" "nâha kâ-kîhkânâkosit êwako niya onâpêmiyân, êkwa kiya ana kâ-apisîsisit," itêw.

(6) Thus spoke the elder sister: “Oh, little sister, would we might have them for husbands, yon stars! Would I might have as husband that one that shines so brightly, and you the smaller one,” she said to the other.

(7) "êha," itik.

(7) “Yes,” answered she.

(8) êkosi ê-itêyihtahk: "ê-miyosit awa kâ-kîhkânâkosit," ê-itêyihtahk.

(8) What she thought was, “The one that shines brightly is handsome.”

(8b) êkosi isi nipâwak. kîkisêpâ ê-pêkopayit awa omisimâw, kâ-kiskêyimât nâpêwa ê-pimisiniyit. ê-mamiskonât, "nâpêw!" itêyihtam.²

(8b) [no translation] [no translation] [no translation]

(8c) waniskâw, ê-kotawêt.

(8c) She got up and built the fire.

(9) "nisîmis, waniskâ!" itêw.

(9) “Little sister, get up!” she called to her.

(9b) wâpamêw mîna êkotê ê-nipâyit nâpêwa. awa ê-waniskât osîmimâw, miywêyihtam nâpêwa ê-pimisiniyit. awa omisimâw itôhamawêw osîmisa owîkimâkana ôhi, tahki ê-wî-pâhpit, ê-miywêyihtahk nâpêwa ê-ayâwât. êkosi ê-kîsitêpot, mînisa piko ê-mîcicik. êkosi waniskâw awa osîmimâw owîkimâkana: pôti miyosiw oskinîkiw. â, miywêyihtam awa awa iskwêw. mwêstas ka-waniskâyit awa omisimâw owîkimâkana, pôti ôhi mitoni kisêyiniwa, ê-wâpistikwânêyit. pakwâtam ê-kisêyinîwiyit. êkosi êkota ay-ayâwak. kapê-kîsik ay-apiyiwa. iyikohk ê-tipiskâyik, aspin wâh-wayawiyiwa. iyikohk kêkâc ê-wâpaniyik, kâ-takohtêyit. êkosi ê-kawisimoyit. kîkisêpâ mâna kâ-mîcisotwâwi, ê-papâmohtêcik osîma, mînisa ê-nitonahkik, mîna mistaskosîmina, êkotôwahk piko ê-mîcicik, nama wîhkâc mâcîyiwa owîkimâkaniwâwa. kîtahtawê kinwêsk ê-ayâcik, kîtahtawê namôya nisitawinam askiy awa omisimâw. tâpiskôc êkâ wîhkâc ê-wâpahtahk askiy itêyihtam. kaskêyihtam, pîhtaw ê-pakwâtahk kisêyiniwa ê-onâpêmit. piyisk pisisik papâmohtêw. êkwa kaskêyihtam nama awiya êkota kâ-kî-ayâcik; êwako ohci kâ-ôh-kaskêyihtahk. kîtahtawê mâka mîna ê-papâmohtêcik, mistaskosîmina ê-papâ-mônahahkik, kâ-wâpahtahk wîstêpahkwayikamik.

(9b) [no translation] [no translation] The elder sister pointed out her husband to the younger, smiling all the while with gladness at having a husband. Then she cooked; they had only berries to eat. Then the younger sister's husband got up: he turned out to be a handsome young man. Oh, she was glad, that woman. Then, after a bit, when the elder one's husband got up, he turned out to be a very old man with white hair. She did not like his being old. So then they stayed there. The men sat there all day. Only at nightfall they left the house and went away. When daybreak was near, they came back. Then they went to bed. In the morning, when they had eaten, the elder sister and the younger would always go tramping about, looking for berries and for wild turnips, for these were all they had to eat; but never did their husbands hunt. Then at one time, when they had been there quite a while, the elder sister did not recognize the land. It seemed to her as if she had never seen the land where they were. She was sad, and she disliked having for husband, as it turned out, an old man. Then she kept wandering about. And she was sad because there were no other people there where they dwelt; this it was made her sad. Then at one time, when as usual they were wandering about, digging wild turnips here and there, they saw a lodge of old leather.

(10) "nisîmis, êkwa kiyokêtân!" itêw.

(10) “Little sister, now let us visit!” she said to her.

(11) tâpwê ê-itohtêcik, ê-takohtêcik, awêna ôhi, nôtokêsiwa.

(11) When, accordingly, they went there, when they arrived, there was an old woman.

(12) "nôsisimak, nôsisimak!" itwêyiwa.

(12) “My grandchildren, my grandchildren!” she said.

(13) pîhtokêwak. asamêwak mistaskosîmina.

(13) They went in. They gave her wild turnips to eat.

(14) "hêy, tâpwê mistahi kitatamihinâwâw, nôsisimitik!" "kayâs nôh-akâwâtên, ê-pêhtamân ê-kî-pêsîkawiyêk, 'mistaskosîmina ê-otinahkik tahki,' ê-itikawiyêk."

(14) “Dear me, you really please me much, my grandchildren! For a long while I have been hankering for these, ever since I heard that you were brought here, you of whom they say, “They are always getting wild turnips.'”

(15) "nôhkô, ê-kî-cî-pêsîkawiyâhk?" itêw.

(15) “Grandmother, is it true, that we have been brought here?” she asked her.

(16) "êha!" itêw; "nôsisê, 'nitaskînâhk ê-ayâyâhk,' ê-itêyihtaman cî ôma?"

(16) “Yes!” she told her; “Grandchild, do you really think, ‘We are on our earth?’”

(17) "êha."

(17) “Yes.”

(18) "namôya, nôsisê! ispimihk ôma ê-ayâyêk, ôtê nîhcâyihk ê-kî-ohtohtahikawiyêk," itik; "nôsisê, 'ayîsiyiniwak cî kâ-onâpêmiyâhk,' ê-itêyihtamêk?"³

(18) “By no means, my grandchild! It is up aloft that you are, and from yon place below that you were conveyed,” she told her; “Grandchild, do you think, ‘They are mortal men whom we have as husbands’?”

(19) "êha."

(19) “Yes.”

(20) "namôya aniki." "kâ-ayisiyinîwiyan, 'acâhkosak,' kâ-itwêyan, êkotowahk ana." "nama cî, 'ana kâ-kîhkâyâsôwêt êwako onâpêmiyân,' kikî-itwân? êwako ana kônâpêmin kisêyiniw." "êkwa, 'ana êkâ kâ-taspâsôwêt êwakoni onâpêmiyin,' kikî-itâw kisîm;" "êwako ohci anihi oskinîkiwa kâ-wîcêwât," itêw.

(20) “Not they. When you of mortal race say, ‘Stars.’ of that kind is he. Did you not say, ‘The one that shines bright let me have for my husband’? That old man you now have for your husband. and, ‘That one that does not shine so clear may you have for your husband,’ you said of your younger sister; that is why she has that youth for her mate,” she told her.

(21) "hêêy, nôhkô, ka-kî-cî-pihkohinân ta-kîwêyâhk?" "nipîkiskâtênân nitaskînân," itêw.

(21) “Alas, grandmother, can you help us to get back home? We are pining for our earth,” she told her.

(22) "ahaq, nôsisê; ayisk kikakêpâtisin, ê-kî-nôhtê-onâpêmiyan acâhkos," itik; "haw, nôsisê, nitona mistaskosîmin." "mostoso-mêy ita ê-astêk, êkota sâkikihki mistaskosîmin, êwako kika-ohpinên." "êkota anima ê-pakonêyâk ôma askiy," itik; "miskamêko, ka-pê-wîhtamawinâwâw."

(22) “Yes, my grandchild, but indeed you were foolish to want a star for your husband,” she told her; “Well then, grandchild, look for a wild turnip. The wild turnip which grows out from where the buffalo dung lies, that one you will pull up. That is where this land is pierced,” she told her: “When you find it, come and tell me.”

(23) "êha."

(23) “Yes.”

(24) wayawîwak, ê-nitonahkik. kiyipa miskamwak. êkosi nitawi-wîhtamawêwak ôhkomiwâwa.

(24) They went out of the lodge and looked for it. They soon found it. So then they went and told their grandmother.

(25) "nimiskênân," itêw.

(25) “We have found it,” she told her.

(26) êkosi otinamiyiwa osêkipatwânêyâpîsiyiw.

(26) Then she took the little thong with which her braid was tied.

(27) "hâw, ôma mistikohk tahkopitamôhkêk." "êwako ôma kika-ôh-pihkohonâwâw." "wacistwan osîhtâk, êkota kita-apiyêk." "kîsihtâyêko, wî-nîhtakosîyêko, kiya ka-wêwêkistikwânân." "namôya ka-nanâtawâpin, isko kitaskiyiwâw otihtamani." "awa piko kisîmis êwako kita-itâpiw." "êkwa nêtê takosiniyêko, 'nôhkô, êwakwê kisêkipatwânêyâpiy!' kika-itwân, nôsisê," itêw; "haw, niyâk!"

(27) “Now then, tie this to a tree. By means of this you will get away and reach your destination. Make a nest in which you will sit. When you have finished it, and are ready to descend, you yourself will wrap your head. You will not look about to see things until you reach your earth. Only your younger sister here will look. Then, when you arrive down there, ‘Grandmother, here is the thong of your braid!’ you will call, my grandchild,” she told them; “Well then, be off!”

(28) wayawîwak, ê-itohtêcik ôma ita kâ-pakonêyâk askiy, êkwa ê-osîhtâcik wacistwan. ê-kîsihtâcik, êkwa mistikohk tahkopitamwak ôma pîsâkanâpîs, êkwa ê-pôsicik wacistwanihk, êkwa ê-nîhtakosîcik, ê-pakitâpîhkênisocik. wêwêkistikwânêw awa omisimâw, ê-nîhtakocihkik.

(28) They went out of the lodge to the place where the land was pierced, and made the nest. When they had finished it, they tied it to a tree with that little rawhide thong, and got into the nest, and descended, letting themselves down on the string. The elder sister wrapped up her head as they swung down.

(29) kîtahtawê, "nisîmis, tânêhki? nam-êskwa cî kitaskiyinaw kiwâpahtên?"

(29) Presently, “Little sister, how is it? Do you not yet see our earth?”

(30) "êha! nama cêskwa!" itêw.

(30) “No! Not yet!” she told her.

(31) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk.

