the man and the snake-man

Ni´ashiñga wiñ´ ti´ ju´ba edi´ ama´ma; he´gabazhi´-biama´. Ki she´nuzhiñ´ga
People / one / lodge / some / there / were, they say; / not a few they say. / And / young man /

wiñ´ ni´ashiñga u´doñxti´-bi wazhiñ´shtoñ atha´-biama´. Xthabe´ shuga´xti te´di pahe´
one / person / very good, they say / in a bad humor / went they say. / Tree / very thick / at the / hill /

toñga´xti e´di ui´thoñbe atha´-biama´. Ki xthabe´ shi a´mata´toñ e´githe ni´ashiñga
very large / there / up-hill / he went, they say. / And / tree / again / from the other direction / at length / person /

wachi´shka a´ma te e´ shti uha´ a-i´i te. Pahe´ e´ shti tape´ a-i´i te. Woñ´doñxti
creek / other / the / he / too / following it / was coming. / Hill / he / too / when near it / was coming. / Right together /

a´kikipa´-biama´. Kitoñ´bexti goñ´ nazhiñ´-biama´. E´githe ga´ta gu´atoñ a-i´ aka´
they met each other, they say. / Looking hard at each other / so / they stood, they say. / At length / to that place (See note) / from the place beyond / was approaching / the one who /

e´di ahi´-biama´. Zhu´gthe nazhiñ´-biama´. Na! oñga´gthe te´, a´-biama´. Wahna´te
there / arrived, they say. / With him / he stood, they say. / Why! / let us go homeward, / said he, they say. / You eat /

te´, a´-biama´. Goñ´ zhu´gthe atha´-biama´. E´githe ni´ashiñga wahi´ thoñ goñ´-thoñ ama´.
will, / said he, they say. / So / with him / he went, they say. / Behold / people / bone / the (ob.) / in a curvilinear heap for some time / they say. /

T'e´wathai´-ma e´ ni´ashiñga zhu´gthe athe´ aka´ e-hnoñ´ e´ t'e´wathe aka´ma. Hau,
Those who were killed / he / man / with him / went / he who / he only / he / had killed them, they say. / Well, /

wa'u´zhiñga´xchi e´di gthiñ´ aka´ma. Ti´ te´di watha´te te wa'u´zhiñga´xchi e´ ni´ashiñga
very old woman / there / was sitting, they say. / Lodge / in the / food / the / very old woman / she / persons /

t'e´wathai´ e he´be thate´ te´goñ, u´hoñ ui´gthoñ-biama´. Niñ´detha´-biama´ ha.
killed / them / piece / to eat / in order that, / pot / she put in for him, they say. / She caused it to be done, they say / . /

Btha´ta-ma´zhi-hnoñ-moñ´, a´-biama´. Ki watoñ´zi ju´ba the´thiñ ithoñ´athe he,
I never eat it, / said he, they say. / And / corn / some / this (sort) / I have put away / . /

a´-biama´. E´ hna´te-hnoñ e´iñte, a´-biama´ (wa'u´zhiñga aka´). Oñ´hoñ, a´-biama´.
said she, they say. / That / you eat regularly / it may be, / said, they say / (old woman / the). / Yes, / said he, they say. /

Goñ´ shi ni´kashiñga tani´ te´di shoñ´ uzhi´-biama´ watoñ´zi te. Ki goñ´ niñ´de ki
So / again / men / soup / in the / at any rate / she put it in, they say / corn / the (ob.). / And / so / cooked / when /

ui´zhi-biama´, goñ´ thata´-biama´. Pi´azhi i´nahiñ a´hoñ, ethe´goñ gthiñ´ aka´ma (she´nuzhiñ´ga
she filled for him, they say, / and / he ate they say. / Bad / indeed / ! / thinking / was sitting, they say / (young man /

aka´). Ni´ashiñga hniñke´, tha'e´withe, a´-biama´ wa'u´zhiñga aka´. Ni´ashiñga
the). / Person / you who are, / I pity you, / said, they say / old woman / the (sub.). / Person /

hniñke´, u´doñxti hniñke´, tha'e´withe, a´-biama´. Eda´doñxti i´thigashtoñ´ka-ba
you who are, / very good / you who are, / I pity you, / said she, they say. / What indeed / he tempted you with and /

zhu´thigthe agi´i te ea´toñ i´thanahiñ e´iñte, a´-biama´. Pi´-shtewoñ-ba´zhi, a´-biama´.
with you / he was returning / when / how / you consent / could? / said she, they say. / Not at all good, / said she, they say. /

