boas] APPENDIX I NOOTKA TALES 895 



Wolves pursue you, throw the stone between you and the Wolves, 

 and there shall be a large mountain; and when they come near again, 

 throw the comb behind you, and it will be transformed into thick 

 bushes. When they get through the thick bushes, they will run after 

 you again; and when they come near you, you must throw down the 

 hair-oil, and it will turn into a large lake. Then you must run. 

 You will see Periwinkle Shell (He e moino) on the road; to him you must 

 give the fire, and then you must run to save your life. Now let me 

 dress you up with soft cedar bark to catch the fire with." He took 

 the soft cedar bark and tied a bunch of it on each of Deer's elbows, 

 telling him that he must stand up and dance around the fire during 

 one song. He continued, "When that song is ended, ask them to 

 open the smoke hole, because you need fresh air; and when they have 

 opened the hole, we will sing the second song, and in the middle of 

 it you must touch the fire with your elbow and jump through the 

 smoke hole. Now I will put these hard black stones on your feet, 

 so that they will not be hurt by the sharp-pointed sticks on the floor 

 of the chief's house." Thus he said as he rubbed the stones on his 

 feet. 



By the time the council ended it was dark; and the people of 

 the Mowa'tc !ath a tribe sang as they were going toward the Wolves' 

 dancing-house. Deer was dancing in front of them. Before they 

 came to the house door, Chief Woodpecker said to his people, "We 

 will not let the Mowa'tc !ath a in, for they might try to steal our 

 fire." But his daughter said, "I want to see the dance, for I am 

 told that Deer dances well; you never let me go out to see a dance." 

 Then her father said, "Open the door, and let them come in; but 

 keep close watch on Deer, and do not let him dance too near the fire. 

 When they are inside, shut the door and put a bar across it, so that 

 he can not run out." Thus the chief said to his people. 



They opened the door and called the people in. They entered 

 singing; and after they were in, the chief warriors shut the door, put 

 a bar across it, and stood in front of it. The Mowa'tc !ath a began to 

 sing Deer's first dancing-song; and he began to dance around the fire 

 weakly. After the first song ended, he said, "It is very hot in here. 

 Will you please open the smoke hole to let the fresh air come in and 

 cool me, for I am sweating?" Chief Woodpecker said, "He can not 

 jump so high. Go and open the smoke hole, for it is hot in here." 

 One of his people opened the smoke hole. Meanwhile the visitors 

 kept quiet and gave Deer a good rest. 



After the smoke hole was wide open, the song-leader of the visitors 

 began to sing; and Deer began to dance around the fire. Sometimes 

 he would go near the fire. Whenever the chief saw him go near the 

 fire, he would send one of his warriors to tell him to keep away. 



