Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico); Grand Canyon (Ariz.); United States -- Discovery and exploration
When they had journeyed two days and were far out on the desert, all the
people thirsted, for they found no water, and they fell down upon the
sand groaning and murmuring that they had been deceived, and they cursed
the One-Two.
But the So'kus Wai'unats had been told in the wonderful dream of the
suffering which would be endured, and that the water which they carried
in the cup was to be used only in dire necessity; and the brothers said
to each other:
"Now the time has come for us to drink the water."
And when one had quaffed of the magical bowl, he found it still full;
and he gave it to the other to drink, and still it was full; and the
One-Two gave it to the people, and one after another did they all drink,
and still the cup was full to the brim.
But Shinau'av was dead, and all the people mourned, for he was a great
man. The brothers held the cup over him and sprinkled him with water,
when he arose and said:
"Why do you disturb me? I did have a vision of mountain brooks and
meadows, of cane where honey dew was plenty."
They gave him the cup and he drank also; but when he had finished there
was none left. Refreshed and rejoicing, they proceeded on their journey.
The next day, being without food, they were hungry, and all were about
to perish; and again they murmured at the brothers and cursed them. But
the So'kus Wai'unats saw in the distance an antelope, standing on an
eminence in the plain, in bold relief against the sky; and Shinau'av
knew it was the wonderful antelope with many eyes which Stone Shirt
kept for his watchman; and he proposed to go and kill it, but Togo'av
demurred and said:
308 CANYONS OF THE COLORADO.
"It were better that I should go, for he will see you and run away."
But the So'kus Wai'unats told Shinau'av to go; and he started in a
direction away to the left of where the antelope was standing, that he
might make a long detour about some hills and come upon him from the
other side.
Togo'av went a little way from camp and called to the brothers:
"Do you see me!"
They answered they did not.
"Hunt for me."
While they were hunting for him, the Rattlesnake said:
"I can see you; you are doing so and so," telling them what they were
doing; but they could not find him.
Then the Rattlesnake came forth declaring:
"Now you know that when I so desire I can see others and I cannot be
seen. Shinau'av cannot kill that antelope, for he has many eyes, and is
the wonderful watchman of Stone Shirt; but I can kill him, for I can go
where he is and he cannot see me."
So the brothers were convinced and permitted him to go; and Togo'av went
and killed the antelope. When Shinau'av saw it fall, he was very angry,
for he was extremely proud of his fame as a hunter and anxious to
have the honor of killing this famous antelope, and he ran up with the
intention of killing Togo'av; but when he drew near and saw the antelope
was fat and would make a rich feast for the people, his anger was
appeased.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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