Ni´ashiñga wahi´ the´ shtoñ´be ki e´ t'e´wathai, a´-biama´. Gasa´ni hoñ´egoñche´xchi
Men / bone / this / you see / the / he / killed them, / said she, they say. / To-morrow / early in the morning /

the´ tate´, a´-biama´ wa'u´zhiñga aka´. (E´ We´s'a-ni´ashiñga aka´ma, e´ zhu´gthe
he go / shall, / said, they say / old woman / the (sub.). / (He / Snake-man / was, they say, / he / with him /

aki´ aka´ma. Shiñ´wakithe-hnoñ´-biama´ ki oñ´ba du´ba sa´toñ zhoñ´-xtie´goñ
reached home / he who, they say. / He fattened them regularly they say / when / day / four / five / sleep about /

t'e´wathe-hnoñ´-biama´.) E´goñ-hnoñ´i. T'e´oñtha´the te, a´-biama´ wa'u´zhiñga aka´.
he killed them regularly they say.) / So it is usually. / You kill me / will, / said, they say / old woman / the (sub.). /

Oñhni´shtoñ ki watha´naxthiñ´ te, a´-biama´. Wahi´ ge waiiñ´ itha´gaxade ihe´oñtha´-a,
You finish me / when / you hurry (away) / will, / said she, they say. / Bone / the (pl. ob.) / robe / covered with / lay me down, /

a´-biama´. Ki oñhni´shtoñ tedi´hi hiñbe´ she´thoñ wiñ´ ithoñ´athe´-de wi'i´, a´-biama´.
said she, they say. / And / you finish me / arrives at the / moccasin / that / one I put away, but / I give to you, / said she, they say. /

Watha´shkoñ te´, a´-biama´. Atoñ´xti wathu´deazhi shi´ shte´shtewoñ´ pa´ze tedi´hi ki
You do your best / will, / said she, they say. / However far / distant / you reach / notwithstanding / evening / arrives at the / when /

uthi´xthe ta´ aka´ We´s'a aka´, a´-biama´ wa'u´zhiñga aka´. Goñ´ the´ hiñbe´ thoñ
overtake you / will / he who / Snake / the (sub.), / said, they say / old woman / the (sub.). / And / this / moccasin / the (ob.) /

wi'i´ thoñ sihni´ze te´di the´ patha´ge shtoñ´be te shi´ tate´, a´-biama´. Ni´ashiñga
I give to you / the (ob.) / you take steps forward / when / this / headland / you see / the / you reach / shall, / said she, they say. / Man /

wiñ´ e´di nazhiñ´. E´di shi´-doñ waxiñ´ha ga´thoñ tha'i´ te, a´-biama´. Ki e´di shi´
one / there / stands. / There / you reach and / paper / that / you give to him / will, / said she, they say. / And / there / you reach /

tedi´hi ki thishnu´d-adoñ du´dugaxthe ithoñ´tha-a he. Gthi´ tate´, a´-biama´ wa'u´zhiñga
it arrives at / when / pull off and / facing this way / place them / . / Come home / shall, / said, they say / old woman /

aka´. Goñ´ki wa'u´zhiñga aka´ bthu´ga ui´tha-biama´ goñ´, t'e´tha-biama´. Hoñ´egoñche´xchi
the (sub.). / And / old woman / the (sub.) / all / told to him, they say / as, / he killed her, they say. / Early in the morning /

ki tazhu´ ke gasna´-biama´. Thishtoñ´-biama´. E´githe shi´be te thigtha´-biama´.
when / flesh / the / he gashed it (+cut into strips), they say. / He finished, they say. / At length / entrails / the (ob.) / he uncoiled, they say. /

