Then men began to talk about Tsasgips, and to say: “Maybe he had better try. Maybe he is a kiúks [13] and can do something.” The people got him ready, sprinkled him with white paint, so he was all white spots in front. He made, with his mouth, a noise like blowing; the first rock crumbled to pieces. He made the same noise with his mouth and struck against the second rock; the rock fell into small pieces. He broke all five rocks in the same way. Then the people killed Yahyáhaäs with arrows, but his spirit went up in the air and became Thunder. They shot a great many times at the spirit as it flew up, for they saw it rising, but they couldn’t hit it; they missed it every time. YAHYÁHAÄS CHARACTERS Gäk Crow Skóŭks Woodtick. (In every story Tick is a Shasta woman.) Tcûskai Weasel Tskel Mink Yahyáhaäs Southeast of the Modoc country there was a large village. The people of that village lived on seeds and roots. One day a man came from the south, and said: “Seeds are ripe. It is time to gather them.” The people were glad. All went; only four persons were left at home. In one house there was a sick woman, the chief’s wife. She had a little girl and a baby. In another house was a very old woman. The chief’s wife was afraid of Yahyáhaäs. She said to the little girl: “There is a Yahyáhaäs around. I have often seen him near the river. When he travels, he hops with his one leg and keeps calling his own name. He has a great bushy head. He is awful tall and is always naked. He comes from the rocks and mountains off in the north. You must watch for him, and if he comes here, we will run away.” One day the little girl saw a man coming. She called to her mother to come and see him. The mother said: “That is Yahyáhaäs! Take the baby on your back and run as fast as you can to where the men are. Tell them to come home and save me.” The little girl put the baby in the water basket, but Yahyáhaäs was in the house before she could start. She said: “I am going for water.” She took the basket and went to the creek, then she ran off as fast as she could; she couldn’t go very fast, for the baby was heavy. The old woman knew that Yahyáhaäs was in the sick woman’s house, but she didn’t go there; she took her grass blankets and hid herself in the bushes. When Yahyáhaäs went into the house, the sun began to go down fast; he made it go. The sick woman thought: “If I am good to him, maybe he will let me live.” She gave him salmon, and said: “Eat this.” “Eat this,” repeated the man. She gave him an eel; he kicked it away. She gave him white roots, and said: “Eat these.” “Eat these,” said he, and kicked them away. She gave him dry manzanita berries, and said: “Eat these; they are good.” “Eat these, they are good,” said the man, and he threw them in her face.