“How can I do that? You are my brother.”
“It won’t hurt me. I want you to practise shooting.”
“You are my own brother, all the one I have. I won’t do it,” said Gágha.
“You must,” said Kówam. “It won’t hurt me.”
“It will kill you; then I shall be all alone,” said Gágha.
Kówam talked a long time, asked in every way, but Gágha always said: “You are my brother; I won’t kill you.” At last Kówam said: “If you don’t shoot me and make me strong, I will let the big-footed people have your sister-in-law; I [[286]]won’t try to kill them. You can’t kill me. Nobody can kill me; I shall live always.”
At last Gáhga took the bow and arrow and shot Kówam in the heart, killed him; then he ran, for he felt scared. Right away Kówam overtook him, and said: “Now shoot me in the heart and tear my body to pieces.” Gáhga did as Kówam told him to and then ran away. Again Kówam overtook him. That time he said: “Kill me and pound my body to pieces; then mix the pieces with dirt and stones.” Gáhga did as he was told. Soon his brother caught up with him, and said: “Kill me, then pound my body up and throw the pieces away.” Gágha did that, and went on; he didn’t run that time, he just walked; he didn’t feel scared any longer. Kówam came up behind him, and said: “Now, little brother, try again. Kill me, then build a big fire and burn up my body and let the wind carry the ashes away.” Gáhga did that. His brother overtook him again.
“What kind of a man are you?” asked Gáhga. “Is there any way to kill you?”
“I wasn’t made to die,” said Kówam, “I shall live always. Now kill me and cut off my feet and hands and carry them away. Hold them tight.”
Gáhga shot Kówam in the heart, cut off his hands and feet, held them tight in his own hands, and traveled on, went fast. Right away his brother called to him. Gáhga’s hands were shut, but the feet and hands that he had been carrying were gone, and Kówam was by his side. Then he cut Kówam’s head off and threw it away. At once the head and body came together.