Ni´ ki´ta athiñ´ ahi´-biama´. Ni´ ke the´toñ e´gihithe´tha-biama´. Shi´be uga´haha
Water / to the / having them / he arrived, they say. / Water / the / this far / right into it he plunged them, they say. / Bowels / floating in tiny waves /

azhoñ´ ama´. Wahi´ ge waiiñ´ itha´gaxade ihe´tha-biama´. Hiñbe´ thoñ thiza´-biama´;
lay on / they say. / Bone / the (pl. ob.) / robe / covered with / he laid her down, they say. / Moccasin / the (ob.) / he took, they say; /

goñ´ iñ´choñ atha´-bi ki, baxu´ e´di ahi´-bi ki, patha´ge te wathi´shna i´the ama´. Goñ´
so / now / he went, they say / when, / peak / there / he arrived, they say / when, / headland / the (ob.) / became visible / they say. / So /

wiña´xchioñ sithi´zai te´di patha´ge wathu´deazhi te e´di ahi´-biama´; ahi´xti the´tha-biama´.
once / he took a step forward / when / headland / distant / the (ob.) / there / he arrived, they say; / he arrived suddenly right there they say. /

Goñ´ ni´ashiñga wiñ´ e´di nazhiñ´ aka´ma. Goñ´ waxiñ´ha thoñ 'i´-biama´.
And / man / one / there / was standing, they say. / And / paper / the (ob.) / he gave to him, they say. /

Hau! wana´xthiñ-ga, a´-biama´. Hiñbe´ thoñ wa'u´zhiñga wa'i´ thoñ thishnu´da-bi
Ho! / hasten, / said he, they say. / Moccasin / the (ob.) / old woman / gave to him / the (ob.) / pulled off, they say /

egoñ´, e´tuga´xthe gthiñ´kitha´-biama´, Gthe´ te, ethe´goñ-bi egoñ´. Shi ni´ashiñga aka´
having, / facing that way / he caused them to sit, they say, / Go homeward / will, / thought, they say / having. / Again / man / the (sub.) /

shi e´goñ hiñbe´ thoñ 'i´-biama´, waxiñ´ha wiñ´ eda´be. Shi´ tedi´hi ki waxiñ´ha
again / so (+like) / moccasin / the (ob.) / gave to him, they say, / paper / one / also. / You arrive / (+hereafter) / when / paper /

ga´thoñ the´shpaha te´, a´-biama´. Shi´ tedi´hi ki hiñbe´ thishnu´d-adoñ´ tizhe´be te´di
that (ob.) / you show to him / will, / said he, they say. / You arrive / (+hereafter) / when / moccasin / pull off and / door / at the /

ithoñ´tha-ga, a´-biama´ (ni´ashiñga aka´). Oñ´hoñ, a´-biama´ (she´nuzhiñga aka´).
place them, / said, they say / (man / the). / Yes, / said, they say / (young man / the). /

Wana´xthiñ-ga, a´-biama´ (ni´ashiñga aka´). Koñ´ge ahi´-biama´. Goñ´ ni´ashiñga
Hurry, / said, they say / (man / the). / Near, after moving / he arrived, they say. / And / man /

wiñ´ shi e´di nazhiñ´ aka´ma. Waxiñ´ha thoñ 'i´-biama´. Hau! wana´xthiñ-ga,
one / again / there / was standing, they say. / Paper / the (ob.) / he gave to him, they say. / Ho! / hurry, /

a´-biama´ (ni´ashiñga aka´). Hiñbe´ thoñ ni´ashiñga pahoñ´ga aka´ wa'i´ thoñ thishnu´da-bi
said, they say / (man / the). / Moccasin / the (ob.) / man / the first / the (sub.) / gave to him / the (ob.) / pulled off they say /

egoñ´, tizhe´be te´di ithoñ´tha-biama´. Goñ´ ni´ashiñga a´ma aka´ hiñbe´ thoñ shi
having, / door / at the / he placed them, they say. / And / man / the other / the (sub.) / moccasin / the (ob.) / again /

wiñ´ 'i´-biama´. Ki ga´-biama´: The´ hne´ utha´toñ te. Ni´ashiñga wiñ´ ga´tedi nazhiñ´.
one / he gave to him, they say. / And / said as follows, they say: / This / you go / you put on moccasins / will. / Man / one / in that place / stands. /

