THE MOOSE IN INDIAN MYTH 259 



Under Hottah's direction Ithenhiela gathered 

 up a stone, a clod of earth, a piece of moss, and a 

 branch of a tree. Then, with Ithenhiela on his 

 back, the moose started across the vast plain 

 which stretched in those days from the Mackenzie 

 to the Yukon. Very soon they saw that Naba- 

 Cha was in pursuit, mounted on his great caribou. 



"Fling out the clod of earth!'' cried Hottah. 



Ithenhiela threw down the clod, and immediately 

 great hills of earth rose up behind them, hills so 

 wide and so high that it was many days before 

 Naba-Cha again came in sight. 



When the Big Man seemed again about to over- 

 take them, Ithenhiela threw out the piece of moss. 

 Instantly a great muskeg swamp separated the 

 man on the caribou from the man on the moose. 

 For some days the caribou floundered in the 

 swamp with his wicked rider, while Hottah raced 

 toward the Yukon and safety. 



But Naba-Cha again came in sight of his fugi- 

 tive slave. The stone was then thrown to the 

 ground, and great rocky hills rose up. "Up to the 

 very clouds rose the hills, white with snow, and 

 magnificent, such as had never been seen before." 

 It was a long time before the pursuers crossed the 

 mighty barrier. When they again drew near to 

 the moose and his passenger the branch of the 



