Page:Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society V.djvu/222

192 long have you been staying with him?" "I have dwelt with him for many days," Natĭ'nĕsthani answered. "Ah!" said his host. "Many of our young men have gone over there to woo his daughter; but they have never returned. Some are killed on the first day; others on the second day; others on the third day; others on the fourth; but no one ever lives beyond the fourth day. No one has ever lived there as long as you have." "He seems to be such a man as you describe him," said Natĭ'nĕsthani. "He has been trying to kill me ever since I have been with him." "You must be a wise man to have escaped him so long; your prayer must be potent; your charm must be strong,"246 declared the host "No, truly, I know no good prayer; I possess no charm," the Navaho replied, and then he went on to tell how he came into that country, and all that happened to him, till he came to the house of Deer Raiser. "He is rich, but he is no good. That daughter of his is also his wife, and that is why he wants to poison her suitors," said the owner of the lodge, and then he described four ways in which Pínĭltani killed his guests. The Navaho remained silent. He knew all the ways of the Deer Raiser, but he pretended not to know. Then the host went on: "The house of Deer Raiser is a place of danger. You will surely be killed if you stay there. I am sorry you are in such bad company, for you seem to be a good man." "You speak of Deer Raiser as a great man; but he cannot be so great as you think he is. Four times have I killed him with smoke, and four times have I brought him to life again," said the Navaho, and then he related all his adventures since he had been with Pínĭltani. 547. The host thanked him for having slain the bears, and went out to call the players and all the crowd that stood around them to come to his tent. They came, for he was their chief, and soon the tent was crowded. Then he spoke to the assembly, and told them the story of the Navaho. There was great rejoicing when they heard it. They thanked Natĭ'nĕsthani for what he had done. One said that Deer Raiser had killed his brother; another said he had killed his son; another said the bears had slain his nephew, and thus they spoke of their many woes.

548. The people were of five kinds, or gentes: the Puma People, the Blue Fox People, the Yellow Fox People, the Wolf People, and the Lynx People, and the host was chief of all.

549. The chief ordered one of his daughters to prepare food for the visitor. She brought in deer pemmican. The Navaho ate, and when he was done he said: "I am now ready to go, my grandfather." "Wait a while," said the chief. "I have some medicine to give you. It is an antidote for Deer Raiser's poison." He gave his visitor two kinds of medicine; one was an object the size of the