140 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann. 32 



them there was the phice for them to lie down ; but, going over to the 

 corner where the ashes were piled, they lay down with Hat'hondas. 

 They smoothed his hair and fondled him, speaking pleasant words to 

 and about him. The old man was very angry and slept none that 

 night. The women left the lodge at daybreak. AVhen Hat'honilas 

 awoke, he had become a man in full vigor, strong and fine looking. 



The old uncle now called his nephew, saying: " You now have be- 

 come a man. You mu.st follow the women. The mother bears the 

 most noted name in sorcery in her tribe. She is now seeking a hus- 

 band for her daughter. Near her lodge grows a large hickory tree ** 

 on which sits an eagle as a target. Whoever can bring down that 

 eagle will get the daughter. Men go there from every direction and 

 place to shoot at it, but no one has yet hit it. You must shoot at it, 

 too." 



The old man then brought out from liis chest an outfit consisting 

 of a cap of otter skin, a panther-skin coat, leggings of wildcat skin, 

 moccasins of owl skin, and a tobacco pouch of fawn skin. The 

 garments, which were beautiful and endowed with rare orenda 

 (magic power), fitted the young man well. Then the uncle took the 

 garments oflf his nephew; and the cap became a live otter, the robe, 

 or mantle, a live panther, the leggings a pair of live wildcats, and 

 the moccasins two live owls. Again he put the garments on his 

 nepliew, telling him to sit down. The latter did so and, opening the 

 pouch, took out a pipe, which he filled with tobacco. Immediately 

 two girl sprites and two trick pigeons leaped out of the pouch; the 

 girls brought fire to light the pipe, and as soon as he put it to his 

 mouth the two pigeons, which were perched on the stem, rustled their 

 wings and cooed, being very happy. 



" Now, my nephew ," said the old man, " spit." He spat and the 

 spittle fell to the ground in a shower of wampum beads. "Thot is 

 enough," said the uncle; "you shall always spit wampum from this 

 pipe. Your outfit will alwaj's do what it has done to-day. Now 

 you must start. Go directly east. About noon you will find a trail. 

 Take that and keep on until you come to the great hickory tree. 

 Here are a bow and arrows. The arrows will never miss the mark. 

 On the road you must keep no man company. Sleep alone and hurry 

 on your way." 



So the young nephew set out. In an hour he came to a trail. 

 Finding it so soon, he thought it could not be the right one and ran 

 back to inquire. " Oh ! you are a swift runner," said the uncle ; 

 " you found the right trail. Follow it." Hat'hondas started again. 

 Again he found the trail, which bore toward the east. Near evening 

 he saw a man who was making a fire by the wayside, and who in- 

 quired of Hat'hondas, "Where are you going?" "Oh! where all 

 are going — to shoot at the eagle on the hickory tree," replied the 



