RUSSELL] MYTHS 211 



When he finally emerged from the olla he sang: 



Here I come forth! Here I come forth! 



With magic powers I emerge. 

 Here I come forth! Here I come forth! 



With magic i)owera I emerge. 



I stand alone! Alone! 



Who will accompany me? 

 My staff and my crystal 



They shall l)i<le with me. 



The young man went to the place where he had left the child and 

 found that its tears were welling up in a great torrent that cut a gorge 

 before it. He bent over the child to take it up, but at that moment 

 they both became birds and flew above the earth over which the 

 floods were spreading. It is said that five birds in all were saved 

 from all those that had been previously known. These were Ivoli- 

 vitciikam' Ilikivik (flicker), Vipisimal, Kisopi, and Nyui (vulture). 

 They clung by their beaks to the sky to keep themselves above the 

 waters, but the tail of the flicker was washed by the waves, and that 

 is why it is stiff to this day. Finally, as they were threatened with 

 destruction, the god Vikiirskam took pity on them and gave them 

 power to make "nests of down" from their own breasts which 

 floated on the surface of the waters ami so enabled them to survive 

 the flood. If anyone harms the little Vipisimal to this day the flood 

 may come again. Accidental injuries to the bird must be atoned 

 for; if it be killed, its tail feathers must be kept for a time to avert 

 disaster; if it is found lying dead, it must be buried and appropriate 

 gifts must be placed upon its grave. 



When the chiKl had l)een taken from them. South Doctor called 

 the people to him and announced that a flood was coming to destroy 

 the earth and all things thereon. Then he sang: 



The waters dissolve the land. 



The waters dissolve the land. 

 The mighty magician tests his strength. 

 The waters dissolve the mountain. 



The waters dissolve the mountain. 

 Nasi foresees what is coming. 



Some of the people came to him and were saved from the flood by 

 passing through to the other side of the earth by means of the hole 

 which he had made with his cane. He told the others to go with 

 him to Earth Doctor and hear what he might say to them. Earth 

 Doctor told them that they were too late in coming, that he had 

 already sent all that he could save to the other side of the earth. 

 However, there was yet hope for them if they would climb to the 

 summit of the Crooked mountain. He gave power to South Doctor 

 and directed him to aid the people to the extent of liis ability, so the 



