When the old man had finished pounding the coals he painted his face. Then he started in pursuit of the youth, saying, “I am following you.” The old man finally overtook the youth, whereupon he said to him, “Look here, my grandson! I am going to kill you.” The youth replied, “So let it be,” at the same time striking the old man a blow with the war club. Then they fought, and being evenly [[524]]matched, the struggle was fierce. Thus the battle went on for some time until at last the youth succeeded in killing his grandfather. Then he started for home, followed by all the things that were in the lodge of the old man.
The youth did not realize the time it took him to arrive at the lodge of his living grandfather, who exclaimed: “You certainly have brought back home our great beast. How did you accomplish it? Was the old man willing for you to bring it home? Was he willing, too, for you to take all the things which you have brought back with you?” The youth replied, “I killed the old wizard.” At this his grandfather began to weep, saying, “Now, indeed, you have killed him who, when living, was my brother.” Without making any reply, the youth prepared to lie down for the night. The two occupied the same side of the fire.
As soon as the youth fell asleep, the old man, his grandfather, arose and, addressing the sleeping youth, said, “I suppose that I must now kill you, wicked man, in your turn.” Taking up his bow and three arrows and, going over to the opposite side of the fire, he shot three arrows into the back of the youth, his grandson, who was asleep. Then the old man returned to his bed and laid himself down again. Some time after this the youth awoke and said, “Kwŭʻʹ! indeed my back does give me much pain.” On examining it with his hands, he was surprised to find three arrows sticking in it. At this discovery he exclaimed, “Gūʻ! now, I suppose, I must depart from this place, for it seems that my grandfather has killed me. So be it then. I will now go far away.” He started at once on his journey, and all the things which he had taken from his dead grandfather went with him—his grandfather’s breechclout and also the mush—these all went along. As soon as the old man saw that these things started to leave, he began to weep. So the youth left his grandfather.
When the youth had gone a long distance from his home, he was surprised to find a village of people. Leaving his slaves and domestics near the village, he went to the first lodge, where he visited. He found in this lodge a young man who resembled himself very closely in age, size, and manners. It was soon customary for them to go around together. It is said that they two kept company with each other wherever they went. Finally the youth from the village said, “Kūʻ, game is indeed very scarce. Where may be the game animals? Perhaps they have gone far away to seek subsistence. Possibly they have gone to the place where dwells the great beast.” In reply, the visiting youth said to his friend, “I am, it is known, called the great beast.” The other youth answered, “Aā, it is true. So be it. I will now show you where abide my domestic (game) animals.” [[525]]
Then the two youths departed from the place and at last came to the spot where dwelt the great beast, the prototype of all others.
The youth from the village now said to his friend: “I will now give up all the animals over which I have control, that they may go over the whole earth and dwell in freedom; that they may increase and multiply at their will and go and come as seems good to them. Then the noises made by all the animals became great in the world.
This is the story.
111. The Legend of Honenhineh and His Younger Brothers
In times long past Honenhineh and his younger brothers dwelt in a lodge together; the lodge was constructed of bark and was very long, according to the custom of the country. There were three fires occupying the place provided for fire along the midway of the lodge.