FEACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 159 



(afterward that man) began to return (the blows). Whenever a man 

 would be hit, his head would fall off, whereupon that old woman would 

 seize it quickly and go with it high up, (whence) she would throw it 

 down from above into the hole she had dug, and (the head) would 

 (arrive) at the place of the dead (making a noise). Bum! Then she 

 would again catch a different (head), and throw that head into the 

 place she had dug, (which) would then in the same way (arrive) at 

 the place of the dead. And then (it was) not long before the youngest 

 (brother) was left. Thereupon they two (the Kuta'miyu and the. 

 youngest brother) fought for a long time. And not long (afterward) 

 the neck of (the youngest brother) was cut a little, whereupon it 

 became drawn to one side. Then he escaped and was pursued. And 

 when he despaired (of bemg able to escape) he simply flew (up as) a 

 Hawk. And for that reason the Hawk has a crooked neck. Now in 

 such manner did the orphan act; as soon as he became a (grown up) 

 person he proved himself superior (to others), because he was acting 

 (as) a child of the Kuta'miyus. 



13. The Lost Elk Hunters 



They (were) three (hunters) related to one another as brothers, and 

 they kept on talking, "We are going to go (out) hunting." There- 

 upon the last brother said to his (elder brother), "Even if I do not 

 come (back) quickly, thou shalt nevertheless not wait for me." And 

 then they went 4:/0 where (the younger brother) had (previously) found 

 the tracks of an elk. "We will go along this (trail)." Then, verily, 

 they went along this (trail). "Who is gomg to walk ahead? Our 

 (dual) elder brother will always lead. I will habitually walk behind." 

 (Tlien the youngest brother said), "I will continually be in the middle." 

 All of them had quivers. And then they came to where that (youngest 

 brother) had (previously) found the tracks of an elk; truly, (it was) 

 not long before they found the tracks of the elk, still fresh. "Thou 

 shiilt carefully guard our dog. His tracks are just very fresh." And 

 then they arrived (there). They found the sleeping place of two elks. 

 "Thou shalt always watch the dog carefully. Only after they two 

 will be scared out (of their lair), will the dog pursue (them)." Then 

 they began to track (the elks). (Those were) the tracks of a very 

 large elk. "It will not be far (from here where) we are going to over- 

 take hijn. (The tracks) are simply very fresh. It must be a very 

 large elk. Although the ground (here) is hard, nevertheless his tracks 



