boas] tsimshian myths 111 



4. The Story of Grizzly Beak and Beaver 1 



There was a great lake close to Skeena River, where many beavers 

 built their houses, because it, was deep water and a safe hiding-place 

 and good shelter for them in winter-time. There were many old 

 houses, and new ones as well. They thought that their dangerous 

 enemies could not reach them. 



One day the beavers thought there was no danger near them. 

 Therefore they left then- houses and went out for fresh ah, and they 

 covered the melting ice. It was early in spring when the animals 

 awoke from their winter sleep and came out of their dens. The 

 Grizzly Bear had just come out from his winter sleep, and as soon 

 as he came out he saw many beavers that covered the ice. He went 

 there secretly, fell on them, and killed many of them. Some of them 

 escaped to their houses in the lake ; but the great Grizzly Bear hunted 

 them to their houses, and slew many of them in their houses, and 

 they were very sad. The great Grizzly Bear, however, was happy 

 because he had much food, and the poor weak beavers were much 

 distressed. He thought that these beavers would last him through 

 the summer, and finally only one beaver escaped from his paws. 



This poor Beaver went away down into the water, and the great 

 Grizzly Bear was eating the beaver meat ; and when he had enough, 

 he lay down and slept among the slain beavers. 



The poor lonely Beaver hid in the deep water and thought about 

 her great enemy. Then she planned to make false ground on one 

 side of the lake. So she took wet soft moss and put it at the butt 

 end of a fallen tree which stretched over the water at one side of the 

 great lake. She did so in the night, for she was afraid to work in the 

 daytime. She made it look like dry land around the old fallen tree. 

 At the end of the summer the salmon were in the creeks. Now, the 

 great Grizzly Bear's beaver meat was all gone, and the great dreadful 

 thing was very hungry. He was walking around the lake, searching 

 for something to eat; and he went to the brooks and caught many 

 salmon, which were to serve as his food in winter. 



One day as he went about very hungry, walking about proudly, for 

 he was stronger than any other animal, he stood there, and saw a poor 

 weak Beaver sitting at the end of a fallen tree. She was sitting there 

 very lonely. When the proud animal saw her sitting there, he asked 

 with his proud voice, "What are you doing there, poor animal?" 

 Thus said the proud Grizzly Bear when he saw her sitting on the end 

 of an old log. The Beaver said, ' ' Grizzly Bear shall die ! ' ' Then the 

 Grizzly Bear became angry, and said, "Did you say I shall die?" 

 but she did not even answer him. He walked down to and fro on the 

 dry land at the foot of the fallen tree, on the end of which the poor 



