The town people told one another in whispers that he had lain with his aunt, and his mother, Flood-tide-woman, as well. This went on for a while; then, all at once, there was an outbreak. Then they drove Flood-tide-woman away with abusive language. Her boy, too, they drove off with her with abusive words. She was the sister of Great-breakers,[29] belonging to the Strait people, they say.
And they came along in this direction (i.e., toward Skidegate). After they had come along for a while they found a young sea otter opposite the trail that runs across Rose Spit (G̣o′łgustᴀ). His mother then skinned it and sewed it together. Now she stretched it and, having scraped it, laid it out to dry. When it was dried she made it into a blanket for her son. He was Nᴀñkî′lsʟ̣as-łiña′-i,[30] they say.
And after they had traveled for a while she stood with her child in front of her brother’s house. By and by somebody put his head out. “Ah, Flood-tide-woman stands without.” “N-n-n, she has done as she always does (i.e., been unfaithful to her husband), and for that reason comes back again,” said her brother. And again he spoke: “With her is a boy. Come, come, come, let her in.”
Then she came in with her son. And her brother’s wife gave them something to eat. By and by he asked of her: “Flood-tide-woman, what are you going to name the child?” And she moved her hand over the back of her head. She scratched it [in embarrassment]. “Why, I am going to name your nephew Nᴀñkî′lsʟas-łiña′-i.” As she spoke she held back her words hesitatingly. “I tell you, name him differently, lest the supernatural beings who are afraid to think of him (the bearer of that name) hear that a common child is so called.”
While she was staying with her brother her child walked about. He banged the swinging door roughly. “Flood-tide-woman, stop that [[120]]child from continually opening the door in that way.” “Why, chief, I never can stop him.” “Just hear what she says. What a common child is continually doing the supernatural beings ever fear to do.” On another day, while Great-breakers was lying down, he banged the door again. He said to the mother: “Flood-tide-woman, a common child is doing the same thing again. Try to stop him.” “Why, chief, I can never stop your slave nephew.”
And where he was sitting with his mother by the fire, on the side toward the door, right there he defecated. And his uncle’s wife made a pooping sound at him. “I shall indeed go with that husband’s nephew,” he heard his uncle’s wife say.[31]
On the next day, very, very early in the morning, he started off. After he had gone along for some time he came to some persons who burst into singing sweet songs and danced. They then asked him: “Tell us, what are you doing hereabout?” “I am gathering woman’s medicine.” “Well, what do you call woman’s medicine? Is woman’s medicine each other’s medicine?” “Yes; it is each other’s medicine.” Those women chewed gum as they sang. Then one of these gave him a piece. “This is woman’s medicine.” And one of them gave him directions: “Now, when you enter the house, pass round to the right. Chew the gum as you go in. And when your uncle’s wife asks it of you, by no means give it to her. Ask of her the thing her husband owns. When it is in your hands give the gum to her.” And he went away from the singers. When he entered the gum stuck out red from his mouth. Then his uncle’s wife said to him: “I say, Nᴀñkî′lsʟas-łîña′-i, come, give me the gum.” He paid no attention to her. He then sat down beside his mother, and to his mother he said: “Tell her to give me the thing my uncle owns. I will then give her the gum.” Then his mother went to her. She told it her. And to her she gave something white and round. He then handed her the gum. While his uncle’s wife chewed it and swallowed the juice he saw that her mind was changed.
Some time after that his fathers[32] went by on the sea. And he said to a dog sitting near the door: “Nᴀñki′lsʟas-łîña′-i says he desires the place where his fathers now are to dry up and leave them.” And immediately it went out and said so. The tide left them high and dry, and they were in great numbers. They made a scraping sound in their efforts to move. He then said to his mother: “I say, go and pour water upon my fathers.” She then went down to them, and she did not look upon her husband. She poured it only upon Fin-turned-back. And he went to his mother and told her to pour water upon his father. She acted as if she did not hear his voice. They were going to the supernatural beings of Da′osgên[33] to buy a whale, they say.
Then he came in and said to the dog again: “Go and say, ‘Nᴀñkî′lsʟas-łîña′-i says he desires the tide to come in to his parents.’ ” He then went out quickly and said it. X̣ū-ū-ū-ū-ū (noise of the waves coming in), and they at once were moving along far off on the water. [[121]]
And, after they had been gone a while, they returned to that place. And again he said to the dog: “Go and say, ‘Nᴀñkî′lsʟas-łîña′-i says he wishes his parents to leave something for him.’ ” He then went out quickly and said so. Something black was sent to one end of the town. He went thither. A whale floated there.