boas] TSIMSHIAN MYTHS 263 



he threw it into the water; and when I saw the hat sink slowly, I 

 took my pole and fished it up, and put it behind me in the canoe, at 

 the stern. 



"In the evening we camped at the foot of a large spruce tree, and 

 built a large fire, ready to cook our supper. We roasted some of the 

 trout, and soon they were done. Then we went for skunk-cabbage 

 leaves, and we spread them on the ground to serve as dishes. Then 

 we put the roasted trout on them. As soon as we sat around there, 

 a frog leaped on the fish; and our prince, Asdilda, became very angry 

 at the frog, took it, and cast it into the fire. The frog leaped out of 

 the fire, but the prince took it again and threw it in. The frog tried 

 to escape from him, but could not do so. Again the frog tried to 

 leap out of the fire, but the prince took a long pole and pressed it into 

 the fire. The frog tried to escape, but could not do so. He pressed 

 hard, until the poor thing died and was burned." 



The steersman continued, "Then I took the body secretly and 

 threw it into the bushes. Our fire was almost out, and we lay down 

 in our camp to sleep until the following morning. Then we had our 

 breakfast; and after we had eaten, our prince said that we should go 

 back home. 



"We started for home; and when we were paddling along from our 

 camp, we heard some one shout behind us." Thus said the steersman 

 while the people crowded about him in his own house. 



"Then," said the steersman, "we beheld a young woman, who 

 stood on the beach of our camp, with her face blackened with char- 

 coal as a sign of mourning; and she said, 'My dears, will you take me 

 along in the canoe ? ' Our prince said, ' Let us turn back and take her 

 with us ! ' So we turned back to her ; and when we reached the shore, 

 our prince jumped out of the canoe, went to her, and stretched out 

 his arms to embrace her, for he was pleased with her. She had a 

 lovely countenance, and was beautiful to look upon. Therefore the 

 prince put forth his arms to embrace her; but she vanished from our 

 sight, and the prince saw only a frog that leaped away from him. 

 This happened to us three times. 



"Then we paddled away from our camp, not heeding her words. 

 She cried out repeatedly after us; and at last she said, 'My dears, 

 just stop for a while, until I have told you something.' Then we 

 stopped paddling, and she said, 'Just listen to what I say. - When 

 you reach the point yonder, your prince will fall back and die; and 

 when you reach the other point, one of those seated in the middle of 

 the canoe will die; and the next one will also die before you arrive 

 at home; and your steersman will die as soon as he has finished 

 telling his story to the people.'" 



Thus said the steersman, and fell hack and died. 



