“I don’t know about any of the medicines that travel around on this earth,” said Wus.
The old man said: “After ten days I want you to try and get one of those nice-looking Wálwilégas girls for a wife.”
When the ten days were over, Wus sweated, then Djáudjau painted his face and body red and gave him nice clothes. The old man was glad that Wus was the Mountain’s son. He said: “Take your bow and arrows and shoot birds. Don’t pick up the first one you shoot; don’t pull the arrow out; leave the bird right there, as if you threw it away.”
Wus killed a yellow-footed duck and left it on the ground; then he killed other ducks and took them home. The old man had deer meat ready and Wus ate. He was glad to eat; he hadn’t eaten anything since he started to go to the mountain.
When he had eaten enough, he said: “I want to go and see people.” He started out but hadn’t gone far, when he saw a crowd of Wálwilégas girls; they were washing roots in the creek. He watched the girls a long time, then he said: “How beautiful those girls are. They are too small, but they are beautiful. I don’t know which one I like best.”
The girls were on each side of the creek; some of them saw Wus and called out: “There is Wus. He is coming here!” Others said: “No, that isn’t Wus.” The nicest-looking one of all the girls said: “No, that isn’t Wus.” Another girl said: “Yes, it is the same old Wus, but he has been on the mountains; that is why he looks differently.”
Wus went to the bank of the creek and sat down among the girls. That minute all the youngest and nicest-looking girls got up and went away. One of the largest and oldest called out: “Why do you go away? Why don’t you stay here and finish washing your roots?” But they had scattered and gone.
Wus was mad in his heart; he got up and started for home. On the road he came to a house and went in to see who lived there. He found Gíuwas and his wife. They were glad to [[218]]see him. The woman was kind. She asked: “Have you had anything to eat?”
“No,” said Wus, “I haven’t been hunting. I have been down by the creek where there was a crowd of girls.”
“Those are bad girls,” said the woman. “They act proud, as if they thought every man must fall in love with them; they never feed anybody. How did they treat you?”