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So now he was chased by the old woman, and fled he knew not where. 
In time, when she was close upon him, he became frightened. 
He cried, “Father, come near in your course! The Old Rattlesnake 
Woman means to kill me!” he said to him. 
Truly, low in his course came his father, the Sun. It grew very hot, 
until at last the old woman felt herself about to be roasted. She gave up. 
“And so you have saved your life, Sun-Child! I give you up,” she said 
to him; “But owing to this, do not, do never seat yourself on the bare 
ground!” said the old woman to Sun-Child. 
Accordingly, his father went higher in his course. The old woman 
went home. And Sun-Child, as he walked on, found a stone of flat shape. 
He took it up, and wherever he meant to sit down, there he placed it, 
using that stone as a seat. He did this every time, putting the stone under 
him also when he went to sleep, and in the morning, when he went on, 
taking the stone with him. 
Then at one time, as he wandered about, he came upon a town. He 
reached it. He stood on a rise in the land and looked at the tents. 
“Oho, Sun-Child has ari’ived!” was said in his hearing. 
Soon one came to him, to invite him in. 
“Ho, Sun-Child, you are to come!” 
“Oh, very well.” 
He went along with him. 
As he entered the lodge, “Oh, come in!” he was told. 
When he sat down, “There, quickly give him food! Surely he must 
be hungry!” was said of him. 
“Why, gracious heavens, it is Sun-Child! Truly it is no light thing 
that you have come here, where unceasing are the contests, the contests of 
spirit-animals. And indeed, it is we who are always defeated. By this 
time doubtless he has already decided to challenge you, the Iron Bull. 
Most dangerous is he; never have we defeated him. And so, no matter 
how unwilling we are to contend, he is determined to destroy us com- 
pletely,” the other explained. 
“I do not happen to be going about in search of contests,” he told 
him. 
“Doubtless they will challenge you none the less. They challenge at 
once any new arrival,” he was told; “But it is evening now. Tomorrow 
probably they will challenge you,” he was told. 
Then he was given food. At last darkness fell. Then, the next morn- 
ing, when they had eaten, already he heard the announcing call. 
“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye! Make ready! Come to look on! There 
will be a contest! Last night arrived Sun-Child, who, it is said, is going 
about seeking contests; he is to contend with the Iron Bear! Come 
forth!” 
Already the other had come. 
“Come, Sun-Child, you are to come forth, as the Iron Bear is to 
challenge you.” 
Then, “At any rate, go forth. In any case, even if you pay no heed, 
none the less he will seek to destroy you,” he was told by him into whose 
lodge he had come, where now he stayed. 
“Very well. It is not true that I am going about seeking contests,” 
he said; “But never mind,” he said. 
