FEACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AjS'D myths 149 



head wabbles as he dances the death dance." (This song was repeated 

 several times.) Then in vain it was (attempted to) make his head 

 stick with all sorts of things; nevertheless the same thing happened: 

 As soon as he would move himself, it would come oif again. Then 

 white clay was tried next. After night (had come and gone) five 

 times, it finally became somewhat tighter. For such reason the neck 

 of the Woodpecker is white, because it was several times tried to make 

 his head stick fast by means of white clay when it was put back on 

 (his body) . 



Only now (the story ends). 



12. The Avenger 



Now on one river there lived, on one side (of the river), those 

 (Kuta'miyus), who were related to one another as j'ounger brothers. 

 And on the other side (of the river) there lived likewise those who 

 were mutualh^ related as younger brothers. And those Kuta'miyus 

 they just did everything each day, while again at night they would 

 play the guessmg game m their sweat house. All their belongmgs 

 they were keepmg there — their dentalia shells, and also their gam- 

 blmg sticks and, moreover, their knives, and, furthermore, one quiver 

 (made of) a fisher's skin. (This skm still) kept all its parts (intact) 

 there; aU its claws and also its teeth, and it just seemed to be alive, 

 although it was only fuU of arrows. And now concerning those 

 mutual brothers who lived on the other side (of the river), they like- 

 wise did thus all the time. Every day they just performed aU sorts 

 of deeds; they were spearmg and also shooting at the target. 



Now one day the yoimger brother (of the Kuta'miytis) said, 

 ' ' (Would it) not (be well) if they were challenged ? ' ' But he was told : 

 "Just keep still. Later on (this will be done)." And then one day 

 it was repeatedly called down to them, ''Dost thou not want that I 

 should challenge thee, my friend?" — ^"Truly, if thou wantest it." 

 And then, verily, they crossed (the river) one day m order to challenge 

 those mutual brothers on the other side (of the river). And then 

 when they arrived at the other side, all sorts of games were played by 

 aU — target shootuig, spearing, and also dice throwing. And after it 

 got dark everybody played the guessmg game. And when daylight 

 appeared again then once more aU sorts of games were played by all. 

 Now for five nights and days they were domg aU sorts of things. 

 Then in vam it was attempted to determme when it would be well 

 to kill them all, so that not one of them should escape, m order that 



