51. The four children
(Lower Uta mqt.)
(cont.)Here they found a house, which they entered. The only inmate was an old woman, who treated them kindly and gave them food. She said her husband was a cannibal, and would be home about evening. If he found them, he would certainly eat them. Therefore towards sunset she hid them away. When the husband arrived, he said, "Hum, hum! I smell human flesh,' but his wife pacified him, and persuaded him that it was only imagination, and that no person had been there since he left. After he had gone to sleep, the children arose, and, stealing the cannibal's magic staff, they took flight. When the cannibal awoke, he missed his staff, and, being aware of what had happened, he at once gave chase. He nearly overtook the children just as they were approaching a river; but they threw the staff down on the water, and it became a bridge on which they crossed, and pulled the staff over just as the cannibal reached the opposite bank. The latter, being unable to cross, had to return home without his staff and without capturing the thieves.
52. The wonderful Boy.1
(Lower Uta'mqt.)Grisly Bear stole a pregnant woman and took her to his house. Her husband searched for her, but could not find her. Before long the captive woman bore a son, who soon grew up and was able to go hunting. Now, Grisly Bear's house had many doors, but they opened or shut only at command of their master2 so the woman and boy could not go out or in except Grisly Bear allowed them to do so. At last the lad learned the secret of opening and shutting the doors. One day Grisly Bear allowed him to go out hunting. He shot a deer a long distance away, and, as it was late in the day, lie returned without carrying any of the carcass home. On the next day Grisly Bear went out to carry in the meat. When he had gone away, the boy opened two of the doors and let himself and his mother out. Then returned to his mother's home, but, on arriving there, found that his father had become an old man, for time went faster in the outside world than it did in Grisly Bear's house. His father was unable to recognize his wife, nevertheless he was glad to see them.
After staying some time at home, the lad told his father he intended to go to a distant country to look for work, and asked him to accompany him. After many days' travel, they reached a country where there lived white people who had many ranches, and had cleared the forest. The father applied for work, but they laughed at the idea of such an old man being able to chop trees.
1 This boy is named Jack by some. Compare this story with Tale XXXVIII, Traditions of the Thompson River Indians, p. 93
2 Some say they opened at his approach, and shut as soon he had passed.
