78 THE ¢EGIHA LANGUAGE—MYTHS, STORIES, AND LETTERS. 
it happened that when the women found a hollow tree, they hit the tree, making it give 
forth the sound “gaqi.” And it happened that Ictinike sat inside the hollow tree, 
and he thought that people had come to get wood. And, as it happened, Ictinike 
had on some raccoon-skins. He made the tails appear in sight by thrusting them 
through the cracks of the hollow tree. And three women approached, and they 
struck the tree, making it give forth the sound “yaqi.” And they saw the tails. And 
(one) said as follows: “‘Stop! O husband’s sister! this is a lot of raccoons. I have 
found some raccoons for myself.” ‘*Oh! brother’s wife! Will you please give me one?” 
said (another). Said she, “Let us cut a hole in the tree.” At length they cut the tree, 
cutting a hole in it. It came to pass that Ictinike said as follows (in a hollow voice): 
“Tam a big Raccoon. Make ye it large around.” “Oh! brother’s wife! the Raccoon 
says he is big,” she said. And they made the hole in the hollow tree large around. 
And Ictinike came home again, in sight (7. e., into the open air, his native element). 
“Having a big raccoon, I come out to you, to my home (in the air),” said he. ‘Oh! 
brother’s wife! it is Ietinike (in motion),” said (one). And Ictinike got out again into 
the air. “I who have been a big raccoon will go home to you. Stand further off!” 
said he. (And the women fled.) When he had come out again, he sat forming a plan. 
He sat thinking, “What ought I to do to get even with him?” He sat planning. 
Thought he, “If I pretend to be dead, only thus shall I be apt to accomplish it easily!” 
And after this he saw a Crow. And having seen the Crow, he saw a Magpie. And 
then he prayed to them. “‘O friends, pity me and help me,” said he. “TI will pretend 
to be dead. Help me and eat ye me.” All the birds went thither, having been called. 
And the Eagle, too, went thither. The Crow said to him (meaning the Eagle), “Friend, 
you have a sharp knife. Cut him up for us.” And the Eagle bit a hole in the skin on 
the ramp. The fat was visible inside the ham. Said they, “It is the Elk; and he is 
very fat.” And the Buzzard alone had not yet reached there. At length the Buzzard 
arrived. “Fieon you! It is Ictinike,” said he. “No, my friend, hurry. Cut it with 
your knife. You have a sharp knife,” said the Crow. “No, it is Ietinike,” said the 
Buzzard. Before the Buzzard ate any, the Magpie entered, and went very far inside 
and ate the fat. The Buzzard went towards the head, and tried it. Having tried it, 
he bit the nostrils. Ictinike did not stir in the least. And when he bit the eye-lids, 
Ictinike lay without stirring at all. The Buzzard went towards the rump, and ate a 
piece of fat which was there. And at length the Buzzard bit off a piece of fat that 
was there by the edge of the hole. It came to pass that he said, “The truth was 
told. It is the Elk lying here, but (I doubted it at first).”. At length, having entered, 
he went very far inside, and bit off a piece of fat. When he entered the second time, 
Ictinike squeezed him and stood upright. ‘As you have injured me, so will I do to 
you,” said Ictinike. ‘“O friend, let me go,” said the Buzzard. ‘Yes, I will not let you 
go for a long time,” said Ictinike. And when he let him go suddenly, the Buzzard 
had no feathers at all on his head on account of their having been stripped off. There- 
fore, the buzzard has no feathers on his head; it is very red. The End. 
