^^-■S] • LEGENDS 561 



toward you and yours; there is no evil in my mind, so, above all. 

 do not fear me." With these words, she walked to the opposite side 

 of the fu-e and took a seat there. The young wife noticed that the 

 two childi'en were exactly the same size. Although the stranger kept 

 comfoi'ting her by telling her not to be afraid, that she had not come 

 to the lodge for any evil purpose, her hostess was so fearful that she 

 made no replies, but she kept thinking: "It is certainly unfortunate 

 that my husband does not return at once. I wish he would come. 

 This is ill-omened." Meanwhile the strange woman continued to 

 remain quiet. Looking at her face, one would think that she was 

 human, although she was so tall and so stout that she appeared 

 uncanny. 



Now there came sounds from a distance, as the sun was low in 

 the west, and the expected husband returned home. He entered 

 his lodge, bearing by means of the forehead strap the entire car- 

 cass of a deer. He cast the burden down, giving merely a passing 

 glance at the woman seated on the opposite side of the fire, with- 

 out saying a word. The young wife then set to work getting his 

 supper. When she had set the food before him he said to her: 

 '' You would better give some food to the woman sitting on the 

 opposite side of the fire." His wife willingly obeyed this sugges- 

 tion, carrying to her in a bark bowl a genei'ous supply of food, and 

 saying: "This is for you to eat." But the woman (or what seemed 

 to be one) refused to accept it, answering: "I do not eat that kind 

 of food." At this the wife, of course, went back to her side of the 

 fire. Her husband sat with his back toward the strange woman and 

 studiously refrained from saying a word, but kept on eating. In a 

 few minutes the strange woman spoke, saying : " He knows what 

 kind of food I am accustomed to eat." At once he rose, and. reach- 

 ing up, took down a quarter of venison, which he threw over the 

 fire back of him toward the strange woman. She caught this as it 

 came to her. The wife was intently watching what was taking 

 place. The stranger proceeded at once to eat the raw venison, and 

 in a short time she had devoured the entire quarter. While eating, 

 the strange woman kept saying ; " I am very glad indeed. My wish 

 has been fulfilled, for I desired to come here on a visit." When 

 night had come and they were ready to retire to rest, the husl:)and 

 prepared his mat at the feet of his wife and child, while the strange 

 woman and her child lay on the opposite side of the fire, which was 

 the guest's side according to custom. The young wife of the hunter, 

 who was thoroughly frightened, kept thinking: "I just do not 

 know what may befall us that is untoward." 



In the morning the husband arose, and having rebuilt the fire, 

 his wife proceeded quite early to prepare breakfast for them. 

 94615°— 16 36 



