FEACHTEXBEKG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 177 



bathing he started out and went on. But he was not gomg long 

 when he came upon the tracks of an elk. Thereupon he followed 

 them. (Those) were the tracks of a very large elk. So he con- 

 tmually followed them. "(I) wonder whether I am ever gomg to 

 overtake himl" And then he kept on gomg. (The tracks) were 

 still fresh. So he kept on going toward them. (The elk must have) 

 just recently gotten up. And now he was commg nearer. (There 

 was) only one elk, an elk of a (very) large size. So he kept on going 

 after it. Sometimes he would almost not find the tracks (of the elk). 

 Then he continually went after it. (Those tracks) were really fresh. 

 "(I) wonder what (he will look like) when I will see him?" (were) 

 the thoughts of the man. It just seemed as if he saw the elk. So 

 then he kept on following him. He Imew now what (his spirit) had 

 been telling him. "It seems as if many people (are here)." (Such 

 were) his own thoughts. Then (it was) not long when at last he 

 heard some (noise in the) brush. The man was thinkmg in his 

 mind, ''He must be approaching now." So then he kept on going 

 slowly. Thus (he thought in) his^mind, "(I) wonder what (he will 

 look like) when I should see him?" But (it w^as) not long before he 

 perceived him. Then he kept on lookmg at him (carefully) after he 

 espied the elk. That mentioned elk had a horn on one side only. 

 So when he saw him he did not think in his mind that he was going 

 to shoot at him. Thereupon the elk started to go. He was going 

 to take him to the place of which (the man) had dreamed. He was 

 going to take him there. Now he kept on going. And then the sun 

 went west, and night was about to overtake him. Thereupon he 

 camped. He knew now what the elk was going to do. So after he 

 fell asleep he began to dream. He knew now what the elk had been 

 telling him: "I will take thee there, where everybody is playing, 

 I am going to take thee there. Thou shalt not cease (following) me. 

 Even if I should go far, thou shalt nevertheless follow me contmually. 

 Thou desirest (to know) all sorts of things. I will take thee where 

 everybody is playmg." And then when daylight appeared, he began 

 to bathe. He did not think (of anything) in his mind. He just 

 kept on smoking. Now, verily, thus he acted. He just always 

 looked (for the elk), as he kept on following him. And then he con- 

 tinued to follow him. ' ' I shall take thee where everybody is playing," 

 That man was glad because he was going to know everythmg. For 

 that reason he was very glad, because he was going to learn all sorts 

 of things. 



And now the elk took him there. And not long (afterward) they 

 two began to approach, "Thou shalt not let thy heart become impa- 

 tient! Even if we two do not come to people right away, thy heart 



96653— 20— Bull. 67 12 