E´di hne´ te. Washkoñ´-ga, a´-biama´. Shi e´goñ hiñbe´ 'i´-biama´ waxiñ´ha
There / you go / will. / Do your best, / said he, they say. / Again / like (him) / moccasin / he gave to him, they say / paper /

eda´be. E´di ahi´-biama´. Ahau! wana´xthiñ-ga, a´-biama´. Hiñbe´ a´shia´di
also. / There / he arrived, they say. / Oho! / hurry, / said he, they say. / Moccasin / at the outside /

ithoñ´tha-biama´. Ki ga´-biama´: Ga´tedi ni´ wiñ´ e´di ke´ ama´. Sihni´ze the´thathe
he placed them, they say. / And / he said as follows, they say: / In that place / water / one / there / lies / they say. / You take sudden steps forward /

ki, ni´ doñ´bazhi-ga, a´-biama´. Ki e´goñ-biama´. Goñ´ athai´ te. Masa´ni ahi´-biama´.
when, / water / do not look at it, / said he, they say. / And / so they say. / So / he went. / The other side / he reached they say. /

Hiñbe´ thoñ we´githishnuda´-biama´. Pa´ze ahi´-biama´. E´ wa'u´zhiñga
Moccasin / the (ob.) / pulled off their (from his feet) for them, they say. / Evening / arrived, they say. / That / old woman /

t'e´thai edi´toñ athai´ te pa´ze te e´e ha. Wachiashka ui´thoñbe ti´the uha´ atha´-biama´,
he killed her / since / he went / evening / the / that was it / . / Creek / up-hill / passed on / following it / he went they say, /

pamu´. Niu´thishan i´doñbe´xti ahi´-bi egoñ´ e´githe ni´ashiñga ube´sniñ-biama´.
down-hill. / Lake / in the very middle / arrived, they say / having / behold / person / he found out they say. /

E´gaxe agi´i te. Sigthe´ ke ugi´ha xa´tha agi´i te.
Around / he was returning. / Trail / the / following his own / back again / he was coming. /

Iñ´bezhi´de-ma thoñ´ e´goñxti kika´xa-biama´ she´nuzhiñ´ga aka´. Huhu´ zhiñga
The red-tails / the / just so / made himself, they say / young man / the (sub.). / Fish / small /

ni´ ke i´gagthe´ze zhoñ´-biama´. We´s'a aka´ pahe´ thoñ e´thoñbe zhoñ´-biama´.
water / the (ob.) / causing ripples / lay, they say. / Snake / the (sub.) / hill / the (ob.) / in sight / lay, they say. /

We´s'a aka´ i´maxa´-biama´. Ni´ashiñga wiñ´ ua´ne, a´-biama´. Shoñ´ wathi´shnaxti
Snake / the (sub.) / asked him, they say. / Person / one / I seek, / said he, they say. / And / in full sight /

a´gahaxti moñhniñ´ e´goñ wazhiñ´ga thiñ´ shtewoñ´ gi´oñ moñthiñ´ ki shtoñ´be te,
on the very surface / you walk / so / bird / the (ob.) / soever / flying / walks / if / you see it / will, /

a´-biama´. Oñ´hoñ, e´goñ e´de toñ´ba-ma´zhi, a´-biama´. Toñ´be ki uwi´btha te,
said he, they say. / Yes, / so / but / I have not seen them, / said he, they say. / I see him / if / I tell you / will, /

a´-biama´. Goñ´ atha´-biama´ We´s'a ama´ a´gaxthexti. Nikoñ´haxchi uha´-biama´
said he, they say. / So / went, they say / Snake / the (sub.) / right with the current. / On the very edge of the stream / followed, they say /

We´s'a ama´. E´githe Ikoñ´git'e xu´dexchi gthiñ´ aka´ma. The´goñxti ahi´-biama´.
Snake / the (sub.). / At length / Toad / very gray / was sitting, they say. / Just thus / he arrived, they say. /

