swANTON] HAIDA TEXTS AND MYTHS 245 



swiniiiiini^' in front of the town. After they had shot at it for a while 

 he also launched his canoe. He shot at it with his arrows. He shot 

 it in the end of the tail.'* After it had Hopped about there for some 

 time he got it into his canoe. He came home. Then he skinned it. 



There were spots of blood upon it. On account of these his wife 

 washed it. After she had done this for a while she slipped seaward 

 upon it. When the water was as high as her knees a killer whale 

 went away with her blowing. She was stuck between its fins. Killer 

 whales went out to sea with her in a crowd. 



He got into a canoe and went after his wife. Thej^ disappeared 

 luider the water in front of him. Then he came back and went crjdng 

 around the town. By and b}^ he questioned an old man who lived at 

 one end of the town. " What supernatural being is it that took away 

 my wife?" he asked of him. "Supernatural-being-always-in-the- 

 cradle took your wife awa}"." 



Then he gave him all sorts of things. He gave him all kinds of 

 things that would be useful to him. "Now, chief, I will let you have 

 my canoe. I will go with you. I will stand at the end of the trail, and 

 you shall get 3'our wife," he said to him. 



He lent him his short canoe which lay outside. "Raise it, chief. 

 Burn the l)ottom of it. Take twisted cedar limbs, Indian tobacco, and 

 tallow." Then he did as directed. 



When it was a fine day he went to him, but he said it was a bad day. 

 One day, when it was cloudy, he went to him not expecting anything. 

 He sat outside with his mat over his shoulder. He also had on his hat. 

 " It is a good day, chief. When we come to the middle of the sea the 

 sunshine will })e upon us only." Then he launched the canoe. He got 

 in the stern of his canoe. Immediatel}" they set otf. 



After thej^ had gone on for a while the sunshine came out, as he 

 had said. Then the old man said to him: "Look for a kelp with two 

 heads." And the}^ came to one. "Now fasten [the canoe and leave] 

 me right here. This is his trail." 



Then he gave him dire(;tions. "Right in the trail at the end of the 

 town Heron always repairs a canoe. He never lets a strange super- 

 natural being pass in. When he shouts, quickly put Indian tobacco 

 into his mouth. Also give him twisted cedar limbs. Then he will 

 conceal 3"ou." 



And he went down upon the kelp. He went along for a while upon 

 a trail in which were footprints and heard the sound of a hammer. 

 And he came to him. After he had looked at him for a while he 

 shouted. Then he put tobacco into his mouth. He also gave him 

 twisted cedar ])ranehes. Now he put him into his mouth. 



Then the town people came to him in a crowd. " Why did you 

 shout like that?" "1 cried out because my awl slipped." Then they 



