Tsimshian

NOW Beaver was the friend of Porcupine. Much they loved each other. Then Beaver invited Porcupine to his house on the large lake. There in the very middle of the lake was the house of Beaver. Now Beaver, on his part, liked the water, but Porcupine had no way to go from the shore to the lake, because he knew not how to swim. Therefore feared Porcupine that he should die should his stomach be filled with water, because he knew not how to swim. Therefore this did Beaver: from the lake to the land he went for Porcupine. Only twice rose Beaver above the water, going to where Porcupine was sitting on the shore.

Then said Beaver to Porcupine, “I carry you. Fast hold my neck.”

Porcupine was afraid. He said to Beaver, “I might die.”

“You shall not die.” Thus said the Beaver to the Porcupine.

Then went up Porcupine to the back of Beaver. Beaver said, “Fast hold my neck.”

Thus did Porcupine. Then swam Beaver out on the water. But not long did he swim. Beaver dived. Then much troubled was Porcupine because he knew not how to swim. Now the Beavers really own the country of the water, but among the mountains is the country of Porcupine.

Twice rose Beaver above the water. Then reached he the middle of the great lake where floated his home. But much troubled was Porcupine, lest he die in the water. Then they entered the house of Beaver. Then they ate. Now this for food had the Beaver: sticks were the food for his feast. Then really troubled was the Porcupine, there to eat sticks. Yet Porcupine ate the stick.

Well, then one day, said Beaver to Porcupine: “Friend, now we play.”

Then said Beaver how he would play: “I carry you. Four times I emerge from the water.”

“Surely I die.” Thus said the heart of Porcupine. Yet he agreed.

Beaver said, “Fast hold to my neck. Lie close against the nape of my neck.”

Then was ready the heart of Porcupine to die. Then dived Beaver. Yet first struck he the water with his tail. Thus he first splashed water into the face of Porcupine. Then dived Beaver. Long was he under water. Then a little dead was Porcupine. His stomach was full of water. Three times the Beaver rose from the water. Then only once more remained. Then again dived Beaver. Almost dead was Porcupine. Then with him he returned. From lake to land he took him.

Then Porcupine went back to his tribe. When again he reached his tribe, to his house he invited the people. Then into the house of Porcupine went the invited ones. Then he told them what Beaver had done in his great house on the lake. He told the people what Beaver, who had invited him, had done. He said, “Almost dead was I through my friend.”

Then said his people, “Good! You also invite him. Also play with him.”

This did Porcupine. He also invited Beaver, his friend. To the house of Beaver did he send. Then came Beaver into the valley. Up he went. Then came he to the house of Porcupine. Then this did Porcupine: when Beaver entered into the house, Porcupine struck on the fireplace with his own tail. Then it burnt. Then Beaver made a song:

Then ran Porcupine around in front of Beaver to play with his friend. Now when this was finished, what did the Porcupine? He got food for the Beaver to eat. Then this did the Porcupine: bark of a tree and leaves of a tree did he give him for a feast. Then, on his part, Beaver was afraid to eat. Then this said the Porcupine to his great friend, Beaver: “Eat fast, friend. Eat fast, friend.” Then so did the Beaver.

Then said Porcupine, “Friend,”—thus said he to Beaver—“to-morrow morning we play, you and I. There stands a tree on a grassy slope. There is my playground.”

Then they slept. But Porcupine sang,

Then spoke Porcupine to the sky, and the sky did so. Clear became the sky. The ground was ice in the morning.

Now again Porcupine invited the people to a feast for great Beaver. Then Porcupine said, “We play, friend. There stands my playground.”

Now very sharp was the cold. The ground was ice. Where water ran down, slippery was it with ice. But Beaver followed Porcupine. Then again was Beaver troubled. Always slippery were his hands, but long were the claws of Porcupine. Then Porcupine returned to see great Beaver. Then said Porcupine, “Come, do it, friend.” Thus said Porcupine to great Beaver. But the Beaver could not cross, because icy was the mountain. Then this did the Porcupine: he took the hands of Beaver, then across he led him. Thus across he got. Porcupine was going to play with Beaver, just as he also did once. So they reached the place where stood the tree.

“Good! Go up!” Thus said Porcupine to Beaver. Then much troubled was Beaver. He was afraid.

“Well! See!” Thus said Porcupine. So Porcupine went up first. Up he went to the very top. Then he let go the top of the tree. As soon as he dropped, this he said, while coming down:

Then he dropped on a stone, but arose. Not dead was he!

Then said Porcupine to Beaver, “See, friend! It is not hard.”

Then up on the tree carried he Beaver. He said, “Fast hold to my neck.” And very fast he held to the neck of Porcupine. Then when Porcupine reached near the top of the tree, he put Beaver on a branch. Then greatly afraid was Beaver for his hands were not good for holding fast to a tree. Only a Porcupine knows that, because long are his claws. Then thus said Porcupine: “Really hold fast, friend. I go down first.” The Beaver did so. All around the branch were his hands. Then Porcupine let go the tree. Into space he went. Again he said,

Then once more he dropped on the stones, but not dead was he!

Much troubled was the heart of great Beaver, in holding the branch. Much troubled was he at falling. Then about the foot of the tree ran Porcupine. Then up he looked to where was his friend. Thus said Porcupine: “Go on, friend. It is not hard. Look at me. Not dead am I because I fell!”

Then Beaver let go the branch. Thus said Beaver as he fell,

Then Beaver struck the rocks. He lay on his back. He was dead.