212 
Then, as he arrived, “Now then, my children, go skin that creature. 
My son-in-law shall have a blanket-robe,” she said of her son-in-law. 
Then, when they had done skinning it, as usual the dog was sent for 
and called. Then it ate the bear; it ate it all. Then she sent her dog 
back whence it came. But then, though she stretched that bearskin with 
her yellow thong, when she had got it all tied, it turned back into an un- 
dressed skin. She could not tan that bearskin. She untied it. 
“Fetch another, my children!” she ordered. 
They brought another thong, a black one. Though she worked at 
the stretching, she could not tan it; it turned back into an undressed hide. 
At last she untied it. 
“Come, another, my children!” 
It was a bright green thong; it was brought for her. Still she could 
not finish the hide. By this time it was nearly dawn. Again she untied it. 
“My children, fetch now that thong of mine that is of red metal, and 
my pounding-stone, and my ax, and my meat-pestle, all these. Do your 
best. This thing is actually tormenting me, this thing I cannot tan, that 
my son-in-law may have a blanket-robe!” she said. 
Truly, though the things were brought for her, yet she could not 
finish the hide. She undid the tying, and flung it away, she cared not 
where. She placed her thong down below. By this time it was daylight. 
“My children, take this now, which my son-in-law is to have for a 
blanket-robe.” 
When they took it up, it was back in the state of an undressed skin. 
Then, “Dear me, so now once my son-in-law has beaten me! Let us 
try again!” she cried; “But it is my son-in-law who is to try first!” she 
said of him. 
He took that bear’s bristle. 
“See this! If you do not find it, I shall be free to take your daughters 
home with me,” he said to her. 
He threw it away. Although the little girl looked for it, she could 
not find it. 
Presently, “Ho, let it be found!” 
She saw it; it was the youth who took it into his hand. 
“Here it is!” 
Truly, there it was. 
“Ho, but now let my son-in-law try to find one of my lice!” 
There lay her ax, her pounding-stone, and all the things, all iron. 
Then, “Very well, but let her lay her head here!” — on his knee. 
As soon as the little girl lay down in position, gone were her lice. 
Though vainly the youth sought them all over, he could not find them. 
“Now then, my son-in-law, since you have not been able to find one, 
now I shall club you!” she said to him. 
“Oho! When you get over these, then you shall club me!” 
He threw the needles so that they stood on end. There, they turned 
into huge iron things, going deep into the ground and high aloft and over 
the earth. 
“Hey, son-in-law, but when I have got past these, then I will chase 
you!” 
Vainly she chopped at them; at last she had worn out her ax. Then 
she wore out also her pounding-stone. 
