Cloud said, “I will capture the Spring Salmon.”
But Cormorant said, after everyone else had spoken, “Well, I’m only a passenger. I’ll take whatever I can get.”
Mink answered, “I won’t tell what I am going to take! Now start! The Salmon People cannot see you, just as we cannot see ghosts.”
At once they went on the warpath. They each seized a boy and a girl of the various Salmon tribes, and the Salmon People could not see them at all. They only saw that their children were fainting, as though their ghosts had gone away.
Then the bird and animal warriors went back to the canoe with their slaves. They were about to start home, when someone said, “Let us go and see what is beyond this country of the Salmon People.”
The canoe at once went on, and they came to the Berry Country. One of the birds went ashore and picked up a great many of the Berry People and put them in the canoe. Then they returned home. For seven moons they had remained in the Land of the Salmon People.
When they passed Bella Bella, Cormorant said, “This is my town. I will go ashore here.”
The birds and animals traveled on, and came to the mouth of the Bella Coola River. There they threw all their Salmon slaves into the water. The Salmon people jumped and began to ascend the river. Then Winwina arose in his canoe and told each one—the silver salmon, the hump-back salmon—told each one at what season he was to arrive. Ever since that time there have been salmon in the Bella Coola River.
Winwina also scattered the Berry People all over the mountains, and through the valleys, and told each one at what season it was to ripen.
After all this was done, Winwina invited everyone to his house. He gave them a great feast.