STORIES 479

In a little while they came to some rapids where they saw, still beneath
the water, a canoe in which they embarked, Magwdnts’s son taking the
bow, the salmon, who had become a man, the stern. On and on they went
till they smelt countless tiny salmon and were soon in the midst of an
innumerable shoal of small fry which crowded the water so that the canoe
was in danger of being sunk beneath their weight. Magwédnts’s son baled
out the fish with his cedar-bark cape, and thus avoided the impending
disaster. After passing through these small salmon the journey was con-
tinued without incident until a very foul smell arose, indicating an
approach to a multitude of herring. Soon the canoe was in the midst
of a vast shoal of these fish and again was in grave danger of sinking
beneath the weight, but Magwdnts’s son cleared it out with his hands.

This danger past, the two went on till they came to a place where a
couple of old men were seated on either side of the river leaving only a
narrow passage for the canoe. These were halibut, who had taken up
this position to intercept all canoes. Magwénis’s son and the salmon
bravely drove their craft through the narrow gap, though it was scratched
in the process. Soon afterwards the salmon said:

“Tn a little while we shall see a place where some women bathe in the
river, helped by an old man. We shall be able to have a good time with
them.”

Soon the salmon pointed out the house where the women lived,
and the quiet stretch of water in which they bathed. Magwdzés’s son
went ashore and hid himself. Soon he saw approaching a vile and ugly
old man in dirty clothing who sat down on the shore.

“What is your job?” asked Magwdnts’s son.

“Oh!” replied the old man. “I sit here and when the women have
finished swimming I help them to wash.”

After a moment’s thought Magwdnts’s son said:

“Please exchange clothing with me and then go and hide.”

“All right!’ answered the old man.

After the two had exchanged clothes, the old man hid himself while
Magwénts’s son sat on the beach clad in the other’s rags, with his hat
pulled down over his eyes to conceal his identity. Presently, four beau-
tiful young girls came along, stripped off their clothing and dived into
the water. Magwé?s’s son felt very much pleased with himself. When
the first girl had finished swimming and came out on to the bank, he
washed her by rubbing his hands all over her body, handling her with
undue familiarity. She said nothing, merely went to a sunny spot and
stood there drying herself. The young man repeated his actions with the
second maiden who appeared, and also with the third. Neither said