12 
MUSEUM BULLETIN NO. 16. 
fasting over yonder hill for some time, and as I heard you chop- 
ping wood, I came here. I have not been to the village for 
some time. That is why I am asking you these questions. As 
for Holy One, he must be dead long ere this.’ ‘Grandson, you 
are right,’ she said. ‘In the morning the water-spirits will go 
after the hawk to cure their wounded relatives.’ 
“ ‘ If he comes in time, what will be the result ?’ said Holy One. 
'If he comes in time, they will live.’ ‘Grandmother, at what 
time will the hawk come ?’ ‘Oh grandson, are you Holy One ?’ 
'How can I be Holy One ? He must be dead long ere this.’ 
“ ‘Well, grandson, the hawk will be here at noon.’ ‘Grand- 
mother, from what direction will he come?’ ‘He will come from 
the east.’ ‘What will they do to Holy One ?’ he asked. ‘Grand- 
son, they are going to kill him.’ 'Grandmother, how will they 
kill him ?’ he asked. 'They will kill him by sending snakes after 
him.’ ‘Grandmother, if they do that he will put on his turtle- 
shell shoes and trample the snakes to death.’ 
“ ‘Surely, grandson, you are the Holy One who is talking ?’ 
‘‘No, grandmother, I am not the Holy One. What will they do 
after he has killed the snakes ?’ ‘Grandson, they will make it 
snow and have his lodge entirely covered with snow, and when he 
has eaten up all his food and has begun to eat his bow-string, then 
a four-cornered drove of buffalo will trample him to death.’ 
‘Grandmother, if they do that, he will kill many buffaloes and 
obtain very much meat for eating.’ ‘Now, grandson, are you 
not the Holy One ?’ ‘O, grandmother, how can I be the Holy 
One ? If they fail in that, what will they do next ?’ ‘Well, 
grandson, if they fail in that, they will cause a flood to come and 
they will flood the world.’ ‘Well, grandmother, what will they do 
if he gets into his metal boat ?’ ‘Well, grandson, the water-spirits 
will then tip the boat over with their tails.’ ‘Now, grandmother, 
if they do that, he will take his metal oars and amuse himself 
cutting off the tails of water-spirits.’ ‘Grandson, are you really 
not the Holy One ?’ 'Grandmother, how can you talk in that 
way ? How can I be Holy One ? What wall they do then ?’ 
he asked. ‘My dear grandson, the spirit muskrats will chew a 
hole through the bottom of his boat.’ ‘Well, grandmother, if 
they do that, he will take his metal oars and cut the spirit musk- 