Ni´ashiñga wiñ´ the´thu i´ e´goñ shtoñ´bewa´the-hnoñ´, a´-biama´. Ke´naxthe shte´shtewoñ´
Person / one / here / having been coming / you may have seen him, / said he, they say. / Shadow / even if /

shtoñ´bewa´the-hnoñ´, a´-biama´. Ua´ne, a´-biama´. Oñ´hoñ, kage´ha, the´thu ni´ashiñga
you may have seen it, / said he, they say. / I seek him, / said he, they say. / Yes, / friend, / here / person /

wiñ´ oñ´bitha´zhoñ ki ni´ashiñga wiñ´ oñ´thiñ toñ´de noñp'oñ´de; e´de a´wate´ta e'oñ´
one / I lay by day / when / person / one / came near (+almost) / ground / shaking it as he walked; / but / whither / how /

the´iñte itha´pahoñ-ma´zhi, a´-biama´. E´e ha, a´-biama´. E´ ua´ne thiñ e´, a´-biama´.
he may have gone / I do not know, / said he, they say. / That is he / . / said he, they say. / He / I seek him / the one / he, / said he, they say. /

Goñ´ ni´ ke uha´ atha´-biama´. Goñ´ a´nasa-biama´ ki hi´azhi ama´. Shi e´gaxe
So / water / the (ob.) / following it / he went, they say. / So / he cut off (his retreat) they say / when / he had not arrived. / Again / around /

agi´-biama´. Shi ahi´i te´ta thiñge´e ha. Ni´ ke shi ugi´ha agi´i te. E´githe
he was coming back, they say. / Again / he arrived / at the / there was none / . / Water / the (ob.) / again / following his own (trail) / he was returning. / At length /

the´ ni´toñga´xti ke i´doñbe´xti agi´-biama´. E´githe, Huhu´ toñga´xti wiñ´ nikoñ´ha
this / very big stream / the (ob.) / in the very middle / he was coming back, they say. / Behold, / Fish / very big / one / edge of the water /

xe´be ke´di zhoñ´ ama´. Wawe´maxa´-biama´. Ni´ashiñga, kage´ha, ua´n e´de
shallow / in the / he lay / they say. / He questioned him, they say. / Person, / O friend, / I seek / but /

itha´tha-ma´zhi, a´-biama´. She´thu u´wathakie´ aka´ thoñ´ e´e ha, a´-biama´. Wuhu´!
I have not found him, / said he, they say. / Yonder / you talked with them / the one who / in the past / it is he / . / said he, they say. / Is it possible! /

a´-biama´. U´makazhi´xchioñ´ a´akip e´de i´pahoñ-ma´zhi ha, a´-biama´ We´s'a aka´.
said he, they say. / Not very easily / I met him / but / I did not know him / . / said, they say / Snake / the (sub.). /

Goñ´ agtha´-biama´. Ki e´-biama´ Huhu´ toñ´ga aka´. Goñ´ki mazhoñ´ ushkoñ´
So / he went homeward, they say. / And / it was he, they say / Fish / big / the (sub.). / And / land / where the deed /

thoñ´di aki´-biama´. E´xti aki´-biama´ ki Siñ´snedewa´githe ama´ wiñ´ ita´xata´toñ
was done / he reached home, they say. / He himself / reached home, they say / when / Muskrat / the (sub.) / one / from up stream /

a-i´-biama´. Uthoñ´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. Wawe´wima´xe te´iñke, a´-biama´. Iñda´doñ
was approaching, they say. / Held him, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / I question you / will, / said he, they say. / What /

oñthoñ´thama´xe te´iñte? Thaku´th e´goñ-ga, a´-biama´ Siñ´snedewa´githe aka´. Shoñ´,
you ask me / may? / Do speak quickly, / said , they say / Muskrat / the (sub.). / Still, /