(31) Presently she saw it.

(32) êkwa awa oskinîkiskwêw, "nisîmis, nama cêskwa kiwâpahtên?"

(32) Then that young woman, “Little sister, do you not yet see it?”

(33) "êkwa ani niwâpahtên."

(33) “Yes, now I do,”

(34) "hây hây! êkwa ê-wî-takosiniyahk kitaskiyinaw, nisîmis!" "mahti nika-itâpin!"

(34) “Splendid! Now we shall come back to our earth, little sister! Do let me look!”

(35) "êkâ wiya! kikî-itikonaw kôhkominaw,‘ iyikohk kitaskiyiwâw takohtêyêko, kika-itâpin,’ ê-kî-itisk," itêw omisa.

(35) “Don't! Our grandmother told us, ‘Only when you have reached your earth will you look,’ she told you,” said she to her elder sister.

(36) tahki ê-yâsipayicik, tahki kakwêcimêw osîma otaskiyiwâw.

(36) All the time they were going down she kept questioning her younger sister about their earth.

(37) "kêkâc êkwa! mitoni êkwa kîhkânâkosiwak mistikwak," itêw.

(37) “We are almost there now! The trees appear plainly now,” she told her.

(38) "nisîmis, mahti nika-itâpin!" itêw.

(38) “Little sister, do let me look!” she asked her.

(39) ê-, "êkâ wiya! kisiwâk êkwa!" ê-itikot osîmisa, âhci piko wî-kakwê-itâpiw.⁴

âta ê-wêwêkistikwânênikot osîma, kîtahtawê pâskipayihow, ê-itâpit. paskipayiyiw ôma kâ-ôh-sakahpisocik. nîhcipayiwak êkwa ê-kinosiyit mistikwa, êkota akotâskociniyiw ôma wacistwan.

(39) “Do not! We are near now!” her younger sister told her, but still she longed to take a look. Although her younger sister held the covering round her head, suddenly she threw off the cover and looked. The string broke by which they were tied. Down they went. The nest caught on a tall tree and hung there.

(40) "tâpwê kikakêpâtisin, nimisê, ê-kî-itikoyahk kôhkominaw êkâ kâ-tâpwêhtaman!" itêw omisa.

(40) “Really, you are foolish, big sister, not to heed what our grandmother told us!” she said to her elder sister.

(41) hâh, miywêyihtamwak otaskiyiwâw ê-wâpahtahkik. mâka namôya kî-pihkohôwak; êkotê ay-akosîwak. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik ê-pâpahtâyit mahîhkana.

(41) Oh, they were glad to see their earth. But they could not get there; they hung there aloft. Presently they saw a wolf who was running that way.

(42) "hêy, nisîmis, nika-wayêsimâw mahîhkan; ka-pihkohikonaw," itêw.

(42) “Oh, little sister, I shall fool the wolf; he will get us down,” she said to the other.

(43) "êha."

(43) “Yes.”

(44) â, kisiwâk ê-pimohtêyit, ômisi itêw: "mahîhkan!" ê-kitâpamikot, "pihkohinân!" "ê-micimohoyâhk, nîhtininân." "ahpô ici ka-wîkimitinân."

(44) When he came near, she said to him, “Wolf!” and when he looked at her, “Get us down. Take us down from where we are caught. We are even willing to marry you, if you like.”

(45) "yahô! namôya ninihtâ-kîhcêkosîn." "mîna kika-otamihinâwâw;" "nama wîhkâc pêyakwanohk nitayân, pisisik ê-papâmâcihoyân," itwêyiwa.

(45) “Yoho! I am not a good climber. Also, you would be a bother to me; I never stay in one place, but travel about all the time,” said he.

(46) "sêsêy! misawâc cî tâpwê ka-kî-wîkimitinân, ê-mâyâtisiyan, ê-kinwâpêkihkwêyan, êkwa ê-kâsakêyan, kêkway nêpahtâyani ê-pêyakôhkaman!" itêw, ê-kîhkâmât.

(46) “Faugh! Do you suppose we would really marry you, ugly as you are, and long-faced, and a glutton, who, whenever you kill anything, eat it all by yourself?” she told him, reviling him.

(47) êkosi ay-ayâwak êkota. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik mîna kotaka ê-pâpahtâyit. pôti êwakoni pisiwa.

(47) And so they stayed there. Presently they saw another who came running that way. He turned out to be a lynx.

(48) "hê êy, nisîmis, êwako êkwa ka-wayêsimânaw!" "nihtâwâhtawêwak êkotôwahk." "- hêh!" ôta ê-pimohtêyit, "hê ê êy, pisiw!"

(48) “Oh, little sister, let us fool this one! The like of him are good climbers. Hey there!” as he walked by, “Hey, hey, lynx!”

(49) "tânêhki!"

(49) “What is it?”

(50) "pihkohinân! ahpô ici ka-wîkimitinân, êkâ ê-kî-nîhtinisoyâhk!"

(50) “Get us down from here! We will even marry you, if you like; we cannot get down!”

(51) "yahô! namôya ninihtâ-kîhcêkosîn." "îh wâpahta nicihciya: nama kêkway naskasiyak," itwêyiwa.

(51) “Yoho! I am not a good climber. Look here at my paws: I haven't any nails,” said he.

(52) "ê ê êy, misawâc cî tâpwê ka-kî-wîkimitâhk, ê-mâyâtisiyan, ê-pitikohkwêyan, êkwa ê-mamâhkisitêyan, êkwa ê-nâ-napakâskitoyêyan?"

(52) “Ho ho, do you suppose we would marry you in any case, you ugly fellow, with your crumpled-up snout and your big feet and your flat rump?”

(53) ay-âtawêyimêw. êkosi nakatikwak. â, kaskêyihtamwak, ê-nôhtê-nîhtakosîcik. piyisk kinwêsk êkota ayâwak. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik mîna ê-pâpahtâyit.

(53) She gave up the chances of him. So he left them. Oh, they were sad, because they wanted to get down to earth. Finally they had been there a long time. Presently they saw still another come running that way.

(54) "nisîmis, êwako êkwa nika-wayêsimâw." "wî-wawîwinawisiw êwako," itêw.⁵

(54) “Little sister, now I shall cheat this one. This one will be eager to take wives,” she said to the other.

(55) "ahaq."

(55) “Yes.”

(56) kisiwâk ê-pimipayiyit ôta, "hê êy!"

(56) As he came running close by there, “Hey, hey!”

(57) itâpiyiwa.

(57) He looked up.

(58) "kîhkwahâhkês, kinihtâ-kîhcêkosîn." "pihkohinân." "ê-kostamâhk êkâ ê-kî-pihkohisoyâhk." "ahpô ici, pihkohiyâhko, ka-wîkimitinân," itâw.

(58) “Wolverine, you are a good climber. Get us down from here. We are frightened and do not know how to get down. We are even willing, if you rescue us, to marry you,” she told him.

(59) "yahô, kiwî-wayêsiminâwâw!" itwêyiwa.

(59) “Hoho, you mean to fool me!” said he.

(60) "namôya! tâpwê ka-wîkimitinân," itêw.

(60) “No! Really, we will marry you,” she told him.

(61) "ahaq!"

(61) “Very well then!”

(62) haw, pê-kîhcêkosiyiwa.

(62) So he came climbing up.

(63) ê-otihtikocik, "niya nîkân!" itwêw awa omisimâw.

(63) When he had reached them, “Me first!” said the elder sister.

(64) "namôya! awa pita kisîm."

(64) “No! Wait; first comes your sister.”

(65) "êha."

(65) “Very well.”

(66) êkwa nayômêw êkwa.

(66) Then he took her on his back.

(67) "hâw, êkâ wiya mosci sâmiskaw nitakohp." "mitoni nikihcêyimâw nitakohp," itêw ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa.

(67) “Now then, do not rub yourself directly against my robe. I think a great deal of my robe,” he told the young woman.

(68) mitoni wêwêkîw awa oskinîkiskwêw, ê-nîhtaciwêhtahikot. piyis pihkohêw. pita ômisi isi ta-tihtipîw awa kîhkwahâhkês, ôho otakohpa ê-kâsîsimât, ôhi iskwêwa ê-sâmiskawâyit.

(68) The young woman wrapped herself very carefully in her clothes, and he climbed down with her. At last he had got her down. Then, before doing any more, the wolverine rolled himself over and over, like this, to wipe his robe clean where the woman had come into contact with it.

(69) âsay êkosi itêyihtam nâha omisimâw: "nîhtinici, nika-yipâcihimâwa otakohpa, kâ-kistêyimot!" itêyimêw.

(69) Then that elder sister thought, “When he takes me down, I will dirty up his robe, the conceited fellow!” she thought of him.

(70) êkwa pê-âmaciwêyiwa mîna.

(70) Then he came up again.

(71) ê-otihtikot, "hâw, mitoni wêwêkapi." "nitakohp nikihcêyimâw," itêyiwa.

(71) When he had reached her, “Now then, sit carefully wrapped in your clothes. I think very highly of my robe,” he said.

(72) êkwa nayômik.

(72) Then he took her on his back.

(72b) êkwa ê-nîhtaciwêyâhtawiyit, pêyâhtik ê-pimohtêyit, "kisiskâhtê, kîhkwahâhkês! nikaskêyihtên, ê-nôhtê-sâmiskamân nitaskiy," itwêw awa iskwêw.

(72b) And as he climbed down, because he went slowly and carefully, “Hurry up, wolverine! I am miserable with longing to set foot on my earth,” said the woman.

(72c) âhci piko pêyâhtik ê-pimohtêyit, waniskâpayihôw awa iskwêw, ê-kâhkapê-têhtapit. ôhi kîhkwahâhkêsa ê-sikitât. kwêtipipayihoyiwa, ê-nîhcipayihoyit.

(72c) [no translation] [no translation] He rolled over and flung himself down to the ground.

(73) "tâpwê kikakwâhyakihâw nitakohp!" "nikatawatêyimâh nitakohp!" itwêyiwa.

(73) “It is horrible, what you are doing to my robe! Did I not tell you that I valued my handsome robe!” he cried.

(74) êkwa awa iskwêw kâ-nîhcipayit, ohcikwanihk kaskatisin.

(74) As the woman fell, she broke her leg just above the knee.

