The false face held out his hand for tobacco and the boy gave him some. Then he pointed his hand toward a large cliff from which smoke issued.
The boy darted forward, and after him, close pursuing, was the witch. The false face halted the creature and demanded tobacco, but the witch being in the form of a nīa’´gwahē could not give it unless she became her human self. This she knew meant delay, but the false face was insistent and then she was forced to shake off the beast form and give the tribute. It is woe to those who deny the false faces, and she knew it. Then she resumed her beast shape and galloped onward.
The boy ran toward a rock and when he saw a small hole he entered and then crawled into a spacious cavern. A woman within was boiling bear’s oil.
“Save me!” cried the boy as the nīa’´gwahē snorted at the entrance and forced in its head.
The beast struggled. It was trapped. The woman lifted her pot of boiling oil and threw it upon the face of the witch-beast. A man forced out its carcass with a club and shot arrows into a black spot on its feet.
“I am your mother,” said the woman.
“I am your father,” said the man, “we were rescued from death by the false faces.”
“And I am your daughter,” said a voice as the boy uncapped his arrow, “and my brother has saved me!”
58. NIA’´GWAHE THE MAMMOTH BEAR.[[52]]
In the olden times in the valley of the Dociowĕh lived a newly married couple. Their lodge was far back by the big rocks and when danger threatened they hid in the caves.