100 MYTHS OF THE IROQUOIS. 



center of this clearing stood a large liemlock tree, into which she 

 climbed, aud made herself aud child as comfortable as she could. 



Soon after ascending the tree she heard approaching voices, one of 

 v?hichsaid, "We might as well stay here as to go further." They were 

 hunters, heavily laden with skins, meat, &c. During the night one of 

 themsaid, "My thumb is painful; what shall I say bit me?" Thewoman 

 heard the answer: " Say a beaver bit you." 



In the early dawn the men departed and the woman began to make 

 her way down the tree, but she saw one of the party returning, so she 

 remained until he, finding his bow, again started homeward. When all 

 were out of sight she brought her child down, aud, taking again the 

 course parallel to the trail, she hurried onward during the day and 

 reached home just at twilight. When once home she related what had 

 happened to herself, child, and husband, to her many friends who se- 

 creted her, aud made preparations to have the matter investigated. 

 The head chief was iufoi-med, and he sent out "runners" to all the mem- 

 bers of the tribe to call them to a general council. 



When the time for all to assemble had come, none but the hunters 

 were absent, and they came after repeated and persistent requests to be 

 present. When they did come the head chief said, "We have come to 

 congratulate you in that you have prospered aud been preserved from 

 harm. Now, relate to us all the things that have happened to you 

 aud tell why you have returned without the other party." The hunters 

 refused to tell anything about their affairs and pretended to know noth- 

 ing about the other party. 



The head chief, after severely cross-examining them, ordered that the 

 woman be brought forth to tell her story. When she had finished her 

 narrative of facts, as stated above, she told that one of them had his 

 thumb bitten, exjilainiug that he was bitten by her husband in defending 

 himself against these robbers, who took from her murdered husband the 

 skins and the meats which they had brought home. Hereupon the 

 head chief gravely said to the waiting aud impatient warriors, " Go, do 

 your duty ; " and thej', with their war-clubs and tomahawks, soon put to 

 death the wicked hunters. 



MRS. Logan's story. 



An old man and his little nephew once lived in a dark woods. One 

 day the man went hunting, and just before leaving told the boy he 

 must not go eastward. But the boy became tired of jilaying in one 

 place, and was one day tempted to go in the forbidden direction until 

 he came to a large lake, where he stopped to play. While thus en- 

 gaged a man came up to him and said, " Well, boy, where do you come 

 fiom 1 " The boy told him that he came from the woods. Then the man 



