THE ADVENTURES OF HAXIGE. 239 
place for getting water, to see after him. When he reached the place for getting water, 
behold, the footprints of his brother had gone beyond. When he was following his 
trail, behold, there was the place where he had struck the Otters. Having known that 
he hit them, he said, “Alas!” The kettle had been dropped in the space between the 
two places. The elder brother continued to follow him. When he could not find him, 
he wept. ‘‘My younger brother! My younger brother! My younger brother! My 
younger brother! When I remember thy disposition (?), lam crying. Alas! my younger 
brother. Alas! my younger brother. Had it been I, friend younger brother, I would 
have reached home,” he said. Wandering over the whole earth, he went seeking his 
brother. When he cried, the water flowed very rapidly in many long streams, making 
very large creeks. His tears were the rivers. On the bank of a stream the grass was 
lying in good condition. There he lay down. As he lay, two Ducks came thither. 
They went diving. And they came up again. One said as follows: “My friend, when 
Haxige’s younger brother was killed, I had a great abundance of food. How was it 
with you?” “My friend, I did not have a good time. Only the little finger was left 
for me; and I said that no matter when I saw him, I would tell him about his own,” 
said the other Duck. And when Haxige heard it, he became a leaf. Having fallen on 
the water, the leaf went floating in the space between the Ducks. When he reached 
the very place, he seized the Ducks by the necks. ‘You two persons, what have you 
been saying?” said Haxige. “ Yes, elder brother, it is so,” said one. “Elder brother, 
I have been saying that I would tell the news. Elder brother, do loosen your hold on 
me. I have been saying that I would tell you about your brother. Elder brother, they 
took your younger brother home by the succession of very high cliffs, to the land in 
that direction,” said he. He tore the first Duck into many pieces, and threw them 
away. He questioned the other Duck: “On what occasions do they emerge from their 
den?” “At noon, when the fog is blown very dense, and when it is very warm, they lie 
to make the fat on their bellies firm by exposure to the heat of the sun. During the 
day it is so,” he said. 
And Haxige became an eagle and departed. Behold, the monsters lay flat on 
their backs. Thence was he coming back to earth to attack them. “ Haxige is com- 
ing toward you,” was said. He failed. They had already gone back into the lodge. 
Haxige went home again. Having reached his home, he thought, ‘What shall I do 
to get even with them?” Well, he went again on a similar day. When he had reached 
a very great height, he became a leaf again. Thence, having become a leaf, he was 
coming back again to earth to attack them. ‘ Haxige is coming toward you,” was said. 
Again he failed to attack them, as they had gone back into the lodge. And Haxige 
went homeward, having failed again. Again there was a similar day. And he be- 
came like a blue-backed bird-hawk. Thence, having become like a blue-backed bird- 
hawk, he was coming back again to attack them. ‘Haxige is coming toward you,” 
was said. Again he failed to attack them, as they had gone into the lodge. Again 
Haxige went homeward, having failed with them. At length when the fourth day 
arrived, he became a grass-snake. Passing along far under the grass, he departed. 
When he arrived in sight of the cliff, behold, they lay on their backs making their 
tripe stiff by the heat. He seized his bow. Having fitted the arrow to the bowstring, 
he sent it with great force, making it strike in the very middle, wounding two. They 
grunted very hard, “A+,” and had gone back into the lodge. Haxige went homeward, 
