52. The wonderful Boy.
(Lower Uta'mqt.)
(cont.)They gave him a job, however, to clear land, and pointed out a flat piece of forest of large extent, which they asked him to slash, stump, and fence. Then the lad ordered an axe of immense size to be made. The blacksmith was unable to lift it when it was finished, therefore a team and wagon had to be hired to take it to the place. Now, the lad took the ace and began to fell the trees: In a few days he had chopped all the timber, taken out all the stumps, and erected a snake-fence around all the land. When the white men saw the work had been finished, they were astonished that the old man had been able to do such a large piece of work in such a short time. They did not know that it was the old man's son that had done it.
When they had been paid for their work, the lad bought much food, which he gave to his father to live on., then, leaving him there, he continued his journey. On the second day he reached a house on the trail which was inhabited by a young man who was half Grisly Bear. This man accompanied him on his journey. After two days' travelling, they came to another house on the trail which was likewise inhabited by a young man who was half Grisly Bear. He also joined them on their travels. Journeying two days' march farther, they arrived at a village of white people, where they all got employment clearing land. They took turns at cooking. One of them always staid in the house to cook for the other two who worked.
One forenoon an old gray-bearded man visited their cabin He said he was cold and wished to warm himself, lf, therefore the young man who was cooking asked him to come inside. He sat down close to the stove. Seeing some meat boiling, he asked for a spoon to sup the water of the meat with. The cook gave him a spoon ; and when his back was turned, the old man threw some of the boiling water on him. He did this three times. Then the cook attacked him, and they had a severe fight; but the old man got the best of the cook, and gave him a thrashing. The young man went to bed without paying any more attention to the dinner which he had begun to cook. At noon his companions came home from their work, and. finding no dinner ready, and the cook in bed, they wondered what was the matter.
Next day one of the others staid at home to cook. He did not know what had happened to his companion the day before, for the latter had said nothing about his adventure. The gray-beard appeared as on the preceeding day, and acted in a like manner to the cook who tried to put him out and was thrashed for doing so.
On the third day the lad himself staid at home. The old man appeared as usual, and treated him as he had his companions; but the lad attacked him and beat him until he left him for dead, and then threw him outside.
