306 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth.ann.S2 



struck on the topmost limbs of a great hickory tree; the limbs threw 

 him upward, so that he landed on a ledge on the side of the preci- 

 pice. Not knowing how to get down, he said : " I must die anyhow. 

 I may as well jump." So jumping off, he came down the same 

 hickory tree, to the branches of which he clung; then he slipped to 

 the ground, where he found his friend's body with the .skidl crushed. 

 " I think it was I who killed him by kicking off that round stone," 

 he said; "well. I could not help it." 



The old man's lodge stood all right on level land. He peeped into 

 it — there sat the old man. "This is dismal. I will burn the lodge," 

 said he; so he piled up sticks until he had it covered, whereupon he 

 set fire to it. After the fire was well started, the old man said: "It 

 is getting rather hot here. I wonder what is the matter. Perhaps 

 S'hodieonskon ^^^ is playing tricks with me. It seems there is fire ; it 

 feels like that. I wonder whether he is burning my lodge ? " After 

 a while, hearing the noise of burning timbers, he was sure that there 

 was fire. "Very well," said he; "if that is the case, I will call on 

 Hasdeaundyet'ha."^*® Then, taking native Indian tobacco out of a 

 basket made of corn husks, he began to burn the tobacco and to call 

 on Hasdoaundyet'ha. saying, " I ask you to make it rain so hard that 

 the rain shall put out every spark of fire around my lodge." The 

 moment he finished speaking rain began to fall. It rained so hard 

 that the nuin outside had to run for safety. In a few moments the 

 sky cleared off', the fire was out, and no traces of rain were left. 



" I wonder how things are where I set the fire," thought the mes- 

 senger. On returning to the jjlac.e he found everything quiet — no 

 fire; all in order. " Pshaw ! what can I do? " said he; " I might take 

 the lodge along, as it is not very heavy." Picking it up and putting 

 it on top of his head, he started for Broken Land. Traveling with 

 great speed, he soon came near to his destination; but before coming 

 in sight of it, taking the lodge off his head, he said, " I will leave it 

 here and let the new chief say what shall be done with it." After 

 setting it down, he went to Broken Land. " You have come, but 

 where is your companion ? " asked the chief. " He fell from the rocks 

 and was killed," he replied. "Did you bring what you went for?" 

 he was asked. " Yes," he answered. " Where is it," was the ne.xt 

 question. " Not far from here, and I want you to say what shall be 

 done with it." The chief replied, " AVell, let us all go there." There- 

 upon all went to the spot where Has'honyot's lodge was left. The 

 chief said, " You stay outside while I go into the lodge." When 

 inside he looked at the old man, who sat there smoking with his 

 head down. The chief thought " He is a very magically powerful 

 man; he could kill me in a moment if he liked; " then he' said, "My 

 friend. I have come to 3'our lodge." The old man kept on smoking, 

 not seeming to hear. The chief called again louder, when the old man 



