464 THE ESKIMO ABOUT BERING STRAIT [eth.ann. 18 



arrowhead here from an okl war I was iu and it pains me greatly; that 

 is the reason I fell behind." 



After resting they went on, but the others had to wait for Raven 

 again, and he repeated the story of the arrowhead, which he told them 

 had pierced his heart. Then he had his wife x)ut her hand on his breast 

 to feel it shaking about. She did so, but could feel only his heart 

 beating like a hainmerstone and no sign of an arrowpoint, yet she said 

 nothing. Thus they went on, and again they waited for Kaven, but now 

 the brothers began to talk about him, saying among themselves, "I do 

 not believe that story about the arrowhead. How could he live with 

 an arrowhead in his heart ? " 



When they were rested they saw the far-away shore before them. 

 The father Goose now told Raven that they would wait for him no more 

 until they reached the land. Then all arose and flew on, Raven slowly 

 flapping his wings, which felt very heavy. The Geese kept steadily on 

 toward the shore, while Raven sank lower and lower, getting nearer 

 and nearer to the dreaded water. As he came close to the waves he 

 cried and shrieked to his wife, "Leave me the white stone! Throw it 

 back to me !" for it contained magical properties. Thus he kept crying 

 until suddenly his wings lost their power and he floated helplessly in 

 the water as the Geese gained the shore. He tried to rise from the water, 

 but his wings seemed to be weighted down, and he drifted back and 

 forth along the beach. The waves arose, and soon succeeding white 

 caps buried him until he was soaked, and only with the greatest difli- 

 culty could he get his beak above the surface to breathe a little between 

 the waves. After a long time a great wave cast him upon the land. 

 Then, as it flowed back, he dug his claws into the x)ebbles and only 

 by great effort did he save himself from being dragged back again into 

 the sea. As soon as he was able he struggled up the beach, an unhappy- 

 looking object. The water ran in streams from his soaked feathers and 

 his wings dragged on the ground. He fell several times, and at last, 

 with wide-gaping mouth, reached some bushes, where he pushed up his 

 beak and became a small, dark-colored man. Then he took off his 

 raven coat and mask, hanging them on a bush, while he made a fire- 

 drill out of some pieces of wood and soon had a fire burning, before 

 which he dried himself. 



THK KAVEN, THE WHALE, AXD THE MINK 



[This tale is related either separately or in conjunction with the fore- 

 going legend, of which it forms a part.] 



After Raven had dried his clothing at the fire he chanced to look 

 toward the sea and saw a large whale passing close along the shore, 

 and he cried out, "When you come up again shut your eyes and open 

 your mouth wide." Quickly putting on his raven coat, he drew down 

 his mask, then, carrying his fire-drill under his wings, flew out over 

 the water. The whale soon came up again and did as it was told, and 



