386 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. asn. 32 



Now the boy went home with the old woman. On entering her 

 lodge and looking around, he saw an opening in the ground ; going 

 through this, he found a great many people almost dead. To these 

 he said. " My friends, I have come to help you, so you may live a 

 little longer." Having spat on his hands, ha rubbed each one of 

 them, whereupon all were well straightway, and went out into the 

 open air. He asked all whei-e they came from and told them what 

 direction to take to go home. One said, " I came from Hetgen 

 Tgastentle." There were ten with him; they were Donyonda peo- 

 ple. " Go toward the southwest for five days," the youth told him. 

 Another said, "We came from Gawenogowanenne." "Go west 

 ward five days' journey," he ordered. Twenty followed him; they 

 were Teqdoon people. A third person said, "We came from Dyoenh- 

 danodes; " these were Dilulih people.^^** " Go toward the nortlieast," 

 he directed them. A fourth person said, " We live in Dyonondaden- 

 yQjj.337 Qyp chief's name is Honigonowanen." These Mere Djoq- 

 gweani ^^^ people. Ot'hegwenhda said : " I must go to pay you a visit. 

 You have twenty days' journey before you." 



All went home. When they were gone, Ot'hegwenhda went back 

 to the old woman, whom he asked, " Why did you shut up these 

 people ? " "I did not shut them up," she replied. " Well, they were 

 in your lodge," he continued. " Yes, but my husband, who is a 

 man-eater, did it," she responded. "Does he live here? What is 

 his name? " he asked. " He lives on another trail," she i-eplied; "his 

 name is Dewaqsent'hwus (the Weeper, or Flea)." The boy, laugh- 

 ing, asked, " W\is that old man your husband? Oh! I killed him 

 some time ago." "Are you sure?" "Yes," he said. "Well, then I 

 am glad. I never liked him. Your people are safe now, for you 

 killed the man who always hunted them." The boy said, " I will let 

 you live this time, but I will kill you if you ever chase my people." 



Ot'hegwenhda now went on the northeastern trail until he came to 

 a lodge in which he heard singing in a very low voice : " The young- 

 est son of Hongak is going all over the world. We wish he would 

 come to visit us." Then the sojig ceased, and a woman's voice said, 

 " I feel worse this morning." " Let us go out and play and feel 

 well," answered the man's voice. Coming out, with the boy follow- 

 ing them, they went to some white flints as large as a lodge. Pick- 

 ing up one of these stones, the woman threw it into the air. It fell 

 on her head but did not hurt her a bit. Then she threw it to the 

 man who, having caught it, threw it back. Thus they played some 

 time until the woman said, "Let us go home." "Very well," 

 answered the man. Ot'hegwenhda hurried on before them. After 

 they had entered the lodge, the man said: " It seems as though some 

 one were here. I will go and look outside." On going out and 

 finding the boy, he said, "My grandson, wh-at are you doing here? " 