(75) ê-ati-sipwêhtêyit kîhkwahâhkêsa, awa ômisi itwêw oskinîkiskwêw: "hê êy, kîhkwahâhkês, iyikohk kâ-wîsakisimiyan, nitawâc anima ita kâ-sikitak kitakohp kâkikê êkota ta-masinâsow, isko tita-askîwik!" itêw; "mîna cêskwa ayîsiyiniwak kâ-wî-ohpikicik, nama wîhkâc kika-môwikwak;" "ka-wîhcêkisin, ê-sikititân." "'kîhkwahâhkês,' ka-isiyihkâtikwak."

(75) As the wolverine started to go away, the young woman said to him, “Oho, wolverine, since you have thus given me a painful fall, let your robe needs forever be marked there [no translation] as long as there be, an earth!” she said to him; “And later, when mortal men grow into life, never shall they eat you; [no translation] ‘Wolverine,’ they will call you.

(76) êkosi sipwêhtêyiwa.

(76) Then he went away.

(77) "hâ, nisîmis, ita mihta ê-mihcêki itohtahin," itêw.

(77) “Oh, little sister, take me where there is plenty of firewood,” she said to the other.

(78) â, tâpwê otakohpihk êkwa otâpâtik osîma, ita mihta ê-mihcêniyiki, êkota ê-takohtahikot. êkwa osîhtâw wîkiwâw nîpiya ohci ôma wîkiwâw, êkwa awa oskinîkiskwêw pisisik ê-nikohtêt, ê-pônamawât omisa, ê-wîsakêyihtamiyit ôma oskâtiyiw, êkâ mwâsi ê-nipâyit, ê-wâh-wâpaniyik ê-pônahk. piyisk kinwês wîsakêyihtam; namôya kî-iyiniwît. kîtahtawê osîma ê-nikohtêyit, otinam môhkomân, ê-kîskisahk ôma oskât ita kânâtwâhtiniyik. êkwa mistahi sâkamoyiw ôma oskan. êkwa êwako cîkaham môhkomân ohci, ê-aciwikahahk. ê-kîwêt awa oskinîkiskwêw, kâ-pêhtahk ê-matwê-cîkahikêyit omisa. cîki ê-ihtât, pônihtâyiwa, ê-akwanahamiyit, ê-kâtâyit. namôya wâpahtam ê-tôtamiyit omisa.

(78) So then her sister dragged her on her blanket-robe, taking her to a place where there was plenty of firewood. Then she made a lodge for them out of leaves, and then all the time the young woman gathered firewood, to keep up a fire for her sister, who was suffering from her leg and sleeping hardly at all; every morning she built a fire. At last she had been sick a long time; her wound would not heal. Then at one time, while her younger sister was gathering firewood, she took a knife and cut off her leg there where it was broken. The bone stuck far out. She whittled it with the knife, shaping it off small. When the young woman was coming home, she heard the sound of her elder sister chopping away at something. When she got near, the other stopped her work and covered it with her robe, to hide it. She could not see what her elder sister had been doing.

(79) ômisi ê-itêyihtahk awa omisimâw: "nisîmis nika-wîwin," ê-itêyihtahk, "ôma ohci niskât," ê-itêyihtahk.

(79) But what the elder sister thought was this: “[no translation]” she thought.

(80) êh, kîtahtawê ê-nâh-nikohtêyit mâna awa oskinîkiskwêw, kîtahtawê môyêyimêw omisa, kâkikê ê-kitâpamikot, tahki ê-wî-pâhpihikot. kîtahtawê ê-nikohtêt, êkota picikîskisîsa kâ-ta-twêhoyit.

(80) Then presently, as the young woman continued to gather faggots, presently she suspected her elder sister, because she always stared at her with an unceasing smile. Presently, as she was gathering wood, a tomtit came and alighted here and there.

(81) "ay, iskwêw, ê-wî-wîhtamâtân!" "âsay êkwa kîsihtâw kimis oskât ê-kînikahahk, ê-wî-wîkimisk." "kika-nipahik." "tapasî!" itik.

(81) “Oh, woman, I want to tell you this! [no translation] She will kill you. Run away!” it told her.

(82) sêkimik.

(82) She was frightened by these its words.

(83) "tânitê mâka ôma kâ-itohtêyân?"

(83) “But where can I go now?”

(84) "ôtê isi, nâtakâm," itêw.

(84) “Off here, toward the north,” it told her.

(85) "ahaq."

(85) “Yes.”

(86) êkwa kêtikoskawêw wanakwaya.

(86) Then she took off her sleeves.

(87) "hâw, nanakwâtik, nikohtêk!" "nimis matwê-têpwâtikoyêko, 'cêskwa!' itihk;" "'mêkwâc ninikohtân,' itihk." "'kiyipa!' itikoyêko, "cêskwa! kîsâc mihcêt ê-wî-nâtwâhamân, sôskwâc ta-âwatâyân," itâhkêk."

(87) “Now, my sleeves, gather faggots! When you hear my elder sister calling to you, tell her ‘Wait a bit!’ Tell her, ‘I am just getting wood.’ If she says to you, ‘Hurry!’ then, ‘Wait a bit! I want to split a lot of it first, so that I can bring it without delay,’ do you tell her.”

(88) êkosi nikohtêwak êkwa ôki anakwayak. tapasîw êkwa awa iskwêw.

(88) Accordingly, those sleeves then gathered wood. The woman fled.

(89) kîtahtawê, "nisîmis!" ka-matwê-itwêyit; "pôni-nikohtê!"

(89) Presently, “Little sister!” came the other's call; “Stop gathering firewood!”

(90) êkwa, "cêskwa!" itwêyiwa.

(90) Then, “Wait a bit!” said those things.

(91) "kiyipa!" ka-matwê-itwêyit, kîtahtawê, "nîwa!" kâ-itwêyit; "pê-kîwê!" "nikaskêyihtên, nîwa, êkâ mayaw ê-pê-kîwêyan," itwêyiwa.

(91) “Be quick!” she was heard to call, and presently, “My spouse!” she cried; “Come back home! I am getting sad, my spouse, because you are so long about coming home,” she said.

(92) â, tapasîw wiya.

(92) Oh, but as for her, she fled.

(93) piyisk ihkêyihtam awa, "pê-kîwê, nîwa!" kâ-itwêt êwako omisimâw.

(93) Then at last elder sister grew tired of calling, “Come home, my spouse!”

(94) "cêskwa!"

(94) “Wait a bit!”

(95) "yahâ!"

(95) “Yah!”

(96) kîtahtawê, "ka-kisiwâhin, nîwa! pê-kîwê!"

(96) Presently, “You will anger me, my spouse! Come home!”

(97) "cêskwa! pita ani niwî-nikohtân."

(97) “Wait a bit! I first want to get some faggots.”

(98) piyisk pasikôw awa iskwêw, êkwa ê-nitawâpamât osîma.

(98) At last the woman arose and looked for her sister.

(99) "wêsâ nama kipa-pêhtên!" "êkwa kiwî-nitawi-pakamahotin, nîwa!" "osâm nama mayaw kipê-kîwân!"

(99) “You actually pay no heed at all! Now I am going to club you, my spouse! You are taking too long about coming home!”

(100) êkwa pêyak piko oskât ê-âpacihtât, itê kâ-nikohtêyit osîma ê-itohtêt, cîki ê-ihtât, pôni-nikohtêyiwa, kotak ê-sakâyik êkotê kâwi ê-matwêkahikêyit, ê-matwê-nikohtêyit.

(100) Then, using her one leg, she went to where her sister had been gathering wood, and when she got near, the other ceased chopping wood, and then, in another grove, again the other was noisily chopping and making a din at the gathering of firewood.

(101) "âhci piko awa kâ-nikohtêt, ê-âta-tâ-têpwâtak!" "kikisiwâhin ani!" "otihtitâni, kika-pakamahotin, nîwa!" itêw osîma.

(101) “She keeps right on getting wood, when I call and call to her! Now you have made me angry! When I reach you, I shall club you, my spouse!” she said to her sister.

(102) êkwa ê-itohtêt, kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât anakwaya ê-nikohtêyit. êkwa pahkisinwak ôki anakwayak.

(102) But when she got there, presently she saw the sleeves that were gathering wood. Then those sleeves fell to the ground.

(103) "hâ hah, tâpwê nikisiwâhik nîwa, kâ-tapasît!" "nicawâc ita atimitâni, ka-nipahitin, nîwa!" itêw, êkwa ê-nitonawât.

(103) “Oho, truly my spouse has angered me by running away! Wherever I overtake you, I will kill you, my spouse!” she said to her, and began seeking her.

(104) kîtahtawê kâ-mâtâhât, êkwa ê-mitihtât.

(104) Presently she found her tracks and began to trail her.

(105) "namôya misawâc ta-pîhcâw itê cita-itâmoyan!" itêw osîma.

(105) “In any case there will be no distance great enough for you to flee!” she called to her sister.

(106) ê-pa-pimâmot awa iskwêw, êkwa kisiwâk ê-pê-ihtâyit omisa, "hê êy! tânitê ôyâ nimosôm!" itêw.

(106) Oh, she was swift, even though she had only one leg. Presently, as that woman fled, and her elder sister came nearer and nearer, “Alas! Where is that grandfather of mine who once was here!” she cried.

(107) ita ê-ati-ispahtât, kâ-pê-matâwisiyit wâkayôsa.

(107) In the direction in which she was running, a bear appeared in the path.

(108) "hê êy, nimosô, kakwê-pimâcihin!" "nimis niwî-nipahik."

(108) “Alas, grandfather, try to save my life! My elder sister means to kill me.”

(109) "hê hê hê ê ha ha, nôsisê, nîsta ani, nikostâw kimis!" "manitôwiw kimis." "êyiwêhk mâka ôta kwayask itâmo."

(109) “Dear me, dear me, dear me, my grandchild, I too am afraid of your sister! Of manitou nature is your sister. At any rate, flee straight ahead in this direction.”

(110) hâ, êkosi tapasîw awa iskwêw. hah, kiyipa ka-pê-sâkêwêt awa iskwêw.

(110) Accordingly, the woman fled. Oh, quickly that woman came into sight.

(111) "nêy, isko êwakoni ê-mamisît nîwa!" itwêw, ê-otihtât; "wâkayôs, tâniwâ nîwa?"

(111) “Fie, my spouse has come down to depending on this creature!” she cried, when she came to him; “Bear, where is my spouse!”

