[Told by Isaac, of the Łi′elᴀñ qē′awai family.]
Îłdī′nī lived at End-of-trail town.[1] All of his friends also lived there. And he went out to fish. And, the wind blowing from the shore, he was blown away. He was unable to get to land. He was blown about in the sea all day. And while he was being blown about evening came upon him. He was also blown about during the night. And morning again dawned upon him. He did not see land. And he was again blown about all day. But the wind did not blow hard. Therefore he did not capsize. While he was being blown about evening again came upon him. He was again blown about all night. He was blown about for a long time. And morning again dawned upon him. During all that time he saw no land.
Then Îłdī′nī sang because he wanted the wind to become fair. And [[16]]he stood in the canoe. He began to sing: “Lake (i.e., Ocean) spirit, calm the waves for me. Get close to me, my Power. My heart is tired. Make the sea very calm for me, ye hō yē hō′ lō!” etc.[2] While he was still being blown about evening came upon him. And again morning dawned upon him. Although it was foggy in the morning the wind was not strong. He floated about at random. Every evening shut down foggy. And he was unable to stand up. His legs were weak, because he had been long in the canoe. Then he again sang the same song. And morning came again. He could see no land. And, while it was still foggy evening came upon him. All that time the wind was not strong. Again morning dawned upon him.
Then he floated near to land. He remained floating there. He did not get off for his legs were bent together. During all that time they did not see him. Although he was very near where people lived they did not see him. [[17]]
Then he saw a child playing about, one not grown but big enough to talk. And the child did not see him for his canoe was floating close to a rock. Then Îłdī′nī called to the child because he wished them to know about him. And, when he called, the child was afraid to go to him. After it had been afraid for some time [Îłdī′nī] said: “I am Îłdī′nī.” It was a male child. And it went out to him. And it came and stood near him. And he said to it: “My name is Îłdī′nī.” “Now you, too, say ‘Îłdī′nī,’ ” said he to it. And the child said “Îłdī′nī,” but said it wrong because it did not yet know how to talk very well. He pronounced his name again. And the child also pronounced his name. It said it right. And the child started away from him.
Then it turned away from him. It began saying, “Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī.” It was afraid of forgetting his [name]. And when it got some distance away it forgot his [[18]]name again. Then it returned to him. And, when it came to him he again told it his name. “Say ‘Îłdī′nī’,” said Îłdī′nī to this child. And the child in turn said so. And again it said it right. Then, as it went away from him, it began repeating his name. “Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī, Îłdī′nī,” it began saying. While it was saying “Îłdī′nī” it entered the house. That time it did not forget the name.
And, even while opening the door, it kept repeating “Îłdī′nī.” The child said to its grandfather: “Grandfather, find Îłdī′nī; grandfather, find Îłdī′nī.” And it led its grandfather to the place from whence it had come. They came to where he floated. The wife was also with them. And, being at once much troubled at the sight of him, they quickly got into his canoe. They came in front of their house with him.
When they got out they wanted to take him up to the house quickly. Then he showed them his legs. He also showed them that he was unable to stand. He merely made signs with his fingers. He [[19]]did not know their language. And the man ran up for his mat. And, when he brought it down, they placed him upon the mat. Then they carried him into the house. They placed him near the fire.
Then they put warm things upon him. And they also warmed him at the fire. They also put warm things on his head. They also warmed water for his legs. And, when the water became warmed a little, the woman began putting it upon his legs. At the same time the man also kept warm things on his head. And, as he sat there, he tried to straighten his legs a little. They became well. They stopped putting hot water on them.
And, when he asked for a stick, they gave it to him. And, after they gave it to him, he raised himself up. He tried to go outside. And, after he had sat outside for a while, he came back again with the help of his stick. They did not give him food because they saw that something was the matter with him. Although they had not seen him before they saw that he was a chief.