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



([uite near him, for they had reached the place in which he had fixed 

 the second torch. When the man arrived there it became evident to 

 him from the sounds he heard that one of the dogs hud just been 

 killed in the distance. Thereupon the hunter stirred up the fire- 

 brands to cause them to blaze up and throw out more light. Soon 

 they gave sufficient light to eiialile him to see as far as the tree indi- 

 cated by the dog, behind which the strange man, or being, moved 

 around stealthily; with great hands he held to the tree and he had, 

 too, very long legs. Having made the needed preparations, the 

 hunter at once fled from the place. 



Having reached a point out of sight of his camp, when his torch 

 that he was carrying was nearly extinguished, he heard sounds 

 which told him that another dog had been killed, and he knew, too, 

 from this that the Genonsgwa was close at hand. Remembering the 

 advice of the first dog that informed him of his danger, he began 

 to cry out the sign of distress. Go' we'', go' we'', go' we'', for he was then 

 aware that the settlement of his people was not far away. They were 

 still all awake and, hearing the cries of distress in the distance, they 

 at once ran in the direction from which these came. Having reached 

 the place, they found the man. The Genonsgwa was then very close 

 to the hunter, who was nearly exhausted. The latter fell into the 

 circle of his friends none too soon, for the Genonsgwa, seizing him 

 by the leg, tore off some flesh. Then at once he turned, fled from the 

 people, and disappeared, and no one knew whither he had escaped. 



The end. 



132. The Legend of the Stone Coats (Genonsgwa) 



It so happened in times past that three warriors left their homes 

 for distant regions. They started away for the pui-pose of killing 

 any people whom they might find in order to obtain their scalps. 

 So they would travel for many days, and when they observed that 

 they had arrived near a settlement they would conceal themselves, 

 and one or more spies would be sent out by night to make a recon- 

 naissance for the purpose of learning Mhen, where, and how to make 

 the attack. 



It was a custom with them for the chief or leader of the little 

 party to say: "Who will volunteer to go to investigate that light 

 which appears in the distance?" Thereupon one of the warriors 

 would reply: "I will go to reconnoiter that light," and he would go, 

 if alone, without definite instructions as to how he might find his 

 companions in case he had to retreat; but if two decided to go, they 

 would first agree on some point as a rendezvous in case they should 

 have to retreat in haste. Then the spy or spies would go to the place 

 whence the light had appeared. Having arrived there, he would 



