Page:Myths and Legends of British North America.djvu/71

 WHEN MINK CARRIED THE TORCHES

Bella Coola

INK'S father was "Walking-through-the-Heavens." He was Sun, but no one knew it, and one day when Mink was playing with the children of his village, they laughed at him saying that he had no father. Mink began to cry and went home to his mother.

Mink's mother said, "Why, your father is Walking-through-the-Heavens." Then Mink demanded bows and arrows, and his mother gave them to him.

Mink went outside the lodge and began to shoot his arrows into the sky. The first arrow struck the sky and stuck there. The second arrow hit the notch of the first, and held there; and the third arrow stuck in the notch of the second. So with four arrows Mink made an arrow chain which became a rope. He called to his mother and said, "Hold the rope so it will not shake," and she did so.

Then Mink began to climb up into the Sky Land, while his mother held the rope. After a long time he reached the door to the upper world. Then he