Ni´ashiñga ua´kie-de the´thu nazhiñ´akithe´-de e´ thi´ehniñ´ ebthe´goñ, a´-biama´ (We´s'a
Person / I talked to him when / here / I caused him to stand and / he / you are he / I think, / said, they say / (Snake /

aka´). Oñ´kazhi, a´-biama´ Siñ´snedewa´githe aka´. Na! the´ ni´ashiñga u´watha´ki
the). / No, / said, they say / Muskrat / the (sub.). / Why! / this / person / you talked with them /

eshe´ ama´ itha´pahoñ, a´-biama´ Siñ´snedewa´githe aka´. The´thoñdi agthiñ´ ki ni´ashiñga
you say / the one who moves / I know him, / said, they say / Muskrat / the (sub.). / In this place / I sat / when / person /

wiñ´ ti´ wiwi´ta te shoñ´xti i´he athai´, a´-biama´. Zhoñ´ wiñ´ ni´ moñ´te bixoñ´-biama´.
one / lodge / my own / the / in spite of / passing by / went, / said he, they say. / Wood / one / water / within / he broke by pressing on they say. /

E´ ni´ moñ´te oñ´pai te´di shoñ´ eda´doñ shte´shtewoñ abthiñ´ agthe´ ki a´agthiñ´hnoñ-moñ´
He / water / within / asked me to go with him / when / yet / what / soever / I had it / I went homeward / when / I sit on it regularly /

e´de iñ´bixoñ, a´-biama´ Siñ´snedewa´githe aka´. Ki oñ´ba a´gudi te´di,
but / he broke it for me, / said, they say / Muskrat / the (sub.). / And / day / where / when, /

a´-biama´ (Wes'a aka´). Na! si´dadi miñ´ moñ´shixti tithoñ´, e´ ti´ wiwi´ta i´he
said, they say / (Snake / the). / Why! / yesterday / sun / very high / had become, / he lodge / my own / passing by /

athai´. Ki e´di the´ ki zhoñ´ ke bixoñ´, a´-biama´ (Siñ´snedewa´githe aka´). Goñ´
went. / And / there / went / when / wood / the / he broke, / said, they say / (Muskrat / the). / So /

wiñ´kegaxa´-biama´. Kage´ha, wiñ´thakextioñ´, a´-biama´ (We´s'a aka´). Pi´
he believed him they say. / Friend, / you speak the very truth, / said, they say / (Snake / the). / Again /

nikoñ´ha i´he atha´-biama´ (We´s'a ama´). Goñ´ the´ nikoñ´ha-ta´thishoñ thi´xe-sa´gi
bank of the stream / passing / went, they say / (Snake / the). / And / this / towards the bank of the stream / red willows /

ni´ ke a´gapa´mu gthiñ´-biama´. Keha´mazhi´de e´di gthiñ´ aka´ma. Uthoñ´-biama´
water / the (ob.) / leaning down close to / sat they say. / Red-breasted turtle / there / was sitting, they say. / Held him, they say /

We´s'a aka´. Wawe´wima´xe ta´ miñke, a´-biama´. Ni´ashiñga ua´ne-hnoñ-moñ´
Snake / the (sub.). / I question you / will / I who, / said he, they say. / Person / I have sought him regularly /

e´de itha´tha-mazhi, a´-biama´ (We´s'a aka´). Oñ´kazhi´xtioñ´, a´-biama´ (Keha´mazhi´de
but / I have not found him / said, they say / (Snake / the). / Not so at all, / said, they say / (Red-breasted turtle /

aka´). Iñ´choñxchi e´thoñbe agthi´. Ne´ thoñ niu´gashu´pa edi´toñ e´thoñbe agthi,
the). / Just now / in sight / have I come again. / Lake / the / pond / from it / in sight / have I come again, /

a´-biama´. A´doñ iñda´doñ shtewoñ´ u´shia´kitha-ma´zhi, kage´ha, a´-biama´. Atha´-biama´
said he, they say. / Therefore / what / soever / I have not deceived (any one), / O friend, / said he, they say. / Went they say /