(112) "tâniwâtokê!" itêw.

(112) “I do not know where she is!” he told her.

(113) "nama cî kikâtâw nîwa? kiyipa wîhtamawin!"

(113) “Are you not hiding my spouse? Quick, tell me!”

(114) "namôya nikiskêyimâw."

(114) “I do not know anything about her.”

(115) "kiyipa! mâskôc kikâtawin." "kêkât ka-nipahitin."

(115) “Quick. No doubt you are hiding her from me. I am ready to kill you.”

(116) âta wî-kisiwâsiw wâkayôs; mâka namôya nânitaw kî-tôtam. êwako ôma ohci kâ-kîskâyik oskât, êwako ohci ta-tahkiskawêw ôhi wâkayôsa; nipahêw. âhci piko êkota nitonikêw. âsay mîna mâtâhêw osîma; êkwa mîna mitihcipayîstawêw, kîtahtawê mîna êkwa kisiwâk ê-ati-askôwât.

(116) The bear was getting into a rage, but he could do nothing. With her cut-off leg she kicked the bear; she killed him. She kept up the search in that place. Again she found her sister's track; again she set out on her trail, and presently again she was close upon the other's heels.

(117) "hêy, tânitê ôyâ nimosôm?" itêw, pôti êwakoni misi-pisiwa.

(117) “Alas, where is my grandfather who once was here!” she said to one, and he turned out to be a Great Lynx.

(118) mîna iyikohk awa êyâta-takohtêt, "hê êy! isko êwakoni âta ê-mamisît nîwa!" itêw, ê-nêsôwisit, ê-takohtêt; "misi-pisiw, tâniwâ nîwa?"

(118) And when that person arrived there, “Ha, my spouse has come down to placing vain hope even in this creature!” she cried to him, weary, as she arrived; “Great Lynx, where is my spouse?”

(119) "tâniwâtokê?"

(119) “Why, where can she be?”

(120) "kêhcinâ kikâtawin!" "kiyipa wîhtamawin tânita ê-kâtat nîwa!" "kêkât ka-nipahitin!"

(120) “Surely you are hiding her from me! Quick tell me where you are hiding my wife. I am quite ready to kill you!”

(121) "namôya nikiskêyimâw."

(121) “I know nothing about her.”

(122) "kiyipa! kititin ôma! wîhtamawin nîwa!"

(122) “Quick, I tell you! Tell me about my spouse!”

(123) pisinê ê-wî-kitotât, âsay kâ-tahkiskawât; nipahêw. tâpiskôc ayisk ê-pâskiswât, ê-isi-sôhkêpayiyik ôma oskât awa omisimâw. êkwa ê-kî-nipahât, êkwa mîna nitonam ita ê-pimohtêyit osîma. tâpwê mîna mâtâhêw. êkwa mîna mitihtêw. kîtahtawê mîna êkwa kisiwâk êkwa askôwêw.

(123) Before he could speak to her, she had already kicked him; she killed him. For it was just as if she had shot him, so powerful was that elder sister's leg. And when she had killed him, then again she looked for where her sister had gone. Again she found her trail, [sic] and again she tracked her. And presently she was following close upon her.

(124) kîtahtawê ômisi itwêw: "hê êy! tâniwâ nimosô?" itwêw.

(124) Presently she cried: “alas, where is my grandfather?”

(125) pôti, ê-sâkêwêpahtât, kâ-wâpamât misi-kinêpikwa.

(125) There, as she went running round a bend, he beheld a Great Serpent.

(126) "hâw, nôsisê, êyiwêhk ôta pimâmo!" "âta wiya ani nikostâw kimis; manitôwiw," itik.

(126) “Now, my grandchild, at any rate, flee along here! But truly I do fear your elder sister; she is of manitou nature,” he told her.

(127) "hê ê êy, nimosô, kakwê-nipa!" "ê-wî-nipahit ana nimis!" itêw.

(127) “Alas, my grandfather, try to kill her! That elder sister of mine means to slay me!” she told him.

(128) êkosi ê-tapasît. kîtahtawê ê-sâkêwêpahtât.

(128) She fled. Presently she came running into sight.

(129) "hêy! isko êwakoni ê-mamisît nîwa!"

(129) “Ha, even in this creature my spouse places hope!”

(130) ita ôhi kâ-ayâyit, êkota nakîw.

(130) Where the other was, she stopped in her course.

(131) "misi-kinêpik, tâniwâ nîwa!"

(131) “Great Serpent, where is my spouse!”

(132) "hâ, namôya nikiskêyimâw."

(132) “Ha, I know nothing about her.”

(133) "wîhtamawin!" "ê-kâtawiyan, ka-ta-tahkiskâtin!" "ka-nipahitin!"

(133) “Tell me! You are hiding her from me, and I am going to kick you! I'll kill you!”

(134) aha, pisinê ê-waskawiyit, tahkiskawêw; piyis nipahêw. êkosi mîna ê-nitonawât osîma. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk ita êsa ê-kî-pimâmoyit. êkwa mîna êwakoni mitihtêw. êkwa nama kêkway ta-mamisît awa oskinîkiskwêw. kîtahtawê ê-pa-pimipahtât, kâ-wâpahtahk sâkahikan ê-âhkwatiniyik, kâ-wâpamât ayîsiyiniwa êkota tâwakâm. êwakoni êkwa môskîstawêw. ê-otihtât, awîna ôhi, pêyakokâtêyiwa, ê-misikitiyit asiniya ê-nayômâyit, ê-cîkahwâyit miskwamiya, ê-êskêyit.

(134) As soon as the other budged, she kicked him; in the end she killed him. Thereupon again she sought her sister. Presently she saw where she had passed in flight. Then again she followed her trail. Now there was nothing in which that young woman could place hope. Presently, as she ran on and on, she saw a frozen lake and a man at the centre of it. She ran toward him. When she reached him, why, he was one-legged, and was carrying a huge stone, and pounding the ice to make holes in it.

(135) "hêy, nimosô, kakwê-pimâcihin, ê-wî-nipahit nimis!" "pimâcihiyini, ahpô ici kika-wîkimitin," itêw.

(135) “Alas, grandfather mine, try to save me; my sister means to kill me! If you save my life, I am willing to marry you,” she said to him.

(136) namwâc kitâpamik ahpô; namôya kitotik.

(136) He did not even look at her; he did not speak to her.

(137) "hê êy, ahpô ici kika-oyôhtâwîmitin, pimâcihiyini!"⁶

(137) “Alas, alas, if you like, I will even take you as my father, if you save my life!”

(138) namwâc ahpô wî-ka-kitâpamik. êkwa kaskêyihtam, kisiwâk êkwa ê-pê-ayâyit omisa.

(138) He would not even glance at her. She was in distress, for her sister was now coming near.

(139) "hêy, kiyipa kakwê-pimâcihin, ê-wî-nipahit manitôw!"

(139) “Alas, quickly try to save me, for a manitou means to kill me!”

(140) êkoyikohk kâ-kitâpamikot.

(140) Only then did he look at her.

(141) "namôya ana manitôw." "kimis ana," itik.

(141) “That is no manitou. Tbat is your elder sister,” he told her.

(142) "êha; mâka ê-wî-nipahit!" "kakwê-pimâcihin." "ahpô ici kika-ostêsimitin," itêw.

(142) “Yes, but she means to kill me! Try to save my life. I am even willing to take you as my elder brother,” she told him.

(143) "ahaq!"

(143) “Yes!”

(144) êkwa miywêyihtam awa pêyakokât.

(144) Now that One-Leg was pleased.

(145) "ôta," itêw, "ôta pimipahtâ!"

(145) “Here,” he told her, “run along here!”

(146) tâpwê êkota ati-pimohtêw tastawayakap.⁷

(146) So she went along there, passing through between his legs.

(147) "êwako ani anima mêskanâs ati-pimohtê." "mêskanâhk kapâyani, ka-wâpahtên wâskahikanis." "êkota takohtêyani, êkota pîhtokêhkan, nisîm," itêw êkwa.

(147) “Keep walking along that little path there. When you reach the main trail on the shore, you will see a little wooden house. When you reach it, then do you enter it, my little sister,” he told her now.

(147b) â, miywêyihtam awa oskinîkiskwêw. tâpwê ati-sipwêpahtâw êkwa. ayis êkwa pêtisâpamêw omisa. tâpwê ê-ati-kapât ôma ê-sakâyik, ê-matâwisit, kâ-wâpahtahk wâskahikanis mitoni ê-miywâsiniyik. êkota pîhtokêw.

(147b) Oh, the young woman was glad. And so she ran away. For even now she saw her elder sister approaching. Really, when on her way she came to the shore where were those woods, and came upon the trail, she saw a little wooden house, a very good one. She entered it.

(148) êkwa awa otihtêw wîci-pêyakokâta.

(148) That other one came to her fellow one-leg.

(149) "pêyakokât, tâniwâ nîwa?" itêw.

(149) “One-Leg, where is my spouse?”

(150) tâpiskôc êkâ nânitaw ê-itât, âhci piko ê-êskêyit.

(150) As though she had said nothing at all to him, he kept on breaking the ice.

(151) "kiya ôma kâ-ititân, pêyakokât!" "kanika ôta awa ana êkâ wî-kitâpamit!"⁸

"tâniwâ nîwa?" "kititin ôma!" "kêkât ka-nipahitin, êkâ kâ-wî-kâ-kitosiyan!" itêw.

(151) “It is to you I am saying this, One-Leg! Truly he does not even mean to look at me! Where is my spouse! It is you I am asking this! I am ready to kill you, since you do not care to talk to me!” she told him.

(152) âhci piko ta-cîkahikêyiwa, nanâtohk ê-itât, "nika-kakwê-wîhtamâk," ê-itêyihtah.

(152) He kept on pounding away, while she spoke to him in all manner of ways, thinking, “I will make him tell me.”

(153) kîtahtawê, "yahô, kâ-itwêwitahk awa!" "namôya ana kîwa; kisîm ana!" "namôya ôma kiya nâpêw; kiya ôma iskwêw, 'nîwa,' kâ-itwêyan!"

(153) Presently, “Oho, the noise this person makes! She is not your spouse; she is your sister! You are not a man; you are a woman, who go saying, ‘my wife’!”

(154) "namôya!" itwêw awa iskwêw; "kiyipa kiyâm wîhtamawin: tâniwâ nîwa? tânita kâ-ati-itohtêt?"

