582 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [bth. ann. 32 



Thus leaving the bird, the boy went on until evening, when he 

 again came to a spot where there were still traces of the former fire- 

 place. There he stopped for the night. After taking his pack from 

 the forehead strap and laying it aside, he kindled a fire, by which he 

 warmed up the meat and the bread he had brought. When he fin- 

 ished his meal he set up a forked or pronged rod to which he fastened 

 a small portion of bread. The spot was literally covered with rods 

 carrying bread of all ages, which had been set up by persons at 

 widely varying times. Having completed his offering, the boy re- 

 tired for the night, resting on his pack. Soon he began to be 

 troubled with dreams, so that he rolled and tossed from side to side 

 and could not sleep. 



Suddenly he was startled by the barking of a small dog, which had 

 a very shrill bark, such as he had never before heard. The sound drew 

 nearer. The night was very dark. Quickly arising and taking with 

 him all his things he ran to a near-by stream and ran up the trunk of a 

 tree that slapted far out over the water. In a short time he became 

 suddenly aware from its barking that the dog was near and that it 

 was rapidly coming nearer still. When the animal was very close 

 the boy heard the sound of rattles [of deer knuckles] and a woman's 

 voice approaching, too. saying to the dog : " Do your best, my slave. 

 Just leave me the head of Hodadeiion." Now he was startled by the 

 barking of the cur directly under the tree in which he was seated. 

 Carefully fitting his arrow, he released it, whereupon the arrow flew 

 with the sound "^Awm.'" and he heard the cry of the cur, "/i;we/T"j 

 Z;«;e?l", kweif' , so he knew that he had struck it. There the woman 

 turned back, saying : "Aha ! It is true, I think, as all people 

 are saying, that Hodadenon is without a peer in sorcery." 



In the morning the lad descended from his perch on the slanting 

 tree and went to the place where lay the cur, stark dead. The arrow 

 had struck the body fairly in the middle, where it still remained. 

 Fie drew his arrow out of the dog's body, when he suddenly found 

 that there was a very small laiuckle rattle tied to its neck. Having 

 removed this rattle bell, he cast the body of the dog, which was 

 indeed very small, into the water. In doing this he remarked, 

 " Now will begin the period in which my mind is to be disturbed 

 by serious difficulties, it would seem. I think those women whose 

 minds are evil do not live far from here." So saying, he started on 

 his journey. * 



The lad had not gone far when all at once he saw a man coming 

 toward him. As they met, the stranger said : " I am thankful that 

 you are in health and peace, Hodadeiion." Hodadenon answered : 

 " It is true in the terms of your greeting to me. It is now my turn, 

 too, to greet you. I am thankful that you are well and in peace." 

 The man reiDlied : " This is certainly the truth." Then the two 



