"Aha! so here you all are," said he. "I'll hasten back to my father, Pá-u-ti-wa,[1] who hungers for flesh, alas! and grows weak." And like the wind the Shá'-la-k'o returned to Kó-thlu-ël-lon-ne. Entering, he informed the Kâ′-kâ, and word was sent out by the swift Sá-la-mo-pi-a[2] to all the We-ma-á-hâ-i for counsel and assistance, for the We-ma-á-hâ-i were now the Fathers of men and the Kâ′-kâ . The Mountain Lion, the Coyote, the Wild Cat, the Wolf, the Eagle, the Falcon, the Ground Owl, and the Mole were summoned, all hungry and lean, as were the Kâ'-kâ and the children of men, from want of the flesh of the game animals. Nevertheless, they were anxious for the hunt and moved themselves quickly among one another in their anxiety. Then the passing swift runners, the Sá-la-mo-pi-a, of all colors, the yellow, the blue, the red, the white, the many colored, and the black, were summoned to accompany the We-ma-á-hâ-i to the cañon-valley of the Snail People. Well they knew that passing wonderful were the Snail People, and that no easy matter would it be to overcome their medicine and their magic. But they hastened forth until they came near to the cañon. Then the Shá'-la-k'o,[3] who guided them, gave directions that they should make themselves ready for the hunt. When all were prepared, he opened by his sacred power the magic corral on the northern side, and forth rushed a great buck Deer. "Long Tail, the corral has been opened for thee. Forth comes thy game, seize him!" With great leaps the Mountain Lion overtook and threw the Deer to the ground, and fastened his teeth in his throat. The corral was opened on the western side. Forth rushed a Mountain Sheep. "Coyote, the corral has been opened for thee. Forth comes thy game, seize him!" The Coyote dashed swiftly forward. The Mountain Sheep dodged him and ran off toward the west. The Coyote crazily ran about yelping and barking after his game, but the Mountain Sheep bounded from rock to rock and was soon far away. Still the Coyote rushed crazily about, until the Mountain Lion commanded him to be quiet. But the Coyote smelled the blood of the Deer and was beside himself with hunger. Then the Mountain Lion said to him disdainfully, Satisfy thy hunger on the blood that I have spilled, for to-day thou hast missed thy game; and thus ever will thy descendants like thee blunder in the chase. As thou this day satisfiest thy hunger, so also by the blood that the hunter spills or the flesh that he throws away shall thy descendants forever have being." [Footnote 1: The chief god of the Kâ′-kâ, now represented by masks, and the richest costuming known to the Zuñis, which are worn during the winter ceremonials of the tribe.] [Footnote 2: The Sá-la-mo-pi-a are monsters with round heads, long snouts, huge feathered necks, and human bodies. They are supposed to live beneath the waters, to come forth or enter snout foremost. They also play an important part in the Kâ'-kâ or sacred dances of winter.]