Then, a younger brother,
Even as these words were being spoken,
Hastened to the second division of heaven, where he paused,
When, as the god of darkness cast a shadow upon the heavens,
He returned to the eldest brothers and stood.
They looked up and spake, saying: How has it fared with you? It was not your wont to suffer so, O, younger brother.
He replied: I have been to the second division of heaven.
It is not possible for the little ones to become a people there.
O, Younger brother,
We bid you make further search, the people said.
Even as these words were being spoken,
One hastened to the third division of heaven,
He drew near and paused.
The younger brother,
As the god of darkness cast a shadow upon the heavens,
Returned to the elder brothers and stood.
The elder brothers spake: How has it fared with you? It was not your wont to suffer so.
The younger brother replied: It is impossible!
O, younger brother, the people said,
We bid you make further search.
Then a younger brother
Hastened to the
Fourth division of heaven.
Close to it he came and paused.
Then the Man of Mystery, the god of the clouds,
Drew near and stood before him.
The younger brother turned to the elder brothers and said: Here stands a man!
A fear-inspiring man!
His name, I verily believe, is Fear-inspiring.
The people spake to him, saying: O, grandfather!
The Man of Mystery replied: I am a person of whom your little ones may make their bodies.
When they make of me their bodies,
They shall cause themselves to be deathless.
Little-hawk
They shall take for their personal name,
Then shall they always live to see old age.
Hawk-maiden, also,
Is a name that is mine.
That name also
Your little ones shall take to be their name,
Then shall they always live to see old age.
O, younger brother! the people said,
And the younger brother went in haste
To the Tho´-xe (the Buffalo-bull),
Close to whom he stood and spake, saying:
O, grandfather!
Then to the elder brothers he said: Here stands a man!
A fear-inspiring man!
The Tho´-xe spake: I am a person of whom the little ones may make their bodies.
Whereupon he threw himself to the ground,
Then up sprang the blazing star,
From the earth where it stood in all its beauty, pleasing to look upon.
Tho´-xe spake, saying: Of this plant also the little ones may make their bodies.
The people tasted the root of the plant,
And exclaimed: It is bitter to the taste!
Tho´-xe spake, saying: This plant shall be medicine to the little ones.
When they use it as medicine,
Their arms shall lengthen in growth,
And they shall live to see old age.
Again Tho´-xe threw himself upon the ground,
And the poppy mallow
Sprang from the earth and stood resplendent in its reddened blossoms.
Of this plant also Tho´-xe said,
The little ones shall make their bodies.
When they use it as medicine,
Their arms shall lengthen in growth.
The root is astringent,
And, referring thereto, your little ones shall take the name Astringent.
When the little ones make of this plant their bodies,
They shall always live to see old age.
Tho´-xe (the Buffalo-bull),
Threw himself to the ground,
And a red ear of maize
He tossed in the air,
As he exclaimed: The little ones shall make of this their bodies!
Then shall they always live to see old age.
Again Tho´-xe threw himself to the ground,
And a blue ear of maize,
Together with a blue squash,
He tossed in the air as he said,
These plants, also,
Shall be food for the little ones,
Then shall they live to see old age.