618 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann. as 



tlie air with a deafening din. Such was the tumult and confusion 

 at this time that the now thoroughly frightened human beings fled 

 from the spot to seek safety. There were also flashes of lightning 

 followed by loud crashes and deep rumblings o-f the thunder. This 

 ujiroar continued for some time, when suddenly it ceased and one of 

 the hosts of Dehaenhyowens said, calling his guests back : " Oh, come 

 back ! We have now killed this creature." 



Thereupon, when they had again assembled, they departed, going 

 back to their ledge. When they reached it they said to the old 

 woman : " We have now killed that uncanny creature, that Otkon. 

 Indeed, we do not know in what possible way it happened that this 

 creature took up its abode so very near this lodge. We had never be- 

 fore noticed it. It may have been there a loiig time, since it had grown 

 so large. We have barely escaped, perhaps, some great misfortune." 

 The old woman replied gratefully, " What a very remarkable affair 

 it is, in which our visitors have been of assistance to us." In a mo- 

 ment she asked : " What is the Otkon ? "' What is the form and kind 

 of thing you have so fortunately killed^ " The men answered: " It 

 is the Great Blue Lizard which we have destroyed." So they rested 

 for the night. 



The next morning the old woman said to the men of her lodge: 

 " For myself. I am thinking that it is just the time of the year when 

 you should again make mellow and moist all the things that grow 

 on the earth. What do you say?" One of the men replied, "It 

 would seem well, perhaps, that you should ask him who is the prin- 

 cipal one to be consulted in regard to our duties in this matter. It 

 is possible that he may say : ' It is now the proper time of the year 

 in which you should again make mellow and moist all the things 

 that severally grow on the earth." " So saying, he ceased talking 

 with her. 



Arising from her seat and pushing aside gentlj' the door flap at the 

 entrance to the adjoining room, the aged woman made the inquiry 

 just noted. The person addressed answered : '' For myself. I too 

 think that it is time, perhaps, for doing that about which you have 

 asked me. So let it be done as you wish." 



Allowing the door flap to fall back, the old woman withdrew to her 

 own apartment in the lodge. In order to make the needed prepara- 

 tions for carrying out the purpose of her inquiry she gathered a 

 quantity of corn husks and, again entering the place in which the 

 lake was situated, she heaped once more the corn husks along the shore. 

 When she had placed the corn husks around the entire circuit of the 

 lake she set them on fire. When the fire had become brisk and bright 

 the old woman, turning to the men of the lodge, said : " I have now 

 again made the necessary preparations for the performance of your 

 accustomed task, and you shall start on your journey to make all 



