536 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann.82 



of the valley he heard the voice of a man saying, " It seems that 1 

 am in luck, for on the opposite side of the valley a human being 

 walks along." He heard this voice three times. As the trail led him 

 in the direction of the sound he said, " I think it my duty to follow 

 this trail, for the voice may be that of one of my brothers (said 

 ironically)." 



So descending into the valley he came to a terrace or bench, along 

 which he was following his brother's tracks, when his attention was 

 attracted by pieces of bark falling around him. Halting and looking 

 up into a tree standing just at his side, he saw a small bird high up 

 on the trunk, clinging to it and flitting at times from place to place. 

 He saw that the bird pretended to be a flicker, or yellowhammer. 

 When the flicker saw him looking up, it said with a laugh, " Some 

 people who believe themselves possessed of orenda go about with bow 

 and arrows just as if they knew how to use them, although they may 

 be the poorest of marksmen." Pointing an arrow at it, Little Burnt 

 Belly said: "Be careful of thyself. Some people trust their orenda 

 too far, for they lay claim to too much power for their own good." 

 At once the flicker became visibly agitated, and kept glancing at 

 Little Burnt Belly furtively, as it slowly crept around the tree trunk. 

 At an opportune moment he let fly an arrow, which pierced the body 

 of the flicker, causing it to fall to the ground without uttering a 

 sound. Little Burnt Belly did not fail to notice the shocks of arrows 

 sticking in the tree trunk near the spot where the flicker was cling- 

 ing and to recognize them as belonging to his brothers; he saw also 

 their broken bows, and knew that they were in the power of some 

 wizard. 



Taking up his arrow with the flicker still pierced by it, and placing 

 it over his shoulder, he resumed his journey. He was not long in 

 coining to the lodge which he had seen in the distance, and to which 

 the trail of his brothers had led him. As he drew near, a man's voice 

 within said. "Oh, my grandson! come in; I am thankful that you 

 have come to visit me." On entering the lodge he saw an old man 

 whom he recognized as a cannibal, and he saw also before him, seated 

 on her couch, a fine-looking young maiden. The old man exclaimed : 

 "I have been looking for you for a very, very long time. I have 

 said all along that a great hunter was on his way to visit me. There 

 sits my granddaughter whom you are to marry. Granddaughter, 

 move along, and give him some roqm by you." As Little Burnt 

 Belly passed the old man the latter saw that he was carrying some- 

 thing which he had killed, and he arose quickh% saying: "Do give 

 me the body of that thing which you have killed, for it is indeed a 

 very fine game animal." -But Little Burnt Belly replied : " I will 

 not give it up. I will fij-st see my missing brothers." The old man 



