24. Tapped-his-Legs (Tski e'laxtem).
(Lower Uta mqt.)
(cont.)When he flew away, they all watched him to see in what direction he would disappear; but their eyes all watered; and only the small screech-owl, whose eyes did not water, was able to see where he alighted.
Next day they all started in the direction in which the small screech-owl had seen him disappear, and, when near the place, heard the sound of sticks breaking, and of people laughing and talking. On reconnoitring, they found it was Bluejay and Pinejay (or Butcher-Bird) gathering wood. They had long poles with hooked ends, with which they were breaking the dry branches off the large trees. They surrounded them, took them prisoners, and made them give all the information they possessed about the people with whom they lived. They said they were servants of these people, and did all the work, such as gathering fire-wood, carrying water, dressing skins, cooking, etc. After asking them particularly about how they acted when at home and when engaged in their various duties, they took them by their noses, and, shaking them, their bones fell out.
Then two of the people went inside of Bluejay's and Pinejay's skins. The man that went inside of Bluejay's skin had a larger nose than the latter, and the skin was not sufficient to cover it all: so he rubbed pitch over his nose to hide the place. The rest of the people hid close by, while the other two who were to impersonate Bluejay and Pinejay took their loads of wood on their backs and went towards the house.
Arriving there, they threw down their loads of wood, but, in doing so, one of them made a great noise. Raven said, "You were not wont to place your loads of wood down in that manner.” Then they went to fetch water. When they came back, Raven said to the one who impersonated Bluejay, "You talk differently;" and the latter answered, "Yes, I have a cold and am hoarse." Then Raven said, "And you have pitch on your nose.", "Yes,' he answered, "a stick which I was breaking fell down and skinned my nose, so I rubbed pitch on the wound.'
These answers seemed to satisfy Raven; he sent them to pound a skin (with scrapers). While they were yet engaged at this, he told them to give him the tongs and basket, because he was going to boil meat. Afterwards he took the stones out of the basket with the tongs, and gave them to his servants to cool them in their hands before putting them away. They were not used to this, and, although the stones burned their hands, yet they kept a straight face.
When they had all eaten their meal of boiled deer-meat, Fisher said, “I think we all better all go to sleep;” so Raven told them to go to bed. They went and lay down in the place where Bluejay and Pinejay had told them they usually slept.
The inhabitants of the house were Raven, Fisher, Marten, Wolverine, and Lynx (besides formerly their two servants Bluejay and Pinejay).
