hoffman] THE CANNIBAL WOMAN 229 



I 



to amuse her, and while she is in a good humor she will scratch your 



head to look for vermin. You must pay no attention to this, but watch 

 her motions, that you may not be taken unaware." 



The next day the woman's sister entered the wigwam and exclaimed, 

 "I am glad to see you, my brother-in-law; come and amuse me; we can 

 have some games to play." 



Ball Carrier observed that she wore a skirt reaching only to her knees, 

 and that her hair was bright red. Not liking her appearance, Ball 

 Carrier said, " I am still tired from my long journey; and if I am to play 

 with you, you must wear a longer skirt." It was then agreed that they 

 were to have some games at noon on the following day; so the woman's 

 sister, who was a cannibal, left and went back to her own wigwam. 



Early on the following morning Ball Carrier went out to see where 

 the woman's sister lived, and as he approached her wigwam he found 

 two children eating the flesh from human bones. The children did not 

 see Ball Carrier, but he now knew that the woman's sister was a can- 

 nibal. The children ran away, and Ball Carrier saw that there were a 

 great many birds and beasts all about him. They told him to go 

 away, as the woman's sister had planned to kill him. Ball Carrier then 

 told the birds and beasts that if they would not inform the woman's 

 sister of his presence, he would give them all they wanted to eat, as 

 she was now coming back to prepare a feast. To this the birds and 

 beasts assented, but the Chipmunk was not present when this prom- 

 ise was made by Ball Carrier; so as soon as the woman's sister had 

 deposited her kettle, and had gone off a short distance to gather fire- 

 wood, the Chipmunk ran out and called to the woman's sister that Ball 

 Carrier was near. Then Ball Carrier said to the Chipmunk, "Hush! 

 If you don't cry out, I will give you plenty — not scraps of acorns and 

 boneSj but a lot of good food." 



As the Chipmunk called out, the woman's sister, without turning her 

 head, said, "What is the matter with you, Chipmunk; did I not tell 

 you to call only if that man came near?" The Chipmunk then said, "I 

 am speaking only to the Bluejay, who stole my acorn." 



Ball Carrier next wondered how he could kill the woman's sister, for 

 she had brought several children to cook for the feast. While thus 

 pondering, the black head Woodpecker said to him, "If you promise to 

 give me a piece of her scalp, I will kill her for yon. She does not carry 

 her heart in her breast, but under her flowing red hair." 



Ball Carrier thereupon promised the Woodpecker that he should have 

 the scalp if he killed her — whereupon the bird prepared to dart forward 

 to the spot where the woman's heart was hidden. Lowering his head 

 and pointing his sharp beak straight forward, the Woodpecker suddenly 

 shot away like an arrow, striking the heart in the very middle. When 

 the woman's sister felt this death wound, she lowered her body and 

 began to run very rapidly around in a circle, and endeavored to kill 

 Ball Carrier with a knife, but he took his warclub, and, after repeated 



