“Why do you say that?” asked Wus. “You make me feel badly.”
“We missed the youngest Wus brother; maybe you are he.”
“I will tell you about that young man,” said Wus. “He can do anything he wants to. He can change into different things. He can turn people into rocks, or old stumps, or ashes. He wouldn’t come here and talk to you; he would turn you into birds, or trees, or anything else he wanted to. He doesn’t talk to people. I wish I could kill him, but I haven’t power enough. I am afraid to go near him. I am glad you have killed his brothers.”
People said: “Don’t listen to that man; he is Wus.”
Wus said: “Wait and see what will become of you when Wus comes. He will be here soon. He will come to kill you and take his sister home. Didn’t you take all the nice clothes those brothers had? When their youngest brother ran away, was he dressed as I am? Can’t I stay and play with those hearts and with the daughters of the men who killed my father and mother? I will dance five nights over those hearts; I am glad to see them hanging up there.”
Some of the people said: “Let him stay. We will watch him. He can stay one day, then if he doesn’t do any harm, we will let him stay longer. He isn’t Wus.”
Wus knew their thoughts. He began to dance and to throw the women across the fire. He meant to make them stronger. As he threw them, he talked to them in his heart, and they answered him in their hearts. He said aloud: “I am glad to throw you over the fire. Your kin killed my father and mother! I want the fire to burn you.”
He danced all night and threw the women faster than any other man; but each time he threw them they were stronger.
In the morning he said: “You must let me sleep till the sun goes down; then I will show you how glad I am that those [[347]]brothers are dead. My grandmother thinks that I am off hunting for deer. You must give me one of those hearts to carry home to her; then she will be glad, too.”
After Wus had slept a while, one of the men woke him up and said: “You are hungry; here are seeds to eat.” To one another they said: “If he is Wus, he won’t eat our water seeds.” He knew what they said. He ate the seeds and went to sleep again; slept till it was almost dark. Then he helped the men build a big fire. He loosened his hair and it floated around him, it was so long and thick. He had a woman braid it and tie it up with strings of beads. Then he called out: “I want everybody to come and see me dance!” The men sat around and looked at him. He danced well and he sang his own songs. He danced for three nights; by the middle of the third night everybody was tired. Wus said: “You should sleep so you will be strong enough to dance to-morrow.” He was taking their minds away from them; they thought of nothing; they liked Wus and did as he told them.