Pi-ko-i stood and watched the game for a while. After the Prince had shot several arrows he said: “How simple all this is! Why, any one could shoot as this man shoots.” When the Queen heard the stranger boy say this, she said, “Could you shoot as well as the Prince?” “Yes, ma’am,” said Pi-ko-i. “Then I will wager my property on your shooting,” said the Queen.
The King kept on staking his property on the Prince’s shooting, while the Queen now staked hers on Pi-ko-i’s. Whoever should strike ten rats with one arrow would win, and whoever should strike less than ten would lose the match. Prince Mai-ne-le shot first. His arrow went through ten rats, and all the people shouted, “Mai-ne-le has won, Mai-ne-le has won! The stranger boy cannot do better than [[73]]that!” But Pi-ko-i only said, “How left-handed that man must be! I thought that he was going to shoot the rats through their whiskers!”
Prince Mai-ne-le heard what Pi-ko-i said, and he answered angrily: “You are a deceiving boy. From the first day I began shooting rats until this day, I have never seen a man who could shoot rats through their whiskers.” “You will see one now,” said Pi-ko-i.
Then bets were made as to whether one could shoot through rats’ whiskers. These were new bets, and when they were all made, Pi-ko-i made ready to shoot. But now the rats were all gone; not one was in sight. Thereupon Pi-ko-i said a charm to bring the rats near:
“I, Pi-ko-i,
The offspring of Ala-la the Raven,
The offspring of Kou-kou:
Where are you, my brothers?
Where are you, O Rats?
There they are,