FRACHTENBERG] ALSEA TEXTS AND MYTHS 217 



black bears went toward the sea; all kinds of deer went toward the 

 ocean. And also cougars, likewise wolves, and, moreover, foxes and 

 wildcats; the hair of all (of them) was partially burned and also 

 their legs. (Such) of their number (as were) partially burned were 

 commg to the water from the east. ''No one shall touch (them); 

 they fared poorly. We two will just leave them alone." Thus they 

 two would talk among themselves. "Never did nature act thus," 

 thus my grandmother kept on saymg. "No matter how long (back 

 I can remember), nature did not act like that." When her two 

 children heard her (speak thus), they would say: "Now we two will 

 just stay here. When the fire w^ill disappear, at that time will we 

 two depart." 



Then they two were counting for how many days darkness pre- 

 vailed all over. For probably ten days it was dark all over. "Not 

 long (afterward) the fire is going to disappear; then, indeed, we two 

 will go away to-morrow." Now, verily, all (the people) were speak- 

 ing (thus). "(You two) shall watch yourselves carefully when you 

 two will go now," thus my grandmother would speak. Then after 

 it got dark again the fire disappeared right there. Then they two 

 kept on saymg, "Now we two will go to-morrow in the morning to 

 have a look." Then in the mornmg the}^ two ate. "After we two 

 shall have gone, you shall not go far away. You shall just stay 

 (here) motionless." Then they two were speakmg to theu* (dual) 

 wives. "We two are going to come back to-morrow" — "You two 

 shall take good care of yourselves," thus said my grandmother. 

 Then they started. Where there was a mountain, that place there 

 did not burn. So they two kept on gomg on that trail, and they 

 arrived at where there was a place (covered) with grass. And only 

 there did the fire reach. Then they two ascended. Now it was 

 gradually getting light aU over; just a little (light) showed far awaj^. 

 At last they came below, whereupon they two started to walk on 

 that beach. Then they two kept on gomg along the beach. Every- 

 where even the blossoms of the highest trees had burned down, (as 

 could be seen) after the water came with them to the beach. Now 

 not long (afterward) they two saw a bear walking along the edge of 

 the water, just partially burned. At last they two arrived at the 

 mouth of the Siuslaw River. All the pine trees (there) were partially 

 burned. Only ashes (could be seen) all over, because all the jiine 

 trees had caught fire. 



Then they came to a village; whereupon they two were spoken to. 

 "Did 5^ou two survive ?"^ — "Yes, we two survived; we just stayed at 

 Ltowai'sk'. (It is) from there that we two have arrived; we are on 

 our way to have a look." — "Yes, we have fared (here) very poorly. 

 We just stayed close to the sea; we brought all our belongings to the 

 beach. AU the people stayed close to the ocean. The people stayed 



