The Myths of the North American IndiansSpence, Lewis
History
The Myths of the North American Indians
Spence, Lewis
Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
He repeated his query, and the Turtle told him that the object of his
search was to be met with farther on.
"But beware," he added, "for if you do not recognize him he will kill
you."
{282}
Following the stream, the Snake came upon a large green frog floating
in shallow water.
"I have been seeking a person since morning," he said. "I think that
you are he."
The Frog allayed his suspicions, saying: "You will meet him farther
down the stream."
The Snake next found a large turtle floating among the green scum on a
lake. Getting on the Turtle's back, he said: "You must be the person I
seek," and his head rose higher and higher as he prepared to strike.
"I am not," replied the Turtle. "The next person you meet will be he.
But beware, for if you do not recognize him he will kill you."
When he had gone a little farther down the Snake attempted to cross the
stream. In the middle was an eddy. Crafty as he was, the Snake failed
to recognize his enemy, and the eddy drew him down into the water and
drowned him. So the youth succeeded in slaying the Snake who had
sought throughout the day to kill him.
The Story of the Salmon
A certain chief who had a very beautiful daughter was unwilling to part
with her, but knowing that the time must come when she would marry he
arranged a contest for her suitors, in which the feat was to break a
pair of elk's antlers hung in the centre of the lodge.
"Whoever shall break these antlers," the old chief declared, "shall
have the hand of my daughter."
The quadrupeds came first--the Snail, Squirrel, Otter, Beaver, Wolf,
Bear, and Panther; but all their strength and skill would not suffice
to break the antlers. Next came the Birds, but their efforts also
{283} were unavailing. The only creature left who had not attempted
the feat was a feeble thing covered with sores, whom the mischievous
Blue Jay derisively summoned to perform the task. After repeated
taunts from the tricky bird, the creature rose, shook itself, and
became whole and clean and very good to look upon, and the assembled
company saw that it was the Salmon. He grasped the elk's antlers and
easily broke them in five pieces. Then, claiming his prize, the
chief's daughter, he led her away.
Before they had gone very far the people said: "Let us go and take the
chief's daughter back," and they set off in pursuit of the pair along
the sea-shore.
When Salmon saw what was happening he created a bay between himself and
his pursuers. The people at length reached the point of the bay on
which Salmon stood, but he made another bay, and when they looked they
could see him on the far-off point of that one. So the chase went on,
till Salmon grew tired of exercising his magic powers.
Coyote and Badger, who were in advance of the others, decided to shoot
at Salmon. The arrow hit him in the neck and killed him instantly.
When the rest of the band came up they gave the chief's daughter to the
Wolves, and she became the wife of one of them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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