12. THE POISONED ARROWS.
(Continued)In the spring of the year he climbed a mountain, and on the summit found a dim trail made by five sisters. He did not see any tracks, and waited under a pine tree. After a while he climbed the tree, but saw nothing.
Upon descending, he met an old woman named Kimhist, who told him of a war-dance to be held at her house. He begged to be allowed to accompany her. She refused because there were five sisters there who did not like strangers. Finally she consented to let him go along, and told him to stand behind her back.
When they stepped into the lodge, there was a heavy growl. Three of the sisters asked if there was a human being near. When the sisters saw Hesken, they tried to frighten him, but Kimhist defended him. The eldest sister, Kelauna, began a chant telling of her intention to destroy every human being in the spring. Kimhist told the others to bring salmon and give Hesken something to eat.
They gave him camas. He thought, "Camas, that is what my mother dug; salmon, that is what my father caught." He began to grow very angry. Kelauna continued her chant:. "I will kill and tear to pieces every human being I meet, and scatter his body over the face of the earth."
Hesken chanted after her, "I will kill and tear to pieces every grizzly bear I meet, and scatter his body over the face of the earth."
This made the woman angry, and she would have attacked him if Kimhist had not been there. Before daybreak, while the bears slumbered, Hesken stole out and returned to the tree. He climbed it and waited. At sunrise the eldest sister came out of the den. She felt depressed and sad, and the tears rolled from her eyes. As she climbed the trail and passed under the pinetree, Hesken whistled. She looked up, and he killed her with one of his poisoned arrows. Then he came down, cut off her feet, and threw them to the four winds. He scattered them so far, that they could not return to devour the Indians of that place.
The next morning her sister came out and climbed the trail. He shot her in the same manner. On the third and fourth days he killed two more of the sisters. On the fifth day the last one came out, but she did not climb the trail. She turned and went off through the forest. Hesken did not go in pursuit. He decided not to destroy the whole grizzly-bear race.
As he descended the mountain, he met a black bear. She told him that she was Kimhist and was the spirit of his mother. "I was allowed to protect you from the grizzly bears. Now that my death has been avenged, I am well pleased with your courage." Then she went away.
Hesken went back to his grandmother, and told her all she had wished to know. She gave a great feast in his honor.
At one time there was a race proposed between Turtle and Frog. All the people bet that Frog would win. Mud Turtle asked for three days to let his friends know about the race. The race-course was very uneven, -- low and high ground, rolling meadow.
Turtle bet his back against Frog's tail.
On the third day Turtle was given head start. Frog stood there taking more bets. Finally he started, and ahead in a low place he saw Turtle going out of sight. Each time he looked ahead he saw Turtle going out of sight. He hurried faster and faster, but did not overtake him. Just as he crossed the last low ground he saw Turtle over the line. He had to give up his tail. It took six turtles to beat him, but he lost the race. Now the pollywogs (tad-poles) have to lose their tails before they can become frogs.
In a certain place in the winter months, the ducks (lullullo) collected in great numbers. When any one approached them, they would rise and fly away, making a whistling-noise. One morning two hunters went down to a river to kill some ducks. They had each obtained one, when a dispute arose over the question whether the whistling-noise was made with the bill or with the wings when they rose to fly. Neither could convince the other, and the words became bitter. Finally they agreed to take it to the chief, and let him settle the dispute.
The chief heard the story, and looked at the ducks. Both of them were dead and could not make any noise. Therefore he called a council to listen to the dispute. The people came from all around to deliberate. They spoke one language and had only one chief.
The ducks were brought in, and the chief explained the question. The people said, "We do not wish to be unjust, we will go to the river and hear for ourselves. These ducks can do us no good." So they went down to the river and frightened the ducks which flew over their heads. Part of the Indians said the noise was made with the bills; part said it was made with the wings. They could not agree. Therefore the ducks were made to fly once more. The people began to quarrel violently, and separated in an ugly mood.
All during the winter the feeling grew, until in spring the mutual hatred drove part of the Indians south to hunt for new homes. This was the first division of the people into tribes. They selected a chief from their own division, and called themselves by another name.
Finding new objects, and having to give such objects names, brought new words into their former language; and thus after many years the language was changed. Each split in the tribe made a new division and brought a new chief. Each migration brought different words and meanings. Thus the tribes slowly scattered; and thus the dialects, and even new languages, were formed.
1 BBAE 59 : 306 (note 4).
