680 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [eth. ann.32 



your brother. I, -too, am a master of game and a good hunter. So 

 we shall be very contented in our minds." Then the man half of 

 whose hair was red said: "So be it. I, too, am a good hunter, and 

 I will also help to make ourselves contented." Thus did they make 

 a compact that they would all compose a single family for all time. 

 This is the length of the legend. 



130. The Story of Hahskwahot "" 



In times past there was a boy who spent his time in hunting birds 

 to kill and in cooking and eating them. 



On one of his expeditions he came to a large rock, beside which he 

 took his .seat to rest, for it was drawing toward sunset, and began 

 to make arrow points. 



While seated there a man spoke, saying: "I shall relate a story." 

 The boy at once began to look around to learn who it was that had 

 spoken. He finally came to the conclusion that it was the rock 

 beside which he was sitting that had spoken for his benefit. In reply 

 the boy said : " What is the name of it ? " The man answered : 

 "It is called a fable (tradition) ; now jmu must make me a present 

 of a bird (for telling you this story)." The boy' replying "So be 

 it," left one on the rock. Then the man again spoke, saying : " You 

 must return here; I shall relate a legend, but as to us we remained at 

 home in the world that was." And the boy went home. 



In the evening the boy returned to the rock and seated himself 

 upon it. Thereupon the man said : "Well, now, I shall say that you 

 must speak ; you must saj', ' What ? ' I shall tell you what is called 

 a legend. As soon as I make an end of telling one legend I may go 

 on with another. But if you become sleepy, as you may, you must 

 tell me, and we will take a rest; and you can come again to-morrow 

 evening." 



The boy hunted birds, and he had many different persons to ac- 

 company him. He said to each : " You must accompany me (to 

 hear) a man telling legends, as I think they are called. In the 

 evening they two would take their seats on the rock and listen 

 until they became sleepy, and then all would take a rest for the night. 

 The next day they two would again return to the rock, and finally 

 other persons followed them to the place. In the evening they would 

 again sit around, and the man would relate another legend. On the 

 following evening they would again repair to the rock. There 

 were now a large number who went to the place where the great rock 

 stood ; and the man would again tell a legend. In this manner did 

 it come to pass that there are legends in the world, as these stories 

 are called. 



Finally the man at the rock said to the boy: " You will grow old 

 in years. You shall use these legends to aid yourself in your old 



