e but that I can find them." And
he descended from the hill in pursuit. As if convulsed, the earth shook
with every jump he made. Very soon he approached the party. They
however kept the belt, exchanging it from one to another, and
encouraging each other. But he gained on them fast. "Brothers," said
the leader, "has never any one of you, when fasting, dreamed of some
friendly spirit who would aid you as a guardian?" A dead silence
followed. "Well," said he, "fasting, I dreamed of being in danger of
instant death, when I saw a small lodge, with smoke curling from its
top. An old man lived in it, and I dreamed he helped me. And may it be
verified soon," he said, running forward and giving the peculiar yell,
and a howl as if the sounds came from the depths of his stomach, and
which is called _Checau-dum_. Getting upon a piece of rising ground,
behold! a lodge, with smoke curling from its top, appeared. This gave
them all new strength, and they ran forward and entered it. The leader
spoke to the old man who sat in the lodge saying, "_Nemesho_,[65] help
us. We claim your protection, for the great bear will kill us." "Sit
down and eat, my grandchildren," said the old man. "Who is a great
Manito?" said he, "there is none but me; but let me look," and he
opened the door of the lodge, when lo! at a little distance he saw the
enraged animal coming on, with slow but powerful leaps. He closed the
door. "Yes," said he, "_he_ is indeed a great Manito. My grandchildren,
you will be the cause of my losing my life. You asked my protection,
and I granted it; so now come what may, I will protect you. When the
bear arrives at the door, you must run out of the other end of the
lodge." Then putting his hand to the side of the lodge where he sat, he
brought out a bag, which he opened. Taking out two small black dogs, he
placed them before him. "These are the ones I use when I fight," said
he; and he commenced patting, with both hands, the sides of one of
them, and they began to swell out, so that he soon filled the lodge by
his bulk. And he had great strong teeth. When he attained his full size
he growled, and from that moment, as from instinct, he jumped out at
the door and met the bear, who in another leap would have reached the
lodge. A terrible combat ensued. The skies rang with the howls of the
fierce monsters. The remaining dog soon took the field. The brothers,
at the onset, took the advice of the old man, and escaped through the
opposi