Myths and Tales of the Southeastern Indians: Koasati Stories: 17. The Obstacle Flight

Big Man-eater took her to his place and kept her there. When day came he went off hunting. When he came back he had killed nothing and said to the girl, "Cut off your breasts and roast them for me." Then she cried, wrapped a blanket about herself and lay down. Then an old woman cut off one of her breasts and gave it to her. She roasted it for him and he ate it. Every day he went hunting and every time he came back he said to the girl, "Cut off a piece of your body and roast it for me." She wept. And the old woman said to her, "When you grow up, he will kill you."

Then the girl was very much frightened. And the old woman said to her, "Just as soon as he has gone, start to run away." When he was gone she defecated and placed the excrement on the trails by which they got water and wood. She placed some on the top of the house. She hid Big Man-eater's chunk stone (or roller) under the bed. Then the old woman gave her a piece of cane and a little mud. She said, "When he pursues you and has nearly caught you, drop the cane and go on. When he has nearly caught you the second time, drop the mud." Then she ran off.

When Big Man-eater got back, he called out, "Woman." "Hulloa!" something answered. Again he called, "Woman." "Hulloa!" it said. Again he called out, "Woman," and he began to swear. "Hulloa!" it said. "She is sitting down there in front of me," he said. He went to look and found only excrement. Again he shouted, "Woman," and it answered "Hulloa!" He went to look and again there was only excrement. That happened four times. "Get my roller," he said, but the old woman would not tell him where it was. After he had hunted for it a long time he found it under the bed. He took it and rolled it along the trail to the water. It would not keep on. He rolled it along another big trail and it would not keep on. He took it and rolled it along another big trail and it would not keep on. He took it and rolled it along an old trail and it went rumbling off. "Ohoho, I will never stop pursuing you," he said.

He went on in pursuit. Then the girl dropped the cane and as she went ahead a thick canebrake grew up there. The roller stopped. Big Man-eater tried to roll it again and it did not go on. Then he seized it, put it on his back and carried it through. He dropped it on the ground and rolled it. When it started ahead it nearly caught up with the woman. Presently she dropped the mud, and, arriving at the place, the roller stopped. Big Man-eater took it up, placed it on his back, and carried it through the bog. Then he dropped it to the ground and rolled it, and it went on. He followed close after it.