Two brother lived at one time with certain other people in an underground lodge. One day one of these brothers disappeared. The other brother searched for him but in vain. Then he became very sorrowful. He did not know what had become of his brother, for the Ants had stolen him, and had led him to their adobe underneath the ground. The Ants were playing a game of lacrosse, and he was playing with them. Suddenly he stopped playing, and sitting down, commenced to cry. The Ants said someone must have struck him with his ball-stick while playing. But he answered, "No! Nobody struck me. I am sorrowful, because while I was playing a tear fell on my hand. It was my brother's tear from the upper world, and I know by it that he is searching for me, and weeping." The Ants pitied him, and one of them said, "I will go to the upper world, and let your brother know where you are, and that you are well.' The Ant went and reached the surface from underneath the firestone of the lodge in which the brothers used to dwell. The fire was low, and the people were sitting smoking, and some of them had retired for the night. Suddenly they saw a man at the foot of the ladder. They wondered how he come down the ladder without being noticed; so they addressed him, saying," Welcome, friend! Where have you come from?" He said, "I am wandering about the country." He stayed for a day or two, and then suddenly disappeared. He had however, taken opportunity to tell the brother above all concerning his relative below, and how happy the latter was, and the brother later on told the people. Then he asked the Ant," How can I go to see my brother?" and the latter said, " I must not tell you. Go to the Spider, and he may tell you." He went to the Spider; but the latter ," I cannot let you down, as my thread is too weak. Go to the Crow, and he will give you advice." He went to the Crow. The Crow said, "I will not tell you with my mouth, but I will tell you in a dream. Be careful and notice what you dream." He went home and fell asleep, and in his sleep dreamed. He was told in the dream to look under the firestone of the lodge, and he would discover a hole. He was to shut his eyes, and take one jump down the hole, when he would alight on an obstacle. He was then to roll over and take another jump, and would alight on another obstacle. This he was to do four times, and then to open his eyes, as he would then be in the lower world. He then did as directed, and eventually found himself in a fine country, where the Ant peoples were playing ball. Here he found his brother, and was happy.²⁵⁴

Seven women²⁵⁶ went off into the mountains to dig roots, and took with them a boy. they arrived in the neighbourhood of the place where they intended to dig, and camped there in the evening. Shortly after they had camped they heard a cry at a long distance. The cry came nearer , and they wondered what it might be. The cry was, " Aq, aq, aq ! " three times in succession, with short intervals of silence. The voice approached the camp, and soon from the edge of the timber there emerged into the open a man of gigantic stature, who looked from side to side, turning his face upwards, and crying, "Aq, aq, aq ! " He walked into the camp. The women talked to him; but he only answered with the cry of "Aq." Some said, "Probably he wants a'qwen (fish-roe), and those who had fish-roe amongst their food offered some to him; but he turned away his head and cried, "Aq!" The women then said, " let him alone! He will likely go away by and by. We might as well go to sleep." They went to sleep. After they had fallen asleep, the man killed them all by ripping open their stomachs, and then swallowed all their hearts. The boy had hidden beneath an over turned basket and waited there until the man had gone away. He then went home as quickly as possible and told the people what had happened. Seven men²⁵⁷ had armed themselves, and, accompanied the boy, travelled to the place of the tragedy. These men dressed themselves, painted their faces, and did up their hair, so as to resemble the women. They also carried baskets and root diggers, and had their weapons concealed on their bodies. The spot was reached and the dead women found. Then they lit a huge fire and waited until nightfall. Presently they heard the same cry gradually coming nearer, and finally the man entered the camp, crying, "Aq!" They pretended to be kind to him and offered him food, and the same time surrounded him. First those behind him attacked him, then they all closed in on him, and so dispatched him immediately. They then cut him up²⁵⁸ (Similar to the way Indians cut up large game), and threw one part in the direction of each of the surrounding tribes²⁵⁹. In his stomach were found all the women's hearts, which they replaced in their respective places in the women's breast; and as each woman's heart was placed back in her breast, she arose and said, " I have been asleep a long time." But the men and boy told them all that had happened, and they were astonished.²⁶⁰
 

TOP

copyright disclaimer