Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/308

292 off grass rope, because he know Iltswowich scared now and not try to do harm, and he walk over into Clearwater Valley where was Iltswowich. When he come up to Iltswowich he say, 'Iltswowich, open mouth; I want to go inside to see my people.' (Here follows a somewhat lengthy description of the Coyote's descent into the mouth and stomach of the monster, by the assistance of Kots-kots, the fox, his partner, and of the interior arrangements of Iltswowich. Here were rooms and passages, and within these labyrinths, slightly illuminated, were found the bodies of the animals that had been swallowed. They were in all stages of emaciation, some still but little shrunken, while others were but mere paper of skin upon the bones; yet all were alive. He conferred with them, as he found them here and there, asking why they did not go out at the mouth or nose of the monster; and pointing also to the great lobes of fat with which the passages were lined, he asked why they did not make a fire and have it light and warm as long as they remained. The animal characteristics were preserved, however, even in this dim abode, and some said as he approached, "There's Old Coyote; he thinks he is a big medicine, but he is only the drippings from Iltswowich's nostrils.' But others were disposed to take the suggestion about the fire, and soon had the fat piled and burning, and were gathered about the blaze. They also ate of the new crisped flitches, and were no longer either cold or hungry. But this was not the end of the Coyote's plan. After conference with Kots-kots, his partner, the fox, he decided to cut the arteries about the monster's heart, which could be plainly seen far above them.)

"Coyote take five long flat knives Kots-kots tell him to bring, and begin to cut near heart. Hurts bad, and Iltswowich grunts, 'Ungh, ungh, ungh,' and say 'Coyote