Coos Texts: Tales Collected by Harry Hull St. Clair, 2d: 29. The Women Who Married the Beaver

29. THE WOMEN WHO MARRIED THE BEAVER.

Two girls lived in Takimiya, and their relatives told them (to go) to Tsketc. A chief's son was living there.

So the next night he went fishing again a whole night. Now, indeed, the next day he brought home (some) trout. So they two went to get it, and they two cooked it. This

Now, one (day) early in the morning a man was bathing up the river, where (the girls) were living. (He was a) good-looking young man. His clothes had many beads on them. Thus they two were thinking: "This must be the place we two were sent to. We two must have made a mistake." So on that day he changed himself into a sea-otter, and began to swim around. The women saw him. The women were pretty. They pursued him with arrows. Beaver, Muskrat, and the women got into a canoe, and they pursued the sea-otter. Once (when) the sea-otter seemed to come (out) near, Beaver took his bow and shot one arrow. The shot reached only halfway Then Muskrat shot. He almost hit the sea-otter. So the two women became angry. Thus they two said to him, "Your shot fell short close by right here; but your little brother almost hit the sea-otter." So that old man became angry, (and said,) "Why don't you two go (with the) man whose shot (went) far?" So they did not kill the sea-otter. Then they went ashore and returned.

And that young sea-otter went home instantly. So thus they two said: "We two must have made a mistake.

And the next day he woke up sick. (He was) very sick. Something came out on his skin, and he just became (full of) maggots. The younger girl no longer wanted the young man; but the older one took care of him, and washed him. Then one (day) the older woman thus said to him: "I will take you home to my folks." So the young man was thinking thus: "Of course, I will go with you." Then they went on the beach. He became very sick. He was (covered) entirely with maggots. He could hardly walk. And the young girl carried (packed) him frequently. The younger girl no longer wanted the young man. Whenever they would sit down to rest, the younger girl would sit a little ways off. So they very nearly got back. The young man began thus to think: "It will look bad if I get there that way." So he said thus to his wife: "You two go (ahead), I will come somewhat later. I won't turn back. You shall wait for me there." And he went away. He washed himself, changed his clothes, and again looked just as they two had seen him first. Both of the women had baskets (as) packs. When he overtook the women, they two just turned over their baskets, and they are still there. The baskets turned into stone there. Again his beauty was such (as) when they two saw him first. And the younger girl again seemed to like him. But he did not want her: he wanted only the older girl. Then they got back.

So the people that came with him were waiting. Now he went and came to the house. Now he struck the door four times with a big knife. So then he asked, "Where is Tsane