NELSONJ TALE OF THE GIANT 473 



The boy grew rapidly aud excelled all of liis youthful companions iu 

 strength, agility, and marksmanship. He was named Kiii-jik, in mem- 

 ory of the giant. Then by degrees the husband became unkind and 

 harsh as he had been before, until one day he became so enraged that 

 he caught up a large stick to beat his wife. She ran out of the house 

 in fear, but slipped and fell just outside, and her husband was close 

 upon her when she remembered the giant and called " Kiii-ak! Kifi-Jik ! 

 come to me." Scarcely had she said these words when a terrible blast 

 of wind passed over her, blowing her husband away, and he was never 

 seen again. 



The years passed until young Kin-iik grew to be a handsome and 

 powerful young man and became a very successful hunter, but he had 

 a fierce and cruel temper. One evening he came home and told his 

 mother that he had quarreled with two of his companions and had 

 killed both of tliem. His mother remonstrated with him, telling of 

 the danger he would be in from the blood revenge of the relatives of 

 the murdered men. Time went on, and the matter seemed to be for- 

 gotten. 



Again Kin-iik came home with a tale of having killed a companion. 

 After this every few days he would quarrel with someone and end by 

 killing him; at last he had killed so many people that his mother 

 refused to permit him to live with her any longer. He seemed greatly 

 surprised at this, saying, "Are you not my mother! How is it that 

 you can thus treat mef 



"Yes," she replied, "I am your mother, but your evil temper has 

 ended in killing or driving away all our friends. Everyone hates and 

 fears you, and soon no one will be left living in the village except old 

 women and children. Go away; leave this place, for it will be better 

 for all of us." 



Kiil-iik made no reply, but for some time he hunted continually until 

 he had filled his mother's storehouse with food and skins. Then he 

 went to her, saying, "Now that I have provided you with food and 

 skins, as Avas my duty, I am ready to leave," and he went forth. 



By chance he took the same road his mother had traveled during 

 her flight, and came at last to the giant's head. When the giant 

 understood that he was the son of the woman who had been there he 

 permitted the young man to stay on his face, but told him never to 

 come about his lips, for if he ventured there evil would befall him. 

 For some time Kiii-tik lived there quietly, but at last made up his 

 mind to go upon the giant's lip and see what was there. After a great 

 deal of hard work in getting through the tangled thicket of beard on 

 the giant's chin he i'eached the mouth. The moment he stepped upon 

 the lips and approached the opening between them a mighty blast of 

 wind swept forth and he was hurled into the air and never seen again. 



The giant still lives in the north, although no one has ever been to 

 him since that day; but whenever he breathes the fierce snow-drifting 

 north winds of winter make his existence known. 



