216 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS Ieth. ann. S2 



As they came out of the woods into the opening there was nothing 

 left of them but the skeletons and the skulls — f^ightful to look at 

 as they rushed at each other and then fell back exhausted. When 

 they closed again the skeletons were gone ; nothing remained except 

 the skulls, naked and bloody. After the encounter one of the skulls, 

 rolling up to the young woman, said, "Now is the time to do what 

 1 told you." Then the other skull, rolling up immediately, said the 

 same thing; but she kept her eyes on the second skull, on which she 

 poured hot dog fat. " Now you have killed me," said the other skull. 

 She paid no heed to this charge, but, taking up the skull on which 

 she had poured dog fat, she carried it into the lodge. In a short time 

 Hodadeiion had regained his flesh and he was again in good health. 

 To the young woman he said, " I thank you for what you have done 

 for me, for you have faithfully performed what I asked and have 

 thus saved my life." 



The old man, recognizing an obligation to him. said to Hodade- 

 fion : " I have made up my mind to say that since you have delivered 

 us from a horrible death j^ou should have my niece for a wife if she 

 suits you. What is your pleasure in the matter? " AVithout hesita- 

 tion Hodadeiion replied : " It is well. I accept your niece as a wife, 

 but I must cure you first." So, spitting on his hands to endue them 

 with the healing power of his orcnda (magic power), he rubbed the 

 body of the old man where the flesh had been cut away, and 

 immediately it was made whole and well. 



" Now," said Hodadeiion to his two companions, " I want your 

 assistance in what I am about to do." Then he led them to the edge 

 of the forest, where lay a great quantity of human bones scattered 

 around on the ground. These they proceeded to gather together in 

 some kind of order near a large hickory tree. When they had col- 

 lected all the bones, Hodadenon pushed against the tree, shouting, 

 " Oh, you dry bones ! Behold, the great hickory is about to fall on 

 those who sleep here. Arise, friends." At that moment the bones 

 arose as living men, and Hodadeiion said to them: "Be ye alive 

 now, and go back to your several homes. There is now nothing to 

 trouble you." So each man went his way. 



Hodadeiion took the old man's niece for a wife, and they started 

 for home. But after going some distance Hodadeiion said, " I have 

 one more thing to do. I must go after the chestnuts, so you go on 

 and I will overtake you." 



So starting off, he changed his course and continued his journey 

 until he came to the ridge of ahill,near which was a woman on watch, 

 whose task required her to walk back and forth on a kind of raised 

 platform. Before going up to her and revealing himself Hodade- 

 iion got slippery-elm bark, which he turned into wampum. Then 

 hailing a mole, he said to it, " Take me to that woman on the plat- 



