“There is something in our house stronger than we are. We can’t go in,” said the father. [[293]]
The young man laughed, and asked: “What is there stronger than I am? There is nothing I can’t kill.” He was down two steps of the ladder when he saw the cap; he screamed and ran out.
One after another the five brothers came home. Each brother got one step farther into the house; each one screamed and ran out. The fourth brother said: “I am stronger than anybody. If this man had ever heard of me, he wouldn’t have come here.” He took four steps into the house, roared with fright, and ran away. The fifth brother was the strongest of all the brothers. There were five steps down into the house; he was on the last step when he saw Tskel’s cap. He roared and with one step was out.
The five Kaiutois brothers came home just at sundown. When Tskel saw them, he looked up and they knew him. He took off his cap, put it behind him, and they all went in. Then they called their wives, and asked: “Why didn’t you cook for this man? He is hungry. Come in and cook deer meat for him.”
Tskel said: “Tell Leméis and his sons to come in. It is cold outside.” They were glad; they went in, and right away they began to cook dead men.
Kaiutois’ meat was done first, and Gäk and Tskel ate deer meat. Little Tcûskai said: “Let me down, brother; I want to eat. I am hungry.” Tcûskai pinched him and told him to keep still, but Tcûskai said: “I can’t, you don’t give me enough to eat.”
When Leméis’ meat was done, the eldest son gave some of it to Gäk. Gäk put it in his mouth, but it came out of the hole in his throat and dropped on the ground.
Tskel put some strong sticks in Gäk’s arms, for he knew that the Leméis brothers would try to kill him. They sat down by the fire and asked Gäk to come and sit near them. Then they said to one another: “Let’s twist arms,” and the eldest brother said: “Come and play with us, Gäk.”
Gäk said: “I never play that way.” After they had teased him a long time, Tskel said: “Play with them; I won’t let them hurt you.” [[294]]
The eldest brother took hold of Gäk, twisted his arm hard, but couldn’t break it; it was soft. “Stiffen your arm,” said Leméis. Gäk stiffened his arm, but Leméis couldn’t break it. Then Gäk took hold of Leméis’ arm, twisted it hard, and broke it. Leméis ran out of the house and died.