Then the leader of the band, Dehaenhyowens, said: “Let us be thankful that we have been fortunate enough to go through this danger, which has taken one of our number. We now number only four, and we are without arms or other means of defense. We know not whether we shall require them or not. Now, I believe that we must depart hence and go forward. It is very evident that we have arrived in a land quite different from the one known to us. The light of this world is unequaled in its brightness; the daylight of the land whence we started is like the light of a starlight night compared with it. Now, let us depart hence. We will go, seeking to find human beings, if there be such, who may have a settlement here.”
Without further parleying they started forward. As they traveled along they saw that the trees of all kinds were very large and tall, and that they were in full bloom; these trees were of surpassing beauty. The travelers were greatly surprised to learn that the flowers supplied the light of that world, and they also observed that [[612]]all the beasts and animals and birds possessed exceptionally fine bodies and presence. They remarked, too, that they had seen nothing during their journey thither so wonderful and strange. They saw with astonishment also the exuberance of the growing grasses and plants, among which they beheld in rich profusion the fruited stalks of the strawberry plants, which were as tall as the grasses. During their entire journey thither never had they found such large, luscious berries.
Having gone some distance into the new country they were surprised to see in the distance a great multitude of human beings, who were assembled on the heath, which was the playground of that people; they appeared to the travelers to be occupied with games of amusement. Dehaenhyowens, the leader of the band, said, “What is to be done now, my friends, seeing that we have arrived at the dwelling place of strange human beings, and that we have nothing with which to defend ourselves should they attempt to do us harm?” Thereupon, Gaenhyakdondye said: “We have indeed made an agreement, as you know, that we should forsake our kindred and our lives in order to accomplish the purpose of this expedition. You know that each of us volunteered by ‘notching the rod’ to carry out that agreement. If we are to die here, we can do nothing to avoid such an end; we must not break our resolution and compact to follow the path of the sun to the last. The only thing that is certain in the case of our death is that our careers would end here.” His brother, Dehaenhyowens, replied, “The matter stands even as you have stated it; so then let us go forward to meet this people.” At this they started toward the place where they saw a great multitude assembled. In a very short time the anxious travelers came to a standstill not far from the others. Looking around, they saw that the inhabitants of the settlement were in readiness to witness a game of lacrosse, and that the players were even then standing in their accustomed places.
In a short time the game commenced, and the vast multitude drew near as interested spectators. As soon as it was fairly under way there arose a great tumult; there was shouting and loud cries of excitement and approbation caused by the varying fortunes of favorite players. The great multitude rejoiced, and the new arrivals were greatly delighted with what they saw.
At this time one of the players exhibited great rudeness in his manner of playing, striking right and left with his netted club without regard to other players who might be injured by his recklessness. Thereupon a person from the crowd, going up to him, said: “Do thou cease acting so rudely; thy manner is too violent, because one who is rejoicing does not act thus. So do not act thus again.” Then the players at once resumed the game, playing as they never [[613]]had played before. In a short time, however, the player who had been cautioned to be more mild in his methods of play exhibited again his violence toward his playmates. At once the man who had before reprimanded him went up to him again and said, “Assuredly, I forbade thee acting again so rudely as thou hast done, yet thou hast disobeyed my request. Now thou shalt rest for a time. Thou art too unkind and headstrong.” Thereupon, seizing the ball player by the nape of the neck and by the legs and lifting him up bodily, he bore him away. Not far distant stood a very large tree. Thither the man carried the ball player, and having arrived near the tree, he cast the youth against its trunk. Headforemost his body penetrated the trunk, part of his head coming out on the opposite side, while his feet still protruded on the nearer side. Then the man quietly returned to the ball ground, and play was resumed. The game was continued until one of the sides had scored the number of points requisite to win, and then the players again mingled with the crowd. Then the man who had imprisoned the rude player in the tree released the prisoner, with an admonition to be more mild in his methods in the future. On his return to the multitude the man told them that it was time for them to return to their several homes, and they dispersed.
It was then that this man, who seemed to be one of the chief men of the settlement, came to the place where stood the traveling company of Dehaenhyowens. As soon as he joined them he asked familiarly, “So you have arrived, have you?” Replying to this question, Dehaenhyowens said, “We have now arrived.” The man answered, “Assuredly, the reason that you have arrived safe in this land is that one of your number began at the very time of your departure from home to think, repeatedly soliloquizing, ‘Oh, Thou Master of Life, Thou shouldst have pity on us, so that we may pass through all the dangers which beset the accomplishment of the purpose of our solemn agreement. But, if it so be that we shall die on this earth, grant that we may also arrive in that other land that is extant, where Thou thyself abidest, Thou Master of Life.’ Every day, every night also, such was his mind. It was that which was able to bring your bodies into this land—this elder country. Moreover, you have fully accomplished that which I promised you when I met you on your way hither. So now, let me ask you, who among you is willing that I should restore his life; that is, refit his being?”
Then one of the four travelers answered, “I am one that is willing; you shall begin on me.” Then the man of the settlement, going to a tree which stood not far distant and seizing it, bent it down to the earth; he then stripped the bark in one entire piece from the trunk. Placing this piece of bark on the ground, he said to the volunteer, “Now, do thou come hither to me.” Thereupon the man who had [[614]]consented to have his body and being refitted went forward to him. Then the host placed the man on the outspread piece of bark, while the latter’s three companions intently watched him in what he was doing to their companion; and they saw him begin his work. Having taken apart the fleshly body of their companion, and unjointed all his skeleton, he laid each several piece aside. And then he took each of the pieces, each one of the joints of the bones, and wiped it very carefully. He soon completed his task, washing all.
He then began to join together all the bones and all the portions of flesh in their proper relations. As soon as he had completed his task he said to his guests: “Now I have refinished this work. What is solely of the other world has been removed, for what is of the earth earthy is out of place here. Now, my friend, arise again.” Then the man whose body and being had been remodeled arose, and he stood erect and cast his eyes around him. His host said to him, “Like unto what is your life as you now feel it? Do you feel different from what you were before I remodeled your body and being?” To this the renewed man replied: “The conditions of my life are such that I feel immeasurably better, and happier than I did before.” His host said to him, “If this be, indeed, true, make the attempt to overtake and seize that deer standing yonder in the distance. When the remodeled man started toward it the deer at once fled in terror. The man ran swiftly in pursuit, and the deer had not gone very far before he overtook and seized it. On bringing it back to the place where his host stood, the latter said to him, “Now, assuredly, your life has become a new thing—you have acquired the life of this country.”
The remaining three of Dehaenhyowens’ party, seeing how desirable was the change brought about in the body and life of the other by having him remodeled, said, “We, too, wish to have the same changes made in us as were brought about in the body and life of our companion. So we ask that the same be done for us, too.”
Then the host of the band of Dehaenhyowens proceeded to renew and remodel the bodies and the lives of the three who had last requested him to do so. When he had completed this task he said to them as their friend, “Now, I have recast all your lives; I have finished everything that concerns and fits them for this country. We will now start to go to the lodge, where you shall remain while you are in this country as your home.”