^35f] LEGENDS 505 



lapse of some time, bringing chestnuts." So saying, the boy started 

 on his journej'. 



After going some distance he found a very narrow path which led 

 directly westward, and remarked, " This is perhaps the path indi- 

 cated by my uncle." Finally he started to run, when all at once he 

 heard sounds seemingly made by a rattle. Keeping on, at last he 

 came to the place whence the soimds proceeded. There he found two 

 huge rattlesnakes, one on each side of the path, blocking it in such 

 manner that he could not pass. Going aside, he killed a large num- 

 ber of chipmunks, which he bound into two equal bundles. Eeturn- 

 ing to the place where the two rattlesnakes were on guard, he said 

 to them, " You two seem to be in need of food, and so I think that you 

 two would like to eat these things." With these words he threw a 

 bundle of chipmunks to each of the rattlesnakes, which they ate. 



After the two rattlesnakes had devoured the chipmunks the boy 

 said to them in a commanding tone: " You two must withdraw from 

 this place, for, you know, you are slaves, indeed; you must go from 

 place to place to hunt for your food, for this is always pleasant; 

 and He who gave faculties to our bodies did not intend that anyone 

 should be held in bondage." Thereupon the two rattlesnakes with 

 drew and went aside from that place; thus were they freed from 

 their bondage to sorcerers. 



Then the boy left on a very swift run, carrying only his bow and 

 ari'ows. Again, after having gone a long distance, he heard sounds 

 in the distance. Having reached the place whence came the sounds, 

 he was surprised to find there a great bear just beside the path, and, 

 looking on the other side of the path, he saw another of equal size 

 and ferocity; they were in ambush and barred the passage of the 

 path. The noises that he had heard were made by the tusks of these 

 animals, which projected far from their jaws and could be heard at 

 a long distance, thus — du\ du\ du\ du . 



Then the boy, taking his bow and arrows, went aside to hunt. He 

 killed two fawns, one of which he threw to the one bear, and the 

 other to the other bear, in order to occupy their minds and mouths. 

 He said to these guarding beasts: "It is too bad that you two are 

 barring the way. One might think you would be glad to eat this 

 food which I now offer you." The bears ate what had been given to 

 them and were quiet for the time being. The youth then gave them 

 this command: " You must withdraw from this place; what you are 

 now eating is abundant, as is well known; and you must eat this 

 kind of food regularly hereafter. You shall be free to go and come 

 as you choose, for He who made our lives did not intend that you 

 should be enslaved by sorcerers and confined to one place." The two 

 bears at once fled from the spot, one going in one direction and the 

 other in another. 



