THE ARROW-TRAIL
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Coyote was the last to arrive at the council camp of the Animal People. All the others were there. Milka-noups --Eagle, the strongest flier, had scouted to the Upper World Land and told of what he had seen there. A fine country, he said, full of wonders.
Eagle's talk made all the people eager to get up to that country high in the sky, where the best of the berries were thick on the bushes and hunting was easy--without the killing--and food of all kinds was plentiful.
The smartest persons from all over the world talked and schemed, trying to think of a way to reach the land in the sky. They talked and talked for many suns. Finally, someone suggested the shooting of arrows to make a trail through the sky. That thought was good, the council agreed. So the warriors and hunters tried to make an arrow trail. They shot arrow after arrow, but none of their bows were strong enough. All the arrows dropped back to earth. All tried and failed--all but little Chickadee. Being small and modest, he waited until everyone else had tried. Then he strung his elk-rib shoo'-mesh bow. Everybody looked at him in surprise. They couldn't believe he really intended to shoot.
Chickadee said nothing, but he drew his bow as far as it would bend, and loosed a short stubby arrow, which flashed up out of sight and did not fallback. Then the little boy sent a second arrow after the first, and it did not come back. Then he shot a third and a fourth and a fifth and many, many more with his wonderful medicine-bow. Each arrow stuck into the one ahead of it, and the first arrow stuck into the Upper World Land. They made a long, straight ladder from the earth up to the mysterious country far above.
One by one, the people climbed up the ladder of arrows. The last to start was Kee-lau-naw-- Grizzly Bear--who had been busy collecting food to take along. She was not satisfied with a little; she wanted to take a big pack of food. She had gathered wild rhubarb, skunk cabbage, and other plants she liked to eat. All that food made such a big pack that she hardly could swing it on her back. By the time Grizzly Bear began to climb, the others were in the Upper World Land. The arrow-trail creaked and groaned under the great weight of Grizzly Bear