This was the answer of the elders to their children’s question.
M’TEŪLIN, THE GREAT WITCH
In a certain place, alone by herself, lived an old woman whom none dared to approach, for she had bewitched many Indians.
In the spring of the year when the men came back from their long winter hunting for furs, they would gather together and build what they called eqū’nāk’n,[7] hot-baths, to drive off their diseases. They would enter the hut, and heat it red-hot until it would almost roast them. They would strip off their clothes, and dance and sing songs to drive off disease.
Once before the performance ended, they were amazed to see a woman among such a crowd of men; but they feared to speak to her. One young man laughed when she threw off her clothes. This angered her, and she said: “You laugh at me now; but I will send a flood to destroy you.” Then she left the hut.
After a time, the youth who had laughed, said, “Hark!”
All stopped to listen, and they heard the rush of water, and knew the witch had kept her word,—the flood was upon them. But the young man was something of a sorcerer too, and had a rattlesnake for poohegan, or messenger (all witches have at least one poohegan).
He instantly changed all his comrades into beaver and fish.
“Ha! ha!” laughed “Copcomus,” Little One, for such was the youth’s name. “You cannot finish your work, old witch. I will be avenged on you yet. I will pray Glūs-kābé to follow and kill you.”
They all swam out of the eqū’nāk’n, and when the water ceased to flow, Copcomus went along the stream and saw a large number of beaver building a house like eqū’nāk’n, so he changed them all back to Indians again. They were very glad, and thanked him heartily.