(154) “No!” cried that woman; “Quickly now tell me: where is my spouse? Where has she gone from here?”

(155) "ôta," itêw.

(155) “Right here,” he said to her.

(156) "tânita?"

(156) “Where?”

(157) "ôta," itêw.

(157) “Right here,” he told her.

(158) "tânita mâka, pêyakokât? kiyipa wîhtamawin!"

(158) “But where, One-Leg? Quick, tell me!”

(159) ôta tastawayakap ê-wî-ati-sîpâsit, ôhi kâ-nayômâyit asiniya pakiciwêpinêyiwa. mitoni kîskisok âpihtôsiyaw; nipahik êwakoni.⁹

(159) When she made to go under between his legs, he dropped the stone which he was carrying. It fell on her and cut her straight through at the middle; it killed her.

(160) âhci piko awa ca-cîkahikêw. kîtahtawê êkoyikohk kiskisiw êkwa ôhi iskwêwa; kîwêw. êkwa ê-takohtêt owâskahikanisihk, awîna ôhi, kî-apiyiwa osîma. êkwa nama kêkway tita-mîciyit. hâw, mihcêt wâpamêw pîhtatwâna ê-akociniyit awa iskwêw. ay-apiw awa pêyakokât.

(160) The man went right on pounding. Presently at last he remembered that woman; he went home. When he arrived at his little wooden house, there sat his little sister. But there was nothing for her to eat. She saw a great many quivers hanging there. One-Leg stayed there.

(161) "yahô, êkâ kêkway nisîm nitasamâh, kâ-itapiyân!" itwêyiwa, ê-otinamiyit kicohcikanis, ê-miyâhkasamiyit, êkwa ê-yôhtênamiyit. ê-kitohtât, kiyipa mostoswa kâ-pâpayiyit. êwakoni pâh-pimwêw. iyikohk ê-mêstinahk pêyak ôma opîhtatwâna, êkoyikohk pôyôw. tapasiyiwa kahkiyaw mostoswa.

(161) “Ho, here I am sitting like this, and have not give my little sister anything to eat!” he said, and took a little flute, and burned incense under it, and opened the door. When he played on the flute, quickly the buffalo came running. He shot them with arrows. When he had used up one of his quivers, he ceased. All the buffalo ran away.

(162) "hâ, nisîm, nîpisisa kahkiyaw nitawi-otina," itêw.

(162) “Now, little sister, go take up all my arrows,” he told her.

(163) êkosi wayawîw awa oskinîkiskwêw, ê-otinahk acosisa.

(163) So the young woman went out and took up the arrows.

(164) êkwa, "hâ, nisîm, kahkiyaw otêyaniya piko otina," itêw osîma, tâpwê awa iskwêw ê-kî-otinahk môhkomân, ê-nitawi-manisahk otêyaniya piko, kahkiyaw ê-otinahk, êkwa ê-pîhtokêt, êkwa otêyaniya ê-kîsisahk, ê-paminawasot.

(164) Then, “Now, little sister, take all their tongues, but nothing more,” he told his sister, and so the woman, taking a knife, went and cut only the tongues; she took them all and came in, and cooked the tongues, preparing a meal.

(165) êkwa awa oskinîkiskwêw ê-wayawît, ê-wî-pônahk, ôhi mihcêt kâ-nipahâyit ostêsa namwâc kêkway pimisiniyiwa. mâmaskâtam, mihcêt ê-kî-nipahâcik mostoswa. êkosi êkwa ê-kî-mîcisocik, êkwa awa nâpêw otinam manitôwêkin, kêkway ê-ati-miyât ôhi osîma.

(165) But when the young woman went out to get fuel, none at all lay there of the many beasts her brother had killed. She was amazed, for they had killed many buffalo. When, then, they had eaten, the man took some black stroud and gave it to his sister.

(166) "haw, nisîm, osîhtâ kitayiwinisa," itêw; "niya pisisik nitatoskân miskwamîhk, tahki ê-êskêyân." "êkâya wîhkâc,- kîtahtawê awiyak ôta ta-takosin, nisîm,- êkâya wîhkâc tawinamaw awiyak, piyêyakoyini," itêw.

(166) “There, little sister, make clothes for yourself,” he told her; “I am always working at the ice, making holes. Do you never for at some time someone will come here, little sister do you never open the door for anyone, when you are alone,” he told her.

(167) tâpwê ka kâ-kaskikwâtisôw awa oskinîkiskwêw, êkwa ê-miyohot, ê-nânapâcihot.¹⁰

êkwa miyosiw. têkohtêci awa pêyakokât, miywêyihtam ê-kwayâci-paminawasoyit osîma. êkota ohci mistahi kitimâkêyimêw ôhi osîma. nama wîhkâc wayawîtimihk kêkway nâtamiyiwa, âta ê-pêyakokâtêt.

(167) So then that young woman kept sewing for herself, and then dressed in good clothes and decked herself out. Then she was handsome. Whenever One-Leg came home, he was glad, becuase his sister had already done the cooking. Therefore, he became very fond of his sister. She never had to fetch anything out of doors, even though he was one-legged.

(168) iyikohk kêtâtwâwi otêyaniya, "hâw, nisîm, nânapâciho; wawêsî," ê-itât, kîsi-wawêsiyici, ê-miyâhkasahk okicohcikanis, "hâw, ispimihk akosî ôta wâskahikanisihk," itêw; "kitohtâ," itêw; "pâpayitwâwi mostoswak, iyikohk kahkiyaw sipwêpayitwâwi, tapasîtwâwi, ka-nîhtakosîn," itêw osîma.

(168) Whenever they had eaten up the tongues, “Now, little sister, deck yourself out; put on your finery,” he would tell her; and, when she had put on her finery, and he had burned incense under his flute, “Now climb up on the roof of the house,” he would tell her; “Sound the flute,” he would tell her; “When the buffalo come, then only after all of them have gone away, after they have fled, only then you are to climb down,” he told his little sister.

(169) êkosi miyâhkasam okicohcikanis. â, kîhcêkosîw awa oskinîkiskwêw. êkwa wiya pêyakokât ê-kîsi-yôhtênahk, kitohtâyiwa, kâ-pâpahtâyit mostoswa, ê-wâskâpayiyit wîkiwâw ôma. êkwa awa pêyakokât ê-nôcihât iyikohk, êkoyikohk ê-tapasiyit, êkoyikohk nîhtakosîw awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(169) Then he held his flute in the incense smoke. The young woman climbed aloft. Then, when One-Leg had opened the door, she blew the flute, and the buffalo came running, circling round their dwelling. Then, when One-Leg made war on them, and after they had fled, then the young woman climbed down.

(171) ê-kî-akotât kicohcikanis, "nhâw, nisîmis, nîpisisa nitawi-otina," itêw.

(171) After hanging up the little flute, “Now, sister, go take up my arrows,” he told her.

(172) wayawîw, ê-nitawi-otinahk acosisa.

(172) She went out and took up the arrows.

(173) ê-kî-pîhtokatât, "pisisik otêyaniya otina, nisîm; wiyâs wiya namôya." "tahtwâw mênahoyâni, têyaniya piko kita-omîciwiniyan, ê-isi-takahkêyimitân, nisîm," itêw; "ê-kî-kitimâkisiyan, 'mahti nika-kitimâkêyimâw nisîm!' kâ-itêyihtamân," itêw.

(173) When she had brought them in, “Take nothing but tongues, little sister; but not the meat. Whenever I kill game, you shall have only the tongues for your food, so highly do I esteem you, little sister,” he said to her; “When you were in piteous straits, ‘Let me befriend my little sister!’ was my thought,” he told her.

(174) êkosi nitawi-otinam pisisik otêyaniya. êkwa êkota ayâwak.

(174) Acordingly, she went and took only the tongues. So there they dwelt.

(175) "nisîm, êkâya wîhkâc wayawî." "iyâta-awiyak-wâpamaci, têkohtêci, namôya ka-wayawîn."¹¹

"mihcêtiwak ayîsiyiniwak êkâ katawa ê-itâtisicik," itêw.

(175) “Little sister, never go out of doors. Even though you see somebody, even though somebody comes here, you are not to go out of doors. There are many persons of evil ways of life,” he told her.

(176) "êha."

(176) “Yes.”

(177) tâpwê kâ-kapê-kîsik pêyakôw awa iskwêw, wiya awa pêyakokât pisisik ê-nitawi-êskêt miskwamîhk. êkwa wâh-tipiskâki, ê-kîwêt awa pêyakokât, miywêyihtam kâkikê ê-kwayâci-paminawasoyit osîma. mistahi kitimâkêyimêw, piko ê-kakwêcimât ta-mêstinahkik otêyanîyiw, iyikohk miyêstinamihki, êkoyikohk, "nânapâciho," ê-itât osîma.¹²

(177) So daily all day long the woman stayed alone, while One-Leg always went to chop holes out on the ice. And, just before nightfall, when One-Leg came home, he rejoiced that his sister always had the meal cooked and in readiness at his coming. He took loving care of her, asking her only whether they had used up the tongues, and when they were used up, telling her to put on her finery.

(178) kiyîsi-nânapâcihoyit, "haw, êkwa mîna kîhcêkosî, nisîm, ta-kitohtâyan."

(178) Then, always, when she had put on her finery, “Now, climb up again, little sister, to play on the flute.”

(179) tâpwê kêtohtâyici, mostoswa pâpayiyiwa, ê-wâskâpayit wîkiwâhk, ê-nôcihât pêyakokât.¹³

iyikohk miyêstinahk wîpisisa, êkoyikohk ê-pôyot, êkosi ê-tapasîyit. êkosi nîhtakosîw awa iskwêw, ê-otinahk acosisa, êkosi otêyaniya pisisik ê-otinahk. êkosi mâna ôhi kâ-nipahât ê-âpisisiniyit, ê-sipwêhtêyit.

(179) Truly, whenever she sounded it, the buffalo came, and circled round thier house, while One-Leg attacked them. Only when he had used up his arrows did he stop, and then they would run away. Then the young woman came down and took up the arrows, and took only the tongues. And then always the creatures which he had killed would come back to life and go away.

(180) êkosi ay-ayâwak, wiya awa tahto-kîsikâw miskwamîhk ê-atoskêt awa pêyakokât. kîtahtawê kiskêyihtam pêyakokât ê-wî-takosiniyit awiya.

