182 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS (bth. ann.32 



little sister and your dog, ' Beautiful Ears.' " You must always give 

 him plenty to eat, as much and as good food as you have yourself. 

 When you go out you must always carry your sister on your back. 

 Never put her down nor leave her for a moment, and when the dog 

 shows himself uneasy, turn around and go home. Now I am going 

 in pursuit of your mother." So saying, he started off. 



In the morning when the brother and sister and dog woke up they 

 found breakfast already cooked. The boy first gave the dog his 

 share and then he and his little sister ate. At meal times their food 

 was always ready for them to eat. Some time afterward the boy, 

 becoming lonely, said to his sister and the dog, " We will go out to 

 amuse ourselves." He had a bow and arrows, but could not use them 

 much, for he carried his sister on his back from place to place. The 

 dog usually ran ahead, then it would run back, and it was in motion 

 at all times. They kept looldng around and enjoying themselves 

 until the dog licgan to whine and tease, wishing to go home. Then 

 the boy said, " I think our dog wants to go back home." So they 

 turned back, and when they got home their supper was ready. 



A few days later they went out again, a little farther than on the 

 first day. Again on their return home supper was ready. The boy 

 always gave the dog his share first. A third time they went out. 

 They had already gone a considerable distance from the lodge when 

 all at once the dog ran after some wild turkeys. The boy followed 

 the dog, which at last chased them into the bushes. The boy could 

 not get into the bushes to shoot them, for his sister was strapped on 

 his back. Thereupon he said to himself, " I will unstrap her for just 

 a moment. Then we shall have a good fat turkey to eat." So he 

 took her off for a minute, but almost before he had reached the 

 bushes she screamed, and he saw a great bear run off with her. The 

 boy and the dog followed the bear for three or four daj^s. The boy 

 heai'd the dog bark as it ran on. At last it got out of hearing and 

 he lost all track of both dog and bear; now he was alone in the 

 world. He had nothing to live for and wished to die. He tried 

 several times to destroy himself, but he could not. 



One day he climbed the high banks of a great lake. Mounting a 

 rock, with the thought, " Now I will end my life," he leaped into the 

 water. When he struck the surface he lost his senses. On coming to 

 himself again he seemed to approach a beautiful country with the 

 purpose to stay there, and he thought that he was very comfortable. 

 But it turned out that a great fish had swallowed him when he had 

 struck the water. 



After a few days the fish got into a small stream, on the banks 

 of which two sisters had built a lodge; they had also made a dam 

 to catch fish. One morning on going to the dam they were delighted 

 to find a great fish there. The first said, " Let us dress it right 



