73. Grisly Bear's Grandchild; or, Spetlamu'lax.
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)The Salmon said “Can’t you see us?” and she answered, “No.” Then they made themselves visible, and King Salmon said to her, “I want you to become my wife.” They gave her new clothes which they had brought with them. These she put on. They embarked in the canoe, and she went back with them and became King Salmon’s wife. Grisly Bear wondered at her daughter's long absence, and went in search of her. When she found her clothes at the water’s edge, she concluded that her daughter must have been drowned.
Henceforth the Grisly Bear's daughter lived with her husband in the land of fishes, and in due time gave birth to two children, a son and a daughter, who grew rapidly. The Fish children taunted them, saying, “You have no grandmother.” So they asked their mother, who said, “Yes, you have a grandmother; but she lives in my country, which is far distant.” They said, “We wish to see our grandmother.” So their mother gave them directions how to reach there. They started on their journey by canoe, and in due course arrived at their grandmother's house, which they entered. They found her absent, but soon discovered her digging roots on a hillside. They played in the house, and ate of the food which they found there in great plenty. When they saw Grisly Bear approaching the house, they ran away and hid themselves, for they were afraid of the old woman's fierce appearance. On entering the house, Grisly Bear saw that some one had been there, for things were disarranged and some of the food had been eaten. She discovered children's footprints near the fireplace, went out and called on them to come; but the boy especially was very much afraid, and ran down to the canoe, in which they embarked and returned home.
When they arrived at home, their mother said, “You cannot have staid long with your grandmother.” And the girl answered, “My brother was afraid of our grandmother, so we hid when she came home.” Then their mother sent them back, telling them not to be afraid, but to wait in the house until such time as their grandmother came back from digging roots. She said, “Your grandmother will certainly be glad to see you when you tell her who you are.”
The children returned to their grandmother's house, but again they became afraid, and returned home. Thus four times their mother sent them to visit their Grandmother.
When they came the fourth time Grisly Bear was aware of their presence and resolved to surprise them. She put her robe and basket on a stump, and, keeping herself hidden, she returned unobserved to the house. The children mistook the dressed stump for their grandmother and remained in the house. Grisly Bear, however, had beforehand prepared some medicine1
1. A decoction of herbs.