(We´s'a ama´). E´githe Te´bia tu´xti ama´ wiñ´ ni´ xe´be koñ´ha ke´di
(Snake / the). / At length / Frog / very green / the ones who / one / water / shallow / edge / by the /

uga´ha goñ´ gthiñ´ aka´ma. E´di ahi´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. Kage´ha, ni´ashiñga
floating / so / was sitting, they say. / There / arrived, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / Friend, / person /

ua´ne-hnoñ-moñ´. E´githe shtoñ´bewa´the, a´-biama´. Oñ´, a´-biama´ (Te´bia aka´).
I have sought him regularly. / At length / you may have seen him, / said he, they say. / Yes, / said, they say / (Frog / the). /

Ke´, utha´-ga, a´-biama´. Ni´ashiñga ua´ne-hnoñ-moñ´ e´de itha´tha-ma´zhi. E´skana
Come, / tell it, / said he, they say. / Person / I have sought him regularly / but / I have not found him. / Oh that /

shtoñ´beiñte thu´toñxti iñwiñ´thahna koñbthe´goñ, a´-biama´ (We´s'a aka´). Xa´-i-na´!
if you have seen him / very straight / you tell to me / I hope, / said, they say / (Snake / the). / Is it possible! /

Kage´ha, si´dadi pa´zexchi-hnoñ thoñ´di the´tahithe´thoñta ni´ uthi´bthi gthiñ´ thoñ e´di
Friend, / yesterday / very late in the evening / at the (time) / at this one behind / water / eddy / sits / the (ob.) / there /

agthiñ´ ki ni´ashiñga ki´naxthe toñ´be, a´-biama´. Oñ´hoñ, kage´ha, e´e ha, a´-biama´.
I sat / when / person / shadow / I saw, / said he, they say. / Yes, / friend, / it was he / . / said he, they say. /

E´ ua´ne ha, a´-biama´. Goñ´ ita´xata ge´thishoñ goñ´ e´ta atha´-biama´ We´s'a
He / I seek him / . / said he, they say. / So / up stream / to that side / so / thither / went, they say / Snake /

aka´. Shi e´ the´ke uha´ athai´ te. Goñ´ ne´ wiñ´ tatiñ´xe a´kishuga´xti e´goñ ke´di
the (sub.). / Again / he / this (lg. ob.) / following it / went. / So / lake / one / green scum / very thick / like / in the /

Ke´toñga ame´-de ba´kia´hoñ moñthiñ´ ama´. We´s'a aka´ noñ´ka a´gthiñ ithoñ´-biama´.
Big turtle / the (sub.), and / pushing and raising it / walked / they say. / Snake / the (sub.) / back / sat on suddenly they say. /

Kage´ha, wawe´wima´xe ta´ miñke. E´thoñbe e´goñ-ga, a´-biama´. Na!
Friend, / I question you / will / I who. / Do emerge (from the water), / said he, they say. / Why! /

iñda´doñ oñthoñ´thama´xe ta´doñ? a´-biama´. Ni´kashiñga ame´ ededi´-ama´ thoñ´zha
what / you ask me / will? / said he, they say. / Person / he who is / there is he moving / though /

we´shpahoñ´zhi tedi´hi t'e´thithe tai´. A´doñ shoñ´gaxa-ga, a´-biama´ (Ke´toñga aka´).
you do not know him / when / he will kill you. / Therefore / quit it, / said, they say / (Big turtle / the). /

We´s'a aka´ pu´puxa´xchi gthiñ´-bi egoñ´ (gagi´gixe, pa´ thoñ moñ´shi), Ke´toñga
Snake / the (sub.) / drawn up very much / sat, they say / having / (coiled up, / head / the (ob.) / high), / Big turtle /

thiñke´ e´ e´skoñ ethe´goñ gthiñ´-biama. Kage´ha, thu´toñ iñwiñ´tha-ga, a´-biama´
he who / he / it might be / thinking / he sat, they say. / Friend, / straight / tell it to me, / said, they say /

