^™J,'^] LEGENDS 499 



The youth exerted himself to the utmost, indeed, running at his 

 topmost speed. Finally he came to a dense thicket, which was 

 large in extent, which he entered at once. Stopping for a moment, 

 he listened intently for sounds made by his pursuer. It was not 

 long before he heard the sounds in the distance made by the stranger 

 as he, too, entered the thicket. The crackling of sticks and boughs 

 sounded to him as if the object pursuing him possessed great weight 

 and strength. 



In resuming his race for life, the youth said in his mind: "So 

 now it is again my turn to flee. I shall go back to the place where 

 abide my kinsfolk and my elder brother." He then changed his course 

 from the east to the southwest. Running at top speed, he came to 

 a mountain, which he ascended and passed over. Then, not know- 

 ing whether his challenger was still on his track, he listened for any 

 sounds which might indicate that he was being pursued. He had 

 not been standing there long when he heard the voice of his pur- 

 suer in the distance say, " Exert yourself, my friend." Again the 

 youth put forth all his power, running as swiftly as it was possible 

 for him to do. He was directing his course for the place where 

 abode his kinsfolk and his elder brother, for he had repassed their 

 temporary camp in the forest, but his brother had already fled. 

 So he kept on thinking, " He has gone back to the place where dwell 

 my kinsfolk." Having arrived there, he found that they, too, had 

 left their settlement, because his dear elder brother had informed them' 

 of the conditions of the foot race, whereupon they decided at once 

 that their kinsman's antagonist was not a human being. They had 

 fled because the elder brother had said: "We shall all die if we 

 remain here. I really do not Icnow what land of a being it is that 

 has challenged my younger brother to this foot race. Come, then, 

 let us flee from hei'e." 



The youth, surmising where they had gone in their distress, fol- 

 lowed a course which would take him to their asylum. While he was 

 nmning he was greatly surprised to find a woman lying in his path. 

 Stopping a moment, he asked, "What is the matter with you?" 

 She replied, " I was ill when they decided to flee, so they built a 

 cradle in which to bear me along with them. They bore me along 

 in it. Finally I said, ' Put me down here in this place, because I am 

 ill in the manner of all women.'"* I will die here. Not having any 

 women to bear me, I was left by them here. And you must beware 

 for I am still ill in the manner of all women, and I am very, very ill 

 thereby." 



The youth, answering, said, " So be it. Right here you and I are 

 about to die. There is coming behind me an animal, and I do not 

 know what it is or what it looks like. And I do not know whether 

 we shall be aided by what I am about to suggest." Then he came 



