BOAS] HANDBOOK OF AMERICAN INDIAN LANGUAGES 873 



In the fall they overtook the bear; then they slew him; after 

 they had slain him, then many boughs of an oak did they cut, 

 likewise sumachs ; then with the bear lying on top (of the boughs) 

 they skinned him and cut up his meat; after they had skinned him 

 and cut up his meat, then they began to scatter (the parts) in all 

 directions. Toward the place from whence the dawn of day hurled 

 they the head ; in the winter time when the dawn is nearly breaking, 

 (certain) stars were wont to appear ; it has been said that they were 

 that head. And his back-bone toward the east did they also fling. 

 It is also common in the winter time for (certain) stars to be seen 

 lying close together. It has been said that they were that back-bone. 



And it has also been told of them (viz., the bear and the hunt- 

 ers) that the (group of) four stars in front was the bear, and that 

 the three behind were they who were in pursuit of the bear. There 

 in between (the star in front and the star behind) a tiny little star 

 hangs. They say that was a little dog, Hold-Tight, which was pet 

 to Union-of- Rivers. 



As often as it is autumn the oaks and sumachs redden at the 

 leaf for the reason that when they (the hunters) place (the bear) on 

 top of (the boughs), then stained become the leaves with blood. That 

 is why every autunni the leaves of the oaks and sumachs redden. 



That is the end of the story. 



