HEwiTTl MYTH OF THE EARTH-GRASPER 481 



Now then on the way as her body was floating down there she 

 saw the Fire Dragon, whose Body was White, who seized her body 

 in flight and said, "Dost thou then travel? Art thou departing from 

 home? I will aid you then in all things in which I am able to do so. 

 VerUy that will be in accordance with the measure of the power 

 which I possess, so that thou shouldst continue to live when thou 

 arrivest below. And the reason that this shall come to pass is that 

 verily thy former husband accused me of the things for which he 

 cast thee down. I am bringmg with me then that upon which thou 

 shalt live when thou dost arrive below." 



Then at that time she saw that he held corn and meat, both dried. 

 At that time verity she received both. Then at that time he said, 

 "I will accompany thee and 1 will turn back at one-half the distance 

 to the place whither thou goest." 



Then verily she passed on. Not very long after and not much 

 farther did she go when the other one said, "So far only on the way 

 am I able to be of assistance to thee. And then thou bearest with 

 thee power, if it will be possible that safely thou pass through this 

 ordeal. Not as to that will the time be long when it will become 

 again as it was in the place whence thou didst depart." Then at 

 that time the woman thanked him (by nodding her head) and then 

 that one, the man," went liack. 



Now verily the man passed on. And so there were there below 

 many Ducks of all kinds. So then a man,'- a Duck, there present, 

 and who was at all times looking upward, suddenly now he cried out, 

 he said, "It would seem that a Man Being is falling down from 

 above." Then at that time Hahowen (Loon) he cried out, saying, 

 "Come, now, do ye rise up, do ye go to meet her, so that gentty she 

 will come to stand here when her body arrives here." 



Then at that time the Ducks of all kinds flew and they raised 

 themselves upward and there, high above, they met her; and the 

 Ducks joined their bodies together severally and at that time thereon 

 she seated herself on their united bodies. Then verily slowly down- 

 ward they returned. When again they alighted below it continued 

 that they went about with their bodies joined together, floating about, 

 and thereon the woman sat, going about. 



Then at that time Hahowen (Loon) shouted, saying, "Now all to- 

 gether come hither." Then at that time all assembled in one place. 

 At that time Hahowen spoke, saying, "Now verily we are assembled, 

 we who were the first " to arrive here. Now then verily it becomes 

 necessary that we should give assistance to her who is of the second 

 arrival here. Now then will become manifest what is the extent of 

 the power of each one of us, in order that by all means verily the 

 woman should continue to live. He, Dehaenhyagahaa,'^ verily was 



See note on p. 609. 



