Tskel cut the meat in strips to dry; he worked all night, and finished just as the sun came up. Then he took a piece of the fat, fastened it on the top of Tcûskai’s head, and said, “This will always stay as it is now; it is small, but all the people in the world could feed on it.” Then he said: “You have lived long enough without a wife; you must look for one.”
“Where can I find a wife?” asked Tcûskai.
“If you go to the place where they killed Wŏn, you will find a clearing where women are digging roots. When you get to the edge of the clearing, shoot an arrow. It will come down near a spring. You must be at the spring by midday.”
Tcûskai walked and walked. After a while he came to the clearing and saw women digging roots. Then he shot an arrow. When he got to the spring his arrow was sticking up in the ground there. He sat down, put his elbows on his knees, and his head on his hands. The women went towards the spring, digging as they went.
Kówe saw Tcûskai first; she took off her cap and wanted to give him water. He didn’t look up or move. She ran to the other women, and said: “There is a nice-looking young man sitting by the spring. I gave him some water, but he wouldn’t take it; maybe he will take it from you.” The women crowded around Tcûskai; each offered him water, but he wouldn’t take it. The chief’s daughter offered it but he didn’t take it. Kaiutois’ daughter tried, but he wouldn’t look at her. Blaiwas’ daughter said to a woman: “Go and tell those Máidikdak girls to come and try.” When the woman got to the girls, she said: “A nice-looking young man is there by the spring. We have all offered him water, but he won’t take it. Maybe he will take it from you.”
They went to the spring. The elder sister took off her cap, [[307]]filled it with water, and gave it to Tcûskai; he drank half of the water. The younger sister offered him the cap; he drank the other half of the water. Blaiwas’ daughter saw the arrow; she tried to pull it up, but couldn’t. Then each woman tried in turn. Some watered the ground to soften it, but nobody could pull the arrow out. Then Blaiwas’ daughter said: “Let Máidikdak’s daughters try.”
The elder sister pulled the arrow half-way out; the younger pulled it all the way out and put it in her basket. Then she went to dig roots.
Kówe saw the fat on Tcûskai’s head and wanted to loosen it, but she couldn’t. She bit at the knots, but the women drove her away. Blaiwas’ daughter said: “You mustn’t use your teeth. Whoever loosens fat with their teeth will be Tusasás’ wife.” All the women tried to take the fat off from Tcûskai’s head, but no one could do it. They sent for Máidikdak’s daughters again. The elder one loosened it; the younger took it off.
The women went home and Tcûskai was left alone. Kówe ran with all her might, jumped, fell, puffed, at last got home. Then she said to her mother: “Tcûskai drank from my cap; make a good place for him!” Old Kówe was glad. She made ready a nice place for her son-in-law.
Each young woman told her mother the same thing, except Máidikdak’s daughters; they didn’t say anything. Tusasás made ready a place for his son-in-law.