(180) In this way they dwelt there, and as for One-Leg, he worked every day on the ice. Then at one time One-Leg knew that someone would come there.

(181) ômisi itêw osîma: "nisîmis, wî-takohtêw wîsahkêcâhk."¹⁴

"êkâ wiya tawinamawâhkan." "namôya kwayask ê-itêyihtahk." "osâm mistahi misiwê pêhtâkwaniw ê-kitimâkêyimitân, 'ta-kakwê-misi-wanâtisiwak,' ê-itêyimikawiyahk," itêw osîma.¹⁵

(181) Thus he spoke to his sister: “Little sister, Wisahketchahk will come here. Do not open the door to him. It is no good he has in mind. Too much it is heard everywhere that I take loving care of you: ‘Let an attempt be made to have them go to destruction,’ is the thought concerning us,” he told his sister.

(182) êkosi, â, kâ-kapê-kîsik ê-nakatât osîma, kîtahtawê ê-mêstinahk kêkâc otêyaniya, pêyakwâw piko ta-mîcisocik iyikohk ê-iskonahk, kîtahtawê ka-takohtêyit: nâpêw. namôya nisitawêyimêw êwakoni wîsahkêcâhkwa.

(182) and so, as all day long each day he left his sister, presently, when she had almost used up the buffalo-tongues and had left only enough for one meal, then someone arrived: a man. She did not recognize him as Wisahketchahk.

(183) "yâ, tawinamawin, nisîm!" itik.

(183) “Ha, open the door for me, little sister!” he said to her.

(184) namôya wî-ka-kitotêw, nanâtohk ê-âta-itikot.

(184) She would not speak to him, though he said all kinds of things to her.

(185) kîtahtawê ômisi itik: "nisîm, 'nitawi-ispîhci-nôci mostoswak.'" "'kisîminaw ta-nitomêw.'" "'kêkâc êkwa ta-kîwêyâhk;'" "'osâm nama kêkway ta-mîciyâhk kîkisêpâ,' ê-itwêt kistêsinaw," itêw.¹⁶

(185) Then he said to her, “Little sister, ‘Do you meanwhile go hunt buffalo. Our little sister will call them. It is almost time for us to go home; and there is nothing for us to eat in the morning,’ so spoke our big brother,” he told her.

(186) êkosi tâpwêhtam awa oskinîkiskwêw.

(186) Then the woman gave credence.

(187) "niwî-wayêsimâw êkwa nisîm," itêyihtam, "awa pêyakokât."

(187) “I shall fool my little brother now,” he thought, “That One-Leg.”

(188) tâpwê tawinamawêw wîsahkêcâhkwa. pîhtokêw.

(188) Accordingly, she opened the door for Wisahketchahk. He entered.

(189) "hâhâ, nisîm, kakwêyâho ê-nânapâcihoyan." "kêkâ ka-caciwihik kistês, êkâ kêkway ê-kîsisaman," itêw.

(189) “Ho, little sister, hurry and deck yourself out. Soon your big brother will come upon you and find you laggard, with nothing ready cooked,” he said to her.

(190) "tâpwê!" itêyihtam awa oskinîkiskwêw, osâm ê-kitimâkêyimikot ostêsa. ôma ê-, "êkosi kititik," ê-itiht, kâ-ôh-tâpwêhtawât. tâpwê ê-kîsi-kîhcêkosît wâskahikanihk awa iskwêw, kitohtâw, kâ-pâpayit mostoswa.

(190) “That is so!” thought the young woman, for her big brother was so kind to her. When she was told this, “He bids you so,” it made her give credence to him. So, after climbing to the top of the little house, she blew on the flute, and the buffalo came running.

(191) ispî ê-kiskêyihtahk awa wîsahkêcâhk kisiwâk ê-ayâyit, "haw, ôhi acosisa kahkiyaw ta-wî-yôskihtakâwa!" itwêw wîsahkêcâhk.

(191) When Wisahketchahk knew that they were near, “Now let the shafts of all these arrows be soft!” said Wisahketchahk.

(192) tâpwê, êkotôwahk. iyâta-pimwâci mostoswa, pîkohtiniyiwa; namôya kî-nipahêw. piyisk pîkiskwêyiwa mostoswa.

(192) Truly, so they were. Although he shot arrows at the buffalo, they broke and fell as they struck; he could not kill the animals. At last the buffalo spoke.

(193) "maskamâtân wîsahkêcâhk osîma!" itik.

(193) “Let us rob Wisahketchahk of his little sister!” they said of him.

(194) piyis mêstinam acosisa. êkoyikohk pê-kîwêw pêyakokât. êkwa ê-âta-pê-kisiskâhtêt, ê-sâkêwêt, âsay kâ-kîpiwêpiskamiyit wâskahikan, ê-nîhcipayit awa iskwêw. mâka pêyak awa mostos ê-wâpiskisit, mâna êwako mâna ê-pê-nîkânohtêt, êkosi êwakoni nama wîhkâc wî-nipahêw pêyakokât; êwako awa kâ-wâpiskisit mostos iskwêwa ôhi wêpahwêw, opakwahtêhoniyiw ê-tâpisi-kwâskwahamawât otêskana ohci. êkosi ê-tapasît. kahkiyaw mostoswak tapasîwak. kwâsihimâwa osîma, aspin ê-ati-mâtoyit.

(194) At last he had used up the arrows. By this time One-Leg was coming home. But, though he came walking ast, when he came within sight, they had already knocked over the wooden house, so that the woman fell to the ground. Now, one of those buffalo, which was white, the one which always walked at the head as they came, this one One-Leg never tried to kill; and now this same white buffalo tossed the woman on its horns, pulling her up by her belt which it had caught on its horns. In this wise it fled. All the buffalo fled. His little sister was carried off, weeping afar as she disappeared from sight.

(195) êkwa awa wîsahkêcâhk mâtôhkâsôw, tâpiskôc ê-mawîhkâtât ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa, êkotê ê-isi-sipwêpahtât, "êkâ nika-kisiwâhâh pêyakokât!" ê-itêyihtahk, tâpiskôc ê-pimitisahwât ôhi iskwêwa, mâka ê-tapasît, ôhi pêyakokâta ê-tapasîhât.

(195) Then that Wisahketchahk pretended to cry, just as if he were lamenting the young woman, and ran off yonder, thinking, “I had better not get One-Leg angry at me!” and acting as if he were going in pursuit of the woman, but really making off in flight, fleeing from One-Leg.

(196) êkwa pêyakokât êkota ayâw. mistahi mihtâtêw osîma. iyikohk ê-pôni-pîkiskâtât osîma, êkoyikohk osîhtâw wâskahikan, ê-ispâyik, ê-misâyik. êkoyikohk ê-kîsihtât, êkwa acosisa osîhtâw; piyis mihcêt sâkaskinêyiwa opîhtatwâna.

(196) One-Leg stayed there. He mourned greatly for his little sister. When he had passed the extreme of desolation at her absence, he built a high and great wooden house. He finished it, and then made arrows; at last he had many quivers all full.

(197) êkoyikohk êkwa, "mahti nisîm nika-pimitisahwâw," êkwa itêyihtam, êkwa ê-sipwêhtêt, ê-mitihtât mostoswa.

(197) Then, “Let me go in pursuit of my little sister,” he thought, and set out, following the trail of the buffalo.

(198) âta kayâs ê-kî-pimohtêyit, mâka miyo-mitihtêw. kîtahtawê, wâhyaw êkwa ê-ayât, kîtahtawê kâ-wâpahtahk sâkahikan ê-misikamâyik. pôti ôma kî-ministikôwiyiw, êkota kâ-mihcêtiyit mostoswa. ê-kitâpamât, kâ-wâpamât ôhi ê-wâpiskisiyit mostoswa. kâsôw. piyisk otihtam sâkahikan, sisonê sâkahikanihk ê-pimisihk.

(198) Although it was a long time since they had passed, yet he trailed them with ease. Presently, when he had gone a long ways, he saw a large lake. And there was an island, and on it were many buffalo. When he looked at them, he saw the white buffalo. He hid. At last he came to the lake, and lay down by the shore of the lake.

(199) "hâw, ôma kâ-wî-pôtâtamân ta-ati-miskwamîwiw!" itwêw.

(199) “Now, let that upon which I blow continue to turn into ice!” he said.

(200) ôma nipiy pôtâtam: âpihtaw isko miskwamîwiyiw. kîhtwâm pôtâtam: êkwa âsowakâmê-miskwamîwiyiw.

(200) He blew upon the water: half of the way across it turned into ice. He blew on it again: all the way to the other shore it was ice.

(201) kîpipayihôw, "nika-wî-âpakosîsiwin!" ê-itwêt.

(201) He flung himself on the ground, saying, “Let me turn into a mouse!”

(202) êkosi sipwêpayiw, miskwamîhk ê-pimipayit. pihkohôw. êkosi êkwa pasikôw. êkwa ita mâna ê-nâh-nitawi-minihkwêyit pisiskiwa, êkotê kâsôw, sakâhk ê-pa-pimisihk, "mâskôc pê-kwâpikêci nisîm," ê-itêyihtahk, êkwa ê-wî-kakwê-wâpamât osîma. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât ôhi kâ-wâpiskisiyit mostoswa, ita ê-itiskwêpiyit, êkota ê-apiyit osîma, mitoni ê-kanawêyimimiht osîma. êkwa kostêw ta-kî-itohtêt, "tânisi êtokê nika-kî-isi-kisiwâk-osâpamak?" ê-itêyihtahk.

(202) Then he ran off, running over the ice. He reached the other side. There he rose upright again. Then there where always the beasts went to drink, there he hid, lying among the trees, thinking, “Perhaps my little sister will come here to fetch water,” for he meant to try and see his little sister. Presently she saw the white buffalo and by its head, as it sat there, sat his little sister, his little sister, closely guarded. Then he feared to go where she was, and thought, “I wonder how I can manage to see her from close by!”

(203) êkota ê-pa-pimisihk, kîtahtawê kâ-pê-takosiniyit sihkosa.

(203) As he lay there, presently there came a weasel.

(204) ômisi itêw: "âstam!" itêw.

(204) He said to it, “Come here!”

(205) takohtêyiwa.

(205) It came to where he was.

(206) "tânêhki?"

(206) “What is it?”

(207) "hâw, ôki cî mâna mostoswak kisiwâk kôy-otihtâwak?"

(207) “Do you go close up to these buffalo?”

(208) "êha."

(208) “Yes.”

(209) "hâw, wîcihin." "êkâya wîhtamaw awiyak ôta ê-ayâyân." "kaskihtâyani, nisîm ta-wîhtamawat ita ta-pê-itohtêt," itêw.

(209) “Then help me. Tell no one that I am here. If you can manage it, tell my little sister to come here,” he told it.

(210) "hê hê hê ha ha!" itwêyiwa; "âyiman!" "mistahi kanawêyimâw kisîm." "êkosi kwatakêyimôw kisîm," itik; "êyiwêhk mahti!" "mâka ani pakwâtam cîki awiya ta-itohtêyit," itik.

(210) “Dear me, dear me!” it said; “That is difficult! Your little sister is closely guarded. Unhappy is your sister,” it told him; “But at any rate, I will try. But he does not like anyone to come near,” it told him.

(211) êkosi sipwêhtêyiwa, konita tatâstawâyihk mostosonâhk ê-papâmipayit awa sihkos, ê-wî-kakwê-otihtât ôhi iskwêwa. piyis cîki ê-ayât, âsay wâpamik ôhi wâpiski-mostosa. êkosi ê-ati-itohtêyit, tapasîw. êkwa itohtêw ôhi pêyakokâta.

(211) So it set out, that weasel, running about here, there and everywhere, between and under, through the buffalo country, trying to reach that woman. At last, when it had got near, already it had been seen by the white buffalo. So, when the other came toward it, it fled. Then it went to One-Leg.

(212) ômisi itêw: "âyiman." "nama nikî-otihtâw kisîm." "nîsta nikostâw wâpiski-mostos," itwêyiwa; "mayaw ê-wâpamit, âsay nipê-nâtik," itik; "âyiman ani!" itik.

(212) It said to him, “It is difficult. I could not reach your little sister. I too fear the white buffalo,” it said; “As soon as it saw me, it came for me,” it said to him; “It is a difficult thing!” it said to him.

(213) êkosi îkatêhtêyiwa. êkwa ay-ayâw êkota. kîtahtawê êkota kâ-pê-twêhoyit cahcahkâyôwa.

(213) With that it went off. He stayed on there. Presently a blackbird came and alighted there.

(214) "âstam!" itêw.

(214) “Come here!” he said to it.

(215) pê-itohtêyiwa.

(215) It came to him.

(216) "ôma kâ-papâ-mâna-wîsâhkawacik pisiskiwak, mitoni cî kinakayâskawâwak?"

(216) “When in your way you go about delighting the beasts, have you got them much used to your presence?”

(217) "êêhag! ahpô mâna wâwikaniwâhk twêhôwak, âskaw ostikwâniwâhk mîna," itêw.¹⁷

(217) “Yes! I even perch on their backs, and sometimes on their heads,” it told him.

(218) "mâka awa wâpiski-mostos, âskaw cî mîna êwako kisiwâk kôsâpamâw?"

(218) “But this white buffalo, do you sometimes see him too from close by?”

(219) "êha! âskaw ostikwânihk otêskanihk nitwêhowân." "namôya mâna pakwâtam," itik.

(219) “Yes! Sometimes I settle on his head and on his horns. He does not mind,” it told him.

(220) "hâw, kitimâkêyimin!" "wîcihin!" "nisîm ana kîmôc kakwê-wîhtamaw ôta ê-ayâyân." "nânitaw isi ta-kakwê-kwâpikêw," itêw.

(220) “Then, take pity on me! Help me! Try secretly to tell my little sister there that I am here. Let her try to come somewhere to get water,” he told it.

(221) êkosi, "êha; nika-wîhtamawâw," itêw.

(221) Then, “Yes, I will tell her,” it said to him.

(222) hâ, êkosi aspin ê-ohpihâyit, konita mêkwâ mostosonâhk papâ-ta-twêhôw awa cahcahkayow. piyisk wâpamêw ê-apiyit ôhi wâpiski-mostoswa, êkota mîna ôhi oskinîkiskwêwa ê-apiyit. êkota cîki nitawi-twêhôw, konita ê-papâ-ca-cahkatahikêsit. piyisk wâwikaniyihk twêhôw ôhi wâpiski-mostoswa. kîtahtawê otêskaniyihk êkwa twêhôw. ka-kitâpamêw awa awa oskinîkiskwêw, ê-wawiyatêyimât, "tâpwê namôya kostam kêkway!" ê-itêyimât, ê-kâh-kicoyit. kîtahtawê kâ-ohpipayihoyit, ostikwânihk ê-twêhoyit awa oskinîkiskwêw. namôya pisiskêyimêw, ê-wawiyatêyimât. kîtahtawê otihtimanihk twêhoyiwa.

(222) Then up it flew and away, and here and there in the buffalo land the blackbird would alight. At last it saw the white buffalo sitting, and there sat the young woman. It went and alighted near by, pecking about here and there with its little beak. At last it perched on the white buffalo's back. Then presently it perched on the buffalo's horn. The young woman kept looking at it, pleased at its drollery, and thinking of it, “Truly, it fears nothing!” while it twittered away. Presently it flew up and perched on the young woman's head. She paid no attention to it, merely thinking it pleasingly droll. Presently it perched on her shoulder.

(223) ômisi itik: "êkâya ka-sêkimitin, ê-kitocitân," itik, ohtawakâhk ê-itiskwêyiyit; "kistês takosin, 'nitawi-wîhtamaw,' ê-isit." "ôta kwâpikêskanâhk pimisin;" "'ta-kakwê-pê-kwâpikêw!' kititik."

(223) Thus it spoke to her: “Let me not frighten you by speaking to you,” it said to her, holding its head close to her ear; “Your brother has come here, and ‘Go tell her,’ he has bidden me. He lies there by the path where water is fetched; ‘Let her try to come for water!’ he says to you.”

(224) "tâpwê cî? ê-tâpwêyan cî?" itêw.

(224) “Is it true? Are you speaking true?” she asked it.

(225) "êha."

(225) “Yes.”

(226) â, êkosi ohpihâyiwa. êkwa ohpihât awa, êkoyikohk pêkopayiw awa mostos.

(226) Then it flew up. When it flew up, the buffalo awoke.

(227) ômisi itêw awa iskwêw: "hâw, nika-nitawi-minihkwân." "ninôhtêyâpâkwân," itêw.

(227) To it the woman said, “Now I want to go and drink. I am thirsty,” she said to it.

(228) "ô, namôya! kotak awiyak ta-nâtam, ta-minihkwêyan," itêw.

(228) “Oh, no! Someone else will fetch your drink,” it said to her.

(229) "namôya! ohcitaw ê-nôhtê-nitawi-minihkwêyân." "osâm ninêstosin, pêyakwanohk tahki ê-apiyân," itêw; "piyis niskâta niwî-wîsakêyihtên." "nika-isi-sâwahton," itêw.¹⁸

(229) “No! What I want is to go and drink. I am weary of always sitting in one place,” she said to it; “In the end I shall have pains in my legs. Let me stretch my legs by walking a bit,” she said to it.

(230) "ahaq." "kiyipa kakwê-takohtê;" "êkâya mîna awiyak wîcêw," itêw, ê-pakwâtahk kotaka nâpêwa ta-kitotikoyit ôhi iskwêwa awa mostos.

(230) “Very well. Try to come back soon; and do not go with anyone,” it told her, for that buffalo hated any other man to talk to the woman.

(231) "êha," itwêw awa iskwêw, ê-ati-pasikôt, ê-sipwêhtêt.

(231) “Yes,” said she, and arose and went off.

(232) tâpwê ê-otihtahk sâkahikan, "âstam, nisîm!" kâ-itikot ostêsa.

(232) Really, as she came to the lake, “Come here, my little sister!” her big brother said to her.

(233) ê-otihtât, "namôya cî awiyak kisiwâk ayâw?" itik.

(233) When she came where he was, “Is no one near?” he asked her.

(234) "êha."

(234) “No.”

(235) "â, nisîm, ê-pê-nâtitân ôma," itêw, ê-ocêmât awa iskwêw ostêsa.

(235) “Now, little sister, it is that I have come to fetch you,” he said to her, as she kissed her big brother.

(236) êkosi mîna pôtâtam ôma sâkahikan: âpihtaw isko miskwamîwiyiw. mîna ê-pôtâtahk, êkwa akâmihk isko.

(236) So then again he breathed on the lake; halfway across it was ice. When he blew on it again, then all the way to the far shore.

(237) "hâw, nisîm, kawipayiho," itêw; "nika-wî-âpakosîsiwinân."

(237) “Now then, little sister, lie down on the ground,” he told her; “We shall turn into mice.”

(238) êkwa miskwamîhk pimipayiwak. kêkâc ê-kîsi-pihkohocik, êkoyikohk ati-tihkisoyiwa ôhi miskwamiya. piyisk âta wiya pihkohôwak, êkwa ê-tapasîcik.

(238) Then they ran along over the ice. When they had got almost across, the ice began to melt. At last, however, they got to the shore and made off in flight.

(239) êkoyikohk êkwa wâpamikwak, "hayâhây! pêyakokât osîma kwâsihêw!" "nawaswâtihk!" ka-matwê-itwêyit mostoswa.

(239) But now they were seen by the others, and “Ho, ho, ho! One-Leg is taking his sister away! Go after him!” they heard the buffalo cry.

(240) êkosi êkwa sôhki pimipahtâwak osîma. kîtahtawê wâhyaw ê-ayâcik, êkwa wî-atimikwak, osâm nawac ê-yîkicikâwît awa iskwêw.

(240) So then he and his sister ran fast. Presently, when they had gone a long ways, the others were near to overtaking them, for the woman was too slow on her feet.

(241) "â, nisîm, kitakohp wêpina!" itêw.

(241) “Oh, little sister, throw down your blanket-robe!” he said to her.

(242) wêpinam, êwako ê-otihtahkik ôki mostoswak, konita ê-kitocik, ê-nôhkwâtahkik. â, êkoyikohk wâhyaw ihtâwak. iyikohk ê-mêstâtahahkik ôma akohp, êkoyikohk mîna nawaswêwak ôki mostoswak.

(242) She threw it down, and to it the buffalo came, wildly bellowing and licking it. Meanwhile they got far ahead. Only when they had devoured the blanket did the buffalo resume the chase.

