714 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS [etii. an.v. 32 



When they drew quite near to the point where S'hagowenot'ha was 

 lying the young man, stringing his bow, made ready to shoot at the 

 great, swollen body lying on the shore, which was indeed stupendous 

 in size. When within bowshot the young man. taking good aim, sent 

 an arrow with great force into the hotly, which caused it to give out a 

 loud sound, h-u'' ! as the waters burst forth through the wound. The 

 outrush of the waters sent the canoe flying back toward the shore 

 whither it was bound. Then the young man vehemently urged the 

 wild geese to exert themselves in paddling the canoe onward, and 

 finally he arrived with his sister at the place whither they were 

 bound — at the racing place of S'hagowenot'ha. 



When they arrived there he said : " Now, you wild geeese shall 

 be free henceforth. S'hagowenot'ha has made y6u his slaves and 

 servants — an act which was indeed, as you know, a great wrong. 

 Now you are again free and independent. It was not the intention 

 of S'hohgwadiefinu'kda'on, our Creator, that anyone should be a slave 

 or a servant.'"'* As is well known, it was his intention that every one 

 and everything among the animals and the birds and the fowl should 

 be in all things independent and free. He did not will that anyone 

 should hold any being in bondage, even among the animal kingdom. 

 Now you must depart hence and go your ways. It shall continue to 

 be your custom in advancing across the earth to go to and fro in 

 the form of a wedge. Thus you shall be seen by those who shall be 

 born hereafter howsoever long the earth may continue its existence. 

 This is all. So now depart, and when you go you must follow one 

 another." Thereupon the wild geese started away in freedom. 



Then, turning to his sister, the brother said : " Now, let us depart 

 hence." Started on their way. they went along slowly as they two 

 traveled homeward. AVhen night overtook then", they would encamp ; 

 and in the morning after breaking their fast they would rcsmne the 

 journey. They camped for five nights before they reached their 

 home. They were unmolested on their journey by the sorcerers, 

 who commonly infested the way on such occasions. 



When they had reached their home the young man said to his 

 sister: "Oh, my sister! I do not know you, because, perhaps, I was 

 so small when you went away. We have now arrived at our home. 

 I know now that Okteondon is your and my uncle. When I started 

 away from this place I followed the tracks of our uncle until they 

 led me to the lake. I verily believe that he was killed by the man 

 with the great mouth. Now you and I must love and respect one 

 another, as we are brother and sister. I shall greatly res23ect you, and 

 you yourself must greatl,y respect me. Now I, myself, will go to hunt, 

 and j'ou shall keep the camp." The brother proved himself a great 

 hunter, and they had an abundance of meat for food in their camp. 



This is the length of the story. 



