Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/260

 TRADITION OF IROQUOIS FALLS

Eastern Cree

T IROQUOIS FALLS, a war party of Iroquois attacked and killed a Cree party. They took the plunder of the camp, and saved one woman alive for a guide. They asked her if she could run a rapid, and she said, "Yes."

Now when the party came to a point above the Iroquois Falls, the woman guide told them it was possible to shoot the rapids there if the women and goods were taken out of the canoes to lighten them. The Iroquois let her out, as well, and she went by the portage. When the Iroquois saw her there, they put out from shore, though the waters were very swift. As they neared the falls, they saw how high they were. Then the Cree woman saw them try to escape, but they could not. The current of the water was too swift. So they headed their canoes for the falls and sang their war song. All went crashing over the falls and were drowned.