FEACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 165 



Wherever (those elks) went down the mountam, (then- hoofs) would 

 simply tear up the ground. Now their (dual) younger brother was 

 not saying anything at all. He just went very far. Even for a long 

 time (before) did not an elk act thus. However, he was not saying 

 anything to his two companions. "It will not be long before our 

 arrows will give out." Still they did not hear anything. "We will 

 keep on following slowly. Probably it won't be long before he will 

 become tired. What, truly, manner of elk is it that will never 

 stop?" Then they camped at a certain place when night came. 

 Then one of his younger brothers said, after they became tired: 

 "What (thoughts have) you two in your (dual) hearts? It (could) 

 never (be) an elk. Elks never acted like that (before). Even for 

 a long time did an elk never act thus." (Thus) they were continu- 

 ally talking among themselves: "I wiU never follow that elk (to the 

 end). I am gomg to give up; I went very far (already)." There- 

 upon his younger brother~said: "Yes, this is my opinion (also). We 

 have gone very far. It wiU not be long before my arrows will give out. 

 My lunch is gone." And now spoke their (dual) elder brother, 

 "We wiU again foUow him for only one day." Then, verily, they did 

 so. Their (dual) dogs became tired. The dogs were not going to 

 hunt any longer. They two quit. Then (only the hunters) kept on 

 following (the elk). At last they sat down, whereupon their 

 (dual) elder brother said: "I am gomg to quit now. We will now 

 give up (the chase)." Then they sat down and began to talk there 

 among themsdves: "Never before did an elk act like that. If it 

 had been really an elk, we would have overtaken it long ago. I 

 have gone very far. Even way back (within the memory of men) 

 did not (an elk) act thus. I have been gone (from home) for a long 

 time." And then night came upon them. "We wiU turn back." So 

 after daylight appeared they turned back. 



Now they were going home. Their appearance was not the same; 

 their looks simply became different. Perhaps for five days they were 

 going home. They kept on going back. Many elks (they saw on the 

 journey homeward). Then their (dual) elder brother said: "(Never 

 mind these elks). We are going home." Then, verily, they did so. 

 Then one of his younger brothers said, "It seems as if am looking 

 continually at elks." Now at last they approached the place from 

 which they had started out. It was not going to be long before they 

 were gomg to come back to their home. Finally, they came close to 

 their house. Now they came back to their canoe. Now they came 

 back to their house. And all their wives were simply crying. The 

 hair of each of their wives was gone. Then at last they gave up 

 (the chase). 



Now at last it comes to an end. 



