“Ah!” sighed the man, “do not ask me. You must not stay here longer, for in my madness you may see me as I am. I am the messenger of death. He is Sondowekowa, I am Gahachendietoh. I am in disguise but should you see me you would soon die, so depart and preach what I whisper that henceforth mankind may profit.”
With trembling limbs and blanched face the boy listened to the whispered words of his friend and when he had learned all, he shot upward to the surface of the lake. Striking out he swam to the shore and searching beneath a rock shelter he found his clothing as fresh as when he had doffed them. Dressing, he set out to find his comrade. He came to the village but found on its site only charred and blackened frames. A deep-trodden trail bordered with the bones of dogs and fragments of kettles led away to the west, and following it Oohoosha saw a new village, but only a few houses were there. The people who moved like ghosts silently about were gaunt and scarred.
Suddenly a lodge door opened and out rushed his old comrade, who seeing Oohoosha, drew back with a cry of fear and surprise; but Oohosha calling, he came forward timidly and took his hand. Looking at him doubtfully he spoke.
“Oh, Oohoosha!” he cried. “How came you back from death! I thought you drowned four moons ago when we dived in the lake.”
“While I clung to a rock,” answered Oohoosha, “a man came to me and said ‘follow!’ I did not drown but lived this while in the underwater world. Now, tell me, why is the village so altered and why do the people stalk silently about, with dull eyes?”
“Ah me!” said the comrade. “A devastating war has been waged and we are reduced in number; a terrible famine has swept away the game and crops; a pestilence carried away all but a handful of our people, then to add to our trouble a marauding band came and burned our village while we slept.”
“And did no warning sign appear?” asked Oohoosha.
“Yes, but we knew it not as such until it was long too late and then we noticed a blue panther floating high in the trees. He had no visible face but from his tail shot flames of fire.”[[13]]
“That creature,” exclaimed Oohoosha, “is the herald of disaster. His name is Gaă‘sioñdie´t’hă’ and when he is seen all men must burn tobacco. Tobacco incense is the sign that disaster is not wanted and when he has breathed it he will go away satisfied with the offering and turn aside the impending evil. But come, I must call a council and tell the people.”