526 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [etii. ann. 32 



other brothers returned, bringing large packs of venison and other 

 meats and furs and skins. As each brother I'eturned he saw the 

 eldest brother Honenhinch lying on his couch in silence, but not one 

 of them paid any further attention to him, for they had returned 

 with heavy jjacks while he had brought back nothing. Remaining 

 thus for some time, Honenhineh finally arose and unpacked the 

 packs of his bi-others and hung up the quarters of venison and 

 bear's meat and the flesh of other animals to dry, and he hung up also 

 the skins .and furs properly prepared to dry — some to be made into 

 buckskin and others into furs for robes and other useful articles. 



This state of affairs in the lodge continued for many days and 

 nights, and Honenhineh continued to fast rigorousl3\ At last one 

 evening one of his younger brothers said to him, " Oh, elder brother ! 

 you should take some food." But Honenhineh replied: "No, I will 

 not do so now. Do you help yourselves and take what food you may 

 need. In a short time I myself shall take some food. There has come 

 a change in the manner of my life. The land over which I hunted 

 has become deserted of all life. Tomorrow I shall start from here, 

 going in a northerly direction this time." 



So, without breaking his fast, Honenhineh lay down on his couch 

 and his brothers retired for the night. But late at night Honenhineh 

 arose and, going to the fire, he gathered together the embers and 

 firebrands to stir up the flames, close beside which, it is said, lay 

 Little Burnt Belly. Honenhineh having stirred up the fire, the 

 rising flames caused many sparks to fall on the uncovered legs of 

 Little Burnt Belly, who passively bore the pain. The elder brother, 

 after watching the effect of the sparks, finally said, " Oh ! my 

 younger brother is very sleejDy." But in this he was deceived, for 

 his younger brother, having made a small aperture in the skin with 

 which he was covered, was watching all that he was doing. It is 

 said that the skin was that of an old she-bear. Thus deceived, the 

 elder brother prepared some food for himself and ate what he wanted 

 of it. While watching him the youngest brother fell asleep. In the 

 morning the youngest brother arose after his brothers had gone out 

 on their hunting trips, and was very anxiously watching for the 

 proposed departure of his brother Honenhineh after his long fast. 

 When he had made all his preparations he said to his youngest 

 brother, "Now I have started," adding, "Do not, my brother, go 

 outside of this lodge." Then, taking out of his pouch suddenly a 

 bear's foot and casting it into the middle of the lodge, he said, 

 ■' Here ! Thou shalt amuse thyself with this object by using it as a 

 tai-get continuously.'" On going out of the lodge, he scattered ashes 

 all about the entrance so that nothing could enter without disturbing 

 the ashes and so showing what it was that entered the lodge. On 

 .starting away, he said to his youngest brother, " For this journey I 



