62 THE YUROK. 
and descends into the brook to bathe. He lays off his girdle on a ferny 
bank. He stands erect and supple, stretches up his smooth brown arms 
above his head, and all his body quivers with the delight of a fresh morn- 
ing air-bath.- Sitting in his blanket, the avenger of blood peers through 
his leafy screen. A moment ago he was shivering with cold, but all his 
tremor is suddenly stilled. His stiffened fingers grow suddenly lithe as they 
grip the arrow. In his eyes, late so faded and rayless, is now the glitter of 
ferocious hate. Without moving his eyes a moment from the foe, he softly 
couches the arrow. All the strength wasted through months is now in his 
arms again. ‘There is no wavering in his aim. The sweet hope of revenge 
has steadied it to deadly certainty. 'Twanks the bow and slips the arrow, 
smooth and swift through the limber air. The blood-guilty one is smitten - 
low. He lies still beside the brook. The long vigil is ended, and savage 
justice has its rounded dues. 
Through the kindness of Mr. H. H. Bancroft, I was allowed to peruse 
a letter written to himself by Judge J. B. Rosborough, of Yreka, on the 
Northern California Indians. From it I have copied a legend, which I will 
here append, merely premising that the Indian words in it are spelled with 
the English sounds of the vowels. 
LEGEND OF WAPPECKQUENOW. 
He was a giant, inhabited the country about the mouth of the Klamath 
(they localize every tradition), and belonged to a race which preceded the 
Indians. He disobeyed a command of God and was expelled, never to 
return. Next came the Indians from the Northwest and received those 
lands for an inheritance, for till then they had a direct care and communi- 
cation with God. But the Indians in the course of time also violated 
direct commands of the Almighty, among which were at least two rules of 
the Decalogue, when God, being angered, withdrew from all care and inter- 
position in Indian affairs and left then: a God-forsaken people, to the evil 
influences of the seven devils, for each of which they have a myth, viz, 
Omaha, Makalay, Kalicknateck, Wanuswegock, Surgelp, Mapousney, and 
Nequileh. 
