NELSON] TALE OF AK’-CHIK-CHU -GOUK 501 
Then the brothers returned home and completed their preparations 
for the journey. When everything was ready, Ak/-chik-cht-gtk had 
his brothers remove all their clothing and, taking his knife, with a 
single stroke he cut off the head of each. After this he made their 
mother carry the bodies outside and dismember them, putting the 
fragments into a great earthen pot, where they were boiled. At first 
his mother refused, but Ak’-chik-chii/-gfik compelled her to obey him. 
When she had done as she was bid, she came in and told him; then, 
ordering her to remain in the house and upon no account to come out- 
side until he gave her permission, he went out and, by the aid of a 
powerful inuwa that did his bidding, restored his brothers to life again. 
When all her sons entered the house alive once more, the mother 
was very glad. At the bidding of Ak’-chik-cht’/-gik she put some 
decayed fish roe and some bird-skin coats into the umiak, and they 
started on their search, leaving their parents alone. The brothers 
journeyed on until they reached a large village, where they stopped, 
and, going into the kashim, asked for tidings of their sister. 
The people answered in an unfriendly way, and soon after one of the 
villagers cried out, “We must kill these men,” and everyone seized his 
weapons and started toward the brothers. Ak’-chik-chi’-gik seemed 
not to notice the treacherous villagers until they were close to him; 
then, raising his right arm and placing the elbow against his side, 
drew the entire arm into his body; as he did this everyone of the 
villagers was compelled to do the same, and they stood helpless, 
without the use of their right arms. 
“Why do younot killus? Why do you wait?” and similar mocking 
taunts were directed to them by Ak’-chik-chi’-gik. When the villagers 
had promised to let them go in peace, he thrust forth his own arm again, 
and at once everyone of the villagers was able to do the same; the 
people then told them that they might hear of their sister in the next 
village. 
After journeying fer several days they came to the village and went 
into the kashim, where again they made inquiries for their sister. As 
before, the people answered in an unfriendly tone and rushed at the 
strangers to kill them. Ak/-chik-chi/-gik paid no attention to his 
enemies until they were close to him, when he suddenly closed both 
eyes and the villagers were forced to do the same, after which he 
taunted them as he had taunted the men at the other village, then made 
them promise not to try to injure himself or his brothers, and restored 
their sight by opening his own eyes. These people told them that 
possibly they might get tidings at the next village, so the brothers 
went on. 
When they reached that place they made inquiry, and, as at the 
other villages, the péople wished to kill them, and were quite near the 
brothers with their weapons raised when Ak/-chik-chi’-giik put his hands 
on each side of his face and turned his head about on his shoulders 
