144 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [bxh. ANN.sa 



to eat venison all they had to do was to strike a very small portion, 

 when the meat would resume its natural size. So they traveled till 

 they came to the old uncle's lodge. 



AVhile his nephew had been away, animals had tormented him by 

 coming to his door while he was sitting near the fire mourning for 

 his nephew. He would hear a voice at the door cry, " Quick, Uncle ! 

 I have returned," but on opening the door-Hap he would find merely a 

 fox, rabbit, or some other creature. 



Now, to make sure, he cut a hole in the skin door-Hap saying, " Put 

 your hand through the hole, if you are my nephew." This being 

 done, he tied a strong bark string around the wrist and fastened the 

 other end to the pole at the fireplace ; then, seizing the corn-pounder, 

 he opened the door carefully, intending to strike the intruder. On 

 discovering, however, that it was really his nephew, he rejoiced and 

 cried out : " Oh ! you have come at last with your wife. Wait, until 

 I clean up a little." Soon he let them in. The venison was increased 

 in quantity again by striking it against the ground, and there was 

 more than enough to fill the lodge, so they had to build a new lodge 

 in which to stoi'e it. 



They lived on together happily. This is the story of Hat'hondas, 

 " The Listener." 



23. The Stort of the Ohohwa People 



In a quiet forest, in a lodge of their own, a husband and his wife 

 of the Ohohwa people lived in much contention. It was their 

 invariable habit to quarrel all night long.. In the morning, however, 

 all was pleasant again. 



One night a visitor came to pay them a call. As soon as the man 

 of the lodge saw the newcomer he went awaj' from the lodge. There- 

 upon the would-be visitor remarked to the woman, " It is indeed 

 strange that he should go out just as I came in, so I shall go, but 

 will come again at anotlier time." With these words he left. 



In a short time the husband returned, and being very jealous of 

 his wife, seized the occasion of this visit of a strange man to scold 

 and quarrel with her until, becoming enraged, he beat her and 

 finally she fought in defense of herself. At last, becoming tired of 

 fighting, the husband started off with the remark: "I am going 

 to get another wife. I will not be troubled in this way any longer." 

 Weeping bitterly, she followed him until, touched by her plight, the 

 husband grew sorry for what he was doing and returned with her to 

 their lodge. 



In the morning he told his wife that he had had a di'eam during 

 the night. He said, " ISIy dream spirit told me that I must kill a 

 large bear and be back home before the dew is off the grass." Osten- 



