Were he a bear, I could kill him, were he a louse.
Thus aided by the Manito of the seasons, or of the weather, and by him of the ground, as is expressed by the two preceding figures, the hunter says he could find and kill whatever was a bear, though it were no bigger than a louse. The figure is that of a bear, with a louse on it.
19. O-ta-nuh we-yo che-mahn-duk o-ta-nuh-we-yo.
His tongue, a bear, his tongue.
The tongue, like the heart and blood in the other song, is now to be kept from the profane touch of a woman or a dog.
20. Man-i-to uh-we-she-nah-na io-kun-na man-i-to we-she-nah-na.
A spirit is what I use; a spirit do thou use.
The speaker, in this instance, is Na-na-bush, who gave mankind an arrow; that is, all those arms which give man dominion over the brutes. He used these things before us, and we must use them agreeably to his instruction and example.
21. We-ah-hah muk-ko-we-e-tah yah nah-mah kummig, ain-dah-zheesh she-no-gwain muh-ko-we-tah.
Although it were a bear concealed under the ground, I could find him.