are you going, little boy?"
"I am going to Adasen to get my father," answered Kanag.
"Go stand on that high rock that I may see what your sign is," said
the lightning.
So he stood on the high rock, and when the bright flash came he did
not move, and the lightning bade him hasten on, as he had a good sign.
The thunder, which saw him passing, also called to ask where he was
going, and it commanded him to stand on the high rock. And when the
thunder made a loud noise Kanag did not move, and it bade him go on,
as his sign was good.
The women of Adasen were at the spring of Gawigawen dipping water, when
suddenly they were startled by a great noise. They rose up, expecting
to see a thousand warriors coming near; but though they looked all
around they could see nothing but a young boy striking a shield.
"Good morning, women who are dipping water," said Kanag. "Tell
Gawigawen that he must prepare, for I am coming to fight him."
So all the women ran up to the town and told Gawigawen that a strange
boy was at the spring and he had come to fight.
"Go and tell him," said Gawigawen, "that if it is true that he is
brave, he will come into the town, if he can."
When Kanag reached the high bank outside the town, he jumped like
a flitting bird up the bank into the town and went straight to the
spirit house of Gawigawen. He noticed that the roofs of both the
dwelling and the spirit houses were of hair, and that around the town
were many heads, [40] and he pondered:
"This is why my father did not return. Gawigawen is a brave man,
but I will kill him."
As soon as Gawigawen saw him in the yard he said:
"How brave you are, little boy; why did you come here?"
"I came to get my father," answered Kanag; "for you kept him when
he came to get oranges for my mother. If you do not give him to me,
I will kill you."
Gawigawen laughed at this brave speech and said:
"Why, one of my fingers will fight you. You shall never go back to
your town, but you shall stay here and be like your father."
"We shall see," said Kanag. "Bring your arms and let us fight here
in the yard."
Gawigawen was beside himself with rage at this bold speech, and
he brought his spear and his head-ax which was as big as half the
sky. Kanag would not throw first, for he wanted to prove himself
brave, so Gawigawen took aim and threw his head-ax at the boy. Now
Kanag used magical power, so that he became an ant and was not hit
by the weapon. Gawi
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