[13] Conciliatory expressions. ↑ [a] [b]
War between the Pebble-town people and the Slaves
[Told by Abraham of Those-born-at-Qꜝā′dᴀsg̣o]
Sg̣agᴀ′ño[1] went from Tcꜝā′ał to visit Always-ready.[2] After they had gone along for a while on the sqā′djañ[3] they came to Songs-of-victory town.[4] And, when they came near the shore, Always-ready shot an arrow into the canoe. When he turned away he said: “Mine strikes in the way that it does when something is killed.” And Sg̣agᴀ′ño paddled back behind Fin island. Then they took things out of a box for the one who had been shot and put him in its place. And they fastened a rope around the box and came to the town again.
They then landed, and the town people carried up the things. With the rest of the property they brought up a big, heavy box. And, after food had been given to them to eat and evening was come, Sg̣agᴀ′ño’s companions went to a flat rock lying in front of the town and sat there. Then Sg̣agᴀ′ño, with two youths, went toward the upper end of the town.
They (the town people) then untied the heavy box. A dead man lay in it. Then all of the town people reached for their war spears. They ran down to the others, who were lying idly about, and killed all.
Then the chief looked behind him. And he started into the woods with the young fellows. At that time he shook this entire island.[5] On account of that they began to assume the name “Island-shaker.”
Then the two youths and Sg̣agᴀ′ño went away. Many nights passed over them. By and by they came to one who was making a canoe behind X̣i′das.[6] The youths wished to kill him. While they were talking Sg̣agᴀ′ño came to him. When he (the stranger) saw him he said: “Alas! he must have been doing as he always does.”[7] Then, without even putting away his tools, he went down before them. The man was a good canoe-builder, and he was a good bear-hunter. He then went in and spread out three bear skins for them, and his wife cooked food. And, when he had it set before him, Sg̣agᴀ′ño said: “Stranger,[8] I shall not eat this food. This ground might see me.”[9] Only the youths ate the food. He then let them go in a new 5-fathom canoe.
He gave them mat sails, paddles, and mats and food for the youths. Then Sg̣agᴀ′ño said to the man: “You had better not stay where the people of Sqā′ma-qꜝe-u[10] camp this summer. Stay near some sandy beach. When we return from fighting we will put off in front of you your friends who have been taken as slaves.” He then went to Tcꜝā′ał with the youths. [[405]]