STORIES 427

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topiwac
fawn.4°

ditpiaxs
one leg,

Kaxttwanai
Fall down,

That is: May one leg fall down from the fawn.

The Wolves learnt this song very carefully, and hurried back towards
the tree into which their quarry had climbed, repeating it at intervals to
fix itin their memories; at one point a fallen tree spanned their path and
as they jumped it they forgot what had been taught them. Suutgwalni-
kaista had stolen away their thoughts. Once more they went back to the
woman, who again gave them the necessary song. This time they re-
doubled their efforts to remember it, but as before they forgot it when
they leaped over the fallen tree. A third time the woman instructed
them, and a third time they lost it, as they jumped the tree. On the
fourth time of asking, the old woman inquired:

“Ts there a fallen tree crossing your path on the way to the murderer?”

“Yes,” they replied.

“Then,” said she, “do not jump it. Go round the end.”

On this, the fourth time they had set out, they went round the end,
and did not forget what they had learnt. Deer was stillin the tree under
which they sang the song. The first time they sang it, one of his hind
legs fell down; the second time the other hind leg dropped; on the third
singing, one of the fore legs, and on the fourth, the body with remaining
foreleg tumbled into their clutches. As each part fell they ate it up.

DEER AND WOLVES
(Second Version)

Not long after the first people had reached this earth and while they
were still half man, half animal, Deer with his son went in a canoe to
gather firewood at Elcho Harbour. The father went into the forest,
leaving Fawn aloneinthe canoe. Presently four men and a woman came
along. They were Wolves.

“You would make a fine meal,” they said to Fawn.

When Deer returned, he asked his son, ““Did you see anyone when I
Was away?”

“Yes,” replied Fawn, “four men and one woman.”

“Qh,” said his father. “‘“Did they say anything to you?”

“Yes. They wanted to eat me,” replied the boy.

“They are bad people,” said Deer. ‘“They whistle through their nos-
trils which are like anuses.”’

“Tt is clear that the singers were not to address the deer by name.

sake