90 MYTHS OF THE IROQUOIS. 



and the bear came out, as, of course, there was no reason why be should 

 not, for the stalks fell before him. The young man took his arms and 

 went home. Then the uncle asked what he had done, and he told. 

 "You did not understand," said the old man. "You should have shot 

 him as he left the den; first on one side then on the other." "After 

 this," expostulated the young man, "make your explanations clearer 

 and do not give so many illustrations. Had you told me this at first all 

 would have been right." 



One day the old man said, " I'm going to make a feast. You can in- 

 vite the guests. I cut sticks to represent so many friends. You invite 

 them. Go to the highest tree you can find and leave this stick there. 

 Then go along till you find a place all swamp — bad place, and leave 

 one stick there," &c. 



So the nephew went around and used up the sticks and returned. 

 "Have you done as I said?" asked the old man. "Yes," said he. 

 Yet when the day came and the feast was ready, nobody came. 

 " Why," asked the uncle, "has nobody come ? " " How," inquired the 

 young man, "could the tall tree and the swamp come here?" So they 

 ate together, and then the young fellow went ofl' in the world to learn his 

 lessons by experience, for he had become tired of his uncle's parables. 



THE HUNTER AND HIS FAITHLESS WIFE. 



Once on a time there was a man whose name was " Hemlock 

 Bows." He used to go hunting every day and always had good luck. 

 He would kill so many deer that he could not carry them all home. 

 One day he killed thirty deer. He was determined to carry them all 

 home, so he took them and shook them, and shook, and shook, till they 

 were as small as squirrels, and he carried them all home, and when he 

 got there he shook, and shook, and shook, till they were good-sized 

 deer again. Sometimes when he killed so many he would sit up all 

 night to fix the skins on his wigwam so he could make clothes for him- 

 self and his children. One day a boy was born unto him ; the father 

 was very fond of him and he planted a few hills of corn and beans, but 

 they lived mostly on meat. After the child was born the mother slept 

 alone with it on the other side of the fire-place. 



After three years more a little girl was born. After the birth of her 

 second child the wife seemed to care no more for her husband. He was 

 a great worker. He had a large boxful of skins all dressed for his 

 children. 



When the father went hunting the mother would call the boy and 

 make him go and bring her some water, and she would wash and dress 

 up very fine and take a long strap and an ax and leave the children 

 alone all day until almost time for the father to come home. Then she 

 would hurry home to cook for the man. 



