bbwTtt'] fiction 195 



I shall be destroyed now. If the people hear your cries and come to 

 meet you, you will escape; if not, you will surely be killed." 



The dog went back; he had but a short distance to go this time. 

 As the man ran, screaming, he saw a torchlight ahead. The dog 

 howled in distress; then his howl died away and the man knew that 

 he was dead. Finally, seeing people coming to the rescue, he strug- 

 gled on harder and harder. When he met the people he fell in a 

 faint; he heard the sounds behind him as he fell, and that was all 

 he knew. 



Holding up their torches the people saw a terrible animal; its fore 

 legs seemed longer than the hind ones. They shot at it, whereupon 

 it disappeared, and they returned to the village. The animal had 

 made a journey during one night which it took the man two days 

 to finish when he was going to hunt. As soon as he could talk he 

 told the people what occurred from the time the dog first spoke to 

 him. They decided to go to his camp and bring home the meat. 

 Not far from the village they found the last dog torn to pieces, 

 and farther on the other one. When they reached the camp they 

 saw that the strange animal had eaten most of the meat; what 

 remained they took home. They did not see the animal and never 

 knew what it was. 



39. The Three Young Women, Daughters of Awaeh Yegendji or 

 Mother Swan 



There was an old woman who had three daughters, all of whom 

 were 3'oung, good-looking, and clever. 



When the eldest was 16 years of age and the youngest 12, the old 

 woman said : " We want some venison and bear meat. We have lived 

 here a good many years, and have had no meat — nothing but bread, 

 and corn, and beans, and I long very much for meat. And now," 

 said she to the eldest, " you are old enough to be married to a man 

 who can get us some. meat." To the second daughter she said: " You 

 must go with your sister ; perhaps you will have to stay all night on 

 the way. There are an old woman and her son living in a broad 

 field where you must go. The young man is handsome and a suc- 

 cessful hunter. The old woman's name is Big Earth." 



Both girls were willing to go, so the old woman continued : " To- 

 morrow we must make marriage-bread." After shelling and pounding 

 'corn, they made marriage-bread and some cakes, which they baked in 

 the ashes. They made twenty-four of these cakes, which were put 

 into a basket. The old woman painted the elder girl, combed her 

 hair, and dressed her well. Then she told her : " Carry this basket 

 on your back. You must take no notice of anyone you meet, and do 

 not stop to talk with any person no matter what is said to you. 

 When night comes, do not stop at any lodge but camp in the woods." 