(243) mîna ê-wî-atimikot, "hâ, nisîm, êkwa kanakwayak wêpin!"¹⁹

(243) When again they were close to overtaking them, “Oh, little sister, now throw away your sleeves!”

(244) wêpinêw wanakwaya, âsay mîna êwakoni konita ê-kitocik, ê-nôhkwâtâcik wanakwaya. iyikohk mîna ê-kitamwâcik, êkoyikohk mîna sipwêpayiwak.

(244) She threw away her sleeves, and again those creatures made a wild noise, as they snouted at the sleeves. Again, only when they had eaten them up, did they start out.

(245) êyikohk mîna ê-wî-atimikocik, "nisîm, êkwa mîna kimaskisina wêpina!"

(245) When again they had almost overtaken them, “Little sister, now throw away your moccasins!”

(246) mîna êwakoni ê-wêpinahk, otamiyiwak mostoswak, ê-nôhkwâtahkik. êyiwêhk mâna wâhyawês itâmôwak. êkwa mîna ê-mêstâtahahkik ôhi maskisina, êkwa mîna pimitisahwêwak mîna. ê-wî-atimikocik, mîna otâsa wêpinam. mîna êwakoni otamiyiyiwa. êkwa mîna êwakoni ê-kitâyit, âta êkwa kisiwâk ayâwak mîna.

(246) When she had cast away these too, the buffalo delayed to lick them. Each time they did, after all, flee quite a ways. And when they had entirely devoured the moccasins, they chased them again. When they were again about to overtake them, she threw off her leggings. Over these too the creatures delayed. When they had eaten these too, they were already near.

(247) mwêhci êkwa mîna ê-wî-atimikocik, "â, nisîm, êkwa kipakwahtêhon wêpina!" itêw.

(247) Then, as the creatures were again about to overtake them, “Oh, little sister, now throw your belt!” he told her.

(248) mîna êwako wêpinam. wâwîs êwako kiyipa kitâyiwa. kiyipa êkwa wî-atimikwak.

(248) She threw it too. This they devoured all the more quickly. Very soon they were now close to overtaking them.

(249) êkwa kisiwâk êkwa wîkiwâw ê-ayâyik, "hâ, nisîm, êyiwêhk mahti êkwa kiskotâkay wêpina!" itêw.

(249) Then, when their dwelling was already near, “Oh, little sister, now do you throw your dress!” he told her.

(250) wêpinam awa oskinîkiskwêw. êwako mîna mayaw ê-otihtahkik ôki mostoswak, êwako mîna otamiyiwak. êkoyikohk êkwa mitoni cîki êkwa ayâwak wîkiwâhk. iyikohk ê-kitâcik, êkoyikohk mîna sipwêpayiwak. êkoyikohk êkwa otihtam wîkiwâw. kîhcêkosîwêpinêw osîma; êkwa wiya wîsta kîhcêkosîpayihôw. âsay êkota takopayiwa. kêkâc kêsiskâk, iyikohk ê-askôkocik. êkwa ê-otinahk wîpisisa, êkwa ê-nôcihât ôhi mostoswa, miyêstinahki, kotaka ê-otinât opîhtatwâna, piyisk mitoni iskwâhêw mostoswa. nama mayaw kî-nipahêw ôhi ka-wâpiskisiyit mostoswa. kîtahtawê êkwa kâ-pikwâstahwât, tâpiskôc êkwa mistahi ê-maskawisiyit.

(250) The young woman cast it off. As soon as the buffalo came to it, over it, too, they delayed. But by this time they were very near to their house. Only when they had eaten up the dress, did they start out again. But by this time he had reached their house. He threw his little sister to the roof; then he too flung himself up there. Already the creatures arrived on the run. They nearly got there at the same time with him, so closely were they upon their heels. Then he took his arrows and made fight upon those buffalo, and when he had used them up, he would take another quiver, until at last he killed a great many of those buffalo. He had not yet succeedeed in killing the white buffalo. But presently he woulded it, but it seemed to be as strong as ever.

(251) ômisi itik; "pêyakokât, kisâkôcihin." "âpihtâ-kîsikâhk pê-isi-kawiwêpinin." "nîkân ôtê ayîsiyiniwak kita-ohpikiwak." "'âpihtâ-kîsikâhk wâpiski-mostos ê-otaskît nikitimâkêyimik,' itwêci, ta-tâpwêw," itik.

(251) It said to him, “One-Leg, you have defeated me. Come throw me toward the place of noon. Off in the future mortal men will grow into life. When one says, ‘The White Buffalo that dwells in the place of noon has taken pity on me,’ he will speak true,” it said to him.

(252) "hâ, wâpiski-mostos, isi-kawipayiho!" itêw.

(252) “Very well, White Buffalo, throw yourself hither!” he said to it.

(253) tâpwê êkotê isi-kawipayihoyiwa.

(253) Truly, to that place it flung itself.

(254) "yahô, pônihihk pêyakokât!" "kika-mêscihikonaw." "piyisk sâsay kôkimâminawa sâkôcihêw!" itwêyiwa; "pônihihk!"

(254) “Ha, leave One-Leg alone! He will exterminate us. He has now defeated our chieftain!” they cried; “Leave him alone!”

(255) tâpwê nanânis âh-isi-sipwêhtêyiwa. êkwa nîhtakosîwak osîma.

(255) And so in every direction they went away from there. Then he and his sister descended.

(256) êkwa ê-postayôwinisêyit osîma, "mitoni nânapâciho, nisîm!" itêw.

(256) Then when his sister had donned her clothes, “Put on your best finery, little sister!” he told her.

(257) tâpwê nânapâcihôw.

(257) Truly she decked herself out.

(258) mitoni ê-kîsi-wawêsît, "hâw, wayawîtân, nisîm!" itêw. ê-kî-wayawîcik, "â, nisîm, namôya êsa ani kinwêsk ê-kî-miyo-wîcêtân." "osâm tahki nika-mikoskâcihikawin kiya ohci." "piyisk ka-misi-wanâcihik awiyak." "osâm kikitimâkêyimitn." "cêskwa ayîsiyiniwak kâ-wî-ihtâcik ita askîhk, ôta ê-âpihtâwitâkosik ka-otaskîn." "pêh-pêyak ayîsiyiniw kika-kitimâkêyimâw, ôki cêskwa kâ-wî-ohpikicik ayîsiyiniwak." "êkwa niya pahkisimôtâhk nika-otaskîn." "ayîsiyiniw kîhkîhk pêyak, 'nikitimâkêyimik ê-pêyakokâtêt!' itwêci, ta-tâpwêw." "ha, nisîm, pêskis êkotê ohci ê-wî-kanawêyimitân," itêw; "niyâ, nisîm, sipwêhtê!" itêw, wîsta ê-sipwêhtêt, nîswayak ê-nitawi-otaskîcik.

(258) When she had put on all her ornaments, “Come, let us go out of doors, little sister!” he said to her. And when they were outside, “Now little sister, it appears that I should not long be able to stay happily with you. Too much always would I be assailed and troubled for your sake. In the end someone would destroy you. I am too fond of you. After a time when mortal men come into being here on earth, then there in the place of the afternoon sun you will dwell. One and another mortal you will pity and befriend, of the mortals who in time are to grow forth. And I shall dwell in the land of the sunset. If in the course of time some mortal man says, ‘The One-Legged has taken pity on me,’ he will speak the truth. My little sister, at the same time from there I shall guard you,” he told her; “My little sister, depart!” he said to her, as he too departed, and they went to dwell in two places.

(259) êkoyikohk ê-iskwâk âtayôhkêwin.

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

Footnotes

¹CHECK pêyakwanaw

²CHECK mâmîskonât

³LB on cî: The interrogative particle comes near the beginning of the sentence, usually after the first word; here it is inserted in a quotation of which it does not form a part. Compare its insertion in the verbal complex immediately below.

⁴LB on êh-: Start toward including quotation in verbal complex.

⁵LB on wîh-wawîwinawisiw: Obscure; perhaps a nonce-formation. If really derived from wîwah: “his wife” (nîwah: “my wife,” etc.), perhaps read wîh-owîwinawisiw; for the general rule in Central Algonquian is that secondary derivatives of dependent nouns are made from the form with third-person possessor; those in nî-, kî-, wî- prefix o-, e.g., wîstâwah: “his brother-in-law”: uwîstâwiw: “he has (as) a brother-in-law”; and those in nô-, kô-, ô- prefix ow-, e.g. ôhtâwiya: “his father”: owôhtâwiyiw: “he has (as) a father.” But the Sweet Grass dialect seems to confuse this initial accretion with reduplication, e.g. oyôhtâwiyiw: “he has (as) a father,” cf. below.

⁶LB on kik-ôyôhtâwîmitin: See preceding note.

⁷LB on tastawayakap: The only meaning I could obtain, “between the legs” does not fit One-Leg. If it is correct, the narrator has gone astray.

⁸LB on kanik ôt âw an: Expression unfamiliar to me, or error of notation; the word division is a guess.

⁹CHECK kîskiskôhik

¹⁰CHECK ka

¹¹NB pronoun inside verbal complex

¹²CHECK miyêstinamiyihki: Another obviative indefinite??

¹³? e-wâskâpayiyit

¹⁴LB: The whole motif, beginning where One-Leg befriends the young woman, occurs in a Menomini story, in which, however, the mischief-maker is not the Culture Hero, but the rabbit, and “prairie-weeds were his arrows.” Three facts seem relevant, though I do not know in what relation they stand: (1) the story is not a typical Culture Hero tale, but one of the few in which he appears as a secondary character; (2) in general the Culture Here plays a more important part in Menomini thought and story than in Cree; (3) his name in Menomini is me'napus: “Big-Rabbit,” which may be an adaptation of Ojibwa nânabuc (Cree, easter nânapus, or of some earlier Memomini form.

¹⁵CHECK pêhtâkaniwiw (seems like AI impersonal)

¹⁶LB on kistêsinaw: “Our elder brother,” part of the deception, since everyone is Wisahketchahk's younger brother or sister, cf. immediately below, where he says nisîm: “my younger brother.”

¹⁷CHECK if tiwêhowak is actually an IC tiyêhowak

¹⁸CHECK nika-sisawohtan

¹⁹wêpin agrees with ‘sleeves’ in animacy but not number