94. The Lad who ran away from his Parents.1
(Nkamtci'nEmux.)Once three brothers2 lived with their parents, who treated them so
cruelly that the eldest one ran away. He travelled many days toward the east,3 and at last arrived at a lodge from which emanated the sound of a whistle.4 He said to himself, "Some one must be playing a whistle." On entering, he found the lodge occupied by two young women.5 They received him kindly, and gave him food to eat. When he had finished eating, they heated water, and washed him. Then they made new clothes for him of buckskin, and gave him moccasins, leggings, and shirt to replace his old and wretched robe. They asked him to stay with them and become their husband; but he declined, saying, "You are my relatives, I cannot be your husband. besides, I wish to travel and become great." Upon his departure they gave him a pack of beaver-meat to eat on his journey, and a long buckskin belt richly embroidered.. They also gave him an axe, a tomahawk, a knife, and 3 chisel, saying, "You may need these things." They told him that after many days he would arrive at the shores of a large and wide lake, which was very difficult to cross. "Take off your belt," said they, "and throw one end of it out over the water, and it will form a bridge upon which you can cross."Soon he reached the lake. There the lad did as directed, and the belt formed a bridge upon which he crossed. When halfway across, a Beaver appeared from underneath the water, and asked him where he was going. He invited him to his house, saying, "The Beaver chief desires to see you.'
The lad jumped off the bridge and descended into the middle of the lake with the Beaver. Soon they arrived in the world of the Beavers, which he found was a nice country, and thickly inhabited. There were many houses, and the people were all busy building more houses, felling and hauling trees, and engaged in other occupations. The beaver chief received him kindly, and gave him food. Then he said, "I am your relative and I wish you to see my country, my houses, and people. We are happy, but we have one great difficulty ; - it takes us a very long time to cut down trees, for our teeth are small and dull.' The lad said, "If you and your people will open your mouths, I will make you so that you will be able to fell trees much faster."6 The Beavers opened their mouths, and the lad threw the axe, tomahawk, knife, and chisel into their mouths, and these implements became large teeth enabling them to cut fast through wood. The Beaver chief was very grateful for this benefit, and said he would help the lad. He conducted him to the surface of the water and told him, "You will meet people strong in mystery on the other side of the lake, near the mountains ; and some of them are powerful beings who will kill people, but they will not be able to harm you.' After the lad had reached the opposite shore of the lake, he pulled in his belt and wrapped it around his body.
1 Also sometimes called Story of the Lad with the Magic Belt. The second past is probably based on European folk-lore. Compare Hill-Touts Report, pp. 50,51.
2 Some say, four brothers.
3 Some say, north; others say that the direction which he took is doubtful.
4 Bone whistle, like those used by young men and women when training.
5 Some say they were sisters.
6 Some say he said to the Beaver chief, 'If you open your mouth, I will give you teeth that will be large and sharp, and with these you will be able to cut wood very fast." When the Beaver opened his mouth. he threw the four implements into his mouth, and they were transformed into four teeth like those the Beaver has at the present day. He said, `Henceforth all beavers shall have large sharp teeth, and be able to fell trees
with ease."
