BEwS] LEGENDS 585 



about. One ■would think that they were expecting sometliing to 

 happen, for they were looking around. Hodadefion said to his com- 

 panion : " Come, let us start." Unstringing their bows, they started 

 on their journey over the ice, in the course of which they used their 

 bows as walking sticks, striking with them upon the ice. Every- 

 thing went on all right as they made their way over the frozen sur- 

 face. All at once the people on the shore saw them comirig, where- 

 upon they came at once on the ice to meet the bold visitors. At once 

 the people shouted, " It is raining bones," and they came on, while 

 the two kept on their way. At last one of the people of the shore 

 exclaimed : "Aha ! Now I believe it certain that Hodadefion, the great 

 wizard, has arrived, and they have indeed crossed the lake." Then 

 all returned to their lodge on the shore. Having crossed the lake, 

 the two went at once to the lodge on the shore. With bravado they 

 entered it. finding all the occupants at home. One there was who 

 was an old woman. 



One of the inmates said to the strangers: " It is a custom with us 

 that when anyone visits us we amuse ourselves, and generally for 

 this purpose we bet our heads." Hodadefion asked : " How is it 

 customary for you to do this ? " The repl3' was : " We run a race 

 here on the ice. We usually make a circuit of the lake and we 

 use the snowshoe." Hodadefion answered : " So be it, then ; let us 

 bet then." He then made very fine snowshoes, which were very 

 small. When he had completed his task, he announced : " I am now 

 all ready." Thereui^on all went to the ice, and one said: "Now we 

 must go around the border of the lake on the ice, and whoever comes 

 in ahead to this scratch line shall win." Then the runners went to 

 the scratch line, where they stood awaiting the order to go. 

 Hodadefion said: "I shall run alone oh my side." But the lake- 

 dwellers pitted four men against him. 



The order to go {O'ne"^') was given — at which the contestants 

 started to run around the lake. When they had run half the way 

 around it Hodadefion was in the rear of the others. Removing his 

 snowshoes and setting them side by side, he got upon them, saying 

 to them: "Take courage, pass him; yes, pass them, and go directly 

 to the scratch line. The other runners were suddenly made aware 

 of the fact by the furious sounds they heard that Hodadefion was 

 overtaking them very fast. In a short time he passed them, and, 

 easily keeping ahead of them, he soon arrived at the place whence 

 they had started. When his opponents arrived at the scratch line 

 he was standing there awaiting them. Addressing them, he said: 

 " I have now won from you ; I have outrun you. Come on, my 

 friend, let us behead them now, one and all." So the two destroyed 

 all the wicked people. 