We´s'a aka´. Oñ´kazhi, a´-biama´ Ke´toñga aka´. Na! uwi´btha tethoñ´, wiñ´ake
Snake / the (sub.). / No, / said, they say / Big turtle / the (sub.). / Why! / what I have told you, / I told the truth /

e´goñ, a´-biama´. E´goñ gaxa´zhi-ga. Ni´kashiñga ama´ ededi´-ama´ thoñ´zha we´shpahoñ´zhi
like it, / said he, they say. / So / do not. / Person / the (sub.) / there is he moving / though / you do not know him /

tedi´hi thi´ e´githe t'e´thithe tai´, a´-biama´ Ke´toñga a´ka´. Pi´xti kigthi´hoñ gthiñ´-biama´
when / you / beware / lest he kill / you, / said, they say / Big turtle / the (sub.). / Yet again / raising himself / sat they say /

We´s'a aka´. The´thiñke´ she´ a´hoñ, ethe´goñ-biama´. Ke´, kage´ha, na!
Snake / the (sub.). / This one / that / ! / thought he, they say. / Come, / friend, / why! /

iñwiñ´tha-ga ha, a´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. Oñthoñ´sabe he´ga-ma´zhi. Iñwiñ´tha-ga,
tell me / . / said, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / I suffer / I very much. / Tell me, /

a´-biama´. Xa-i´! ika´ge a´na'oñzhi i´nahiñ, a´-biama´ (Ke´toñga aka´). Uwi´btha
said he, they say. / Wonderful! / his friend / he does not listen to / indeed, / said, they say / (Big turtle / the). / I tell you /

ta´ miñke, a´-biama´. Washkoñ´-ga, a´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. She´ ni´toñga´xti te´di
will / I who, / said he, they say. / Do your best / said, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / That / very big water / at the /

shtoñ´be kethoñ´ ni´kashiñga utha´ne thiñ e´di zhoñ´i. Washkoñ´-ga, a´-biama´ Ke´toñga
what you saw formerly / person / you seek / the one who / there / lies. / Do your best, / said, they say / Big turtle /

aka´. Kage´ha, wiñ´thake´ a, a´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. E´di zhoñ´i. Washkoñ´-ga.
the (sub.). / Friend, / you tell the truth / ? / said, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / There / he lies. / Do your best. /

We´shpahoñ´zhi tedi´hi thi´ t'e´thithe ta´ aka´ ha, a´-biama´ Ke´toñga aka´. E´di bthe´
You do not know him / when / you / he kill you / will / he who / . / said, they say / Big turtle / the (sub.). / There / I go /

ta´ miñke, a´-biama´ We´s'a aka´. Washkoñ´-ga. We´shpahoñ´zhi tedi´hi thi´ t'e´thithe tai´,
will / I who, / said, they say / Snake / the (sub.). / Do your best. / You do not know him / when / you / he you kill / will, /

a´-biama´. Nitoñ´ga gazoñ´adi athe´ ama´ma. Ki e´di zhoñ´-biama´ ni´ashiñga unai´
said he, they say. / Big water / in the midst of / he was going, they say. / And / there / lay, they say / person / sought /

thiñke´. Goñ´ We´s'a ama´ e´di atha´-biama´. Ni´ ke uthi´bthi thiñ´ e´di ahi´-biama´.
he who was. / So / Snake / the (sub.) / there / went, they say. / Water / the / eddy / the (moving) / there / he arrived they say. /

E´githe ni´ ke moñta´ha athiñ´ a´ia´tha-biama´. E´ ni´ashiñga xta´tha-ba´zhi ake´
At length / water / the / underneath / having him / it had gone, they say. / He / person / who did not love him /

ake´, ni´ kika´xa-bi egoñ´. We´s'a thiñ e´thoñbe hi´ goñ´tha shte´shtewoñ´ shoñ´ uthi´bthi
it was he, / water / made himself, they say / having. / Snake / the / emerging / to arrive / wished / notwithstanding / yet / eddy /

athiñ´-biama´ moñ´tata shoñ´xti-goñ´ nyu´tathiñ t'e´ te. We´s'a t'e´tha-biama´. Goñ´
had him, they say / under / in spite of at length / smothered / he died. / Snake / he killed him, they say. / So /

ni´ashiñga aka´ agtha´-biama´. Goñ´ aki´-biama´.
man / the (sub.) / went homeward, they say. / So / he reached home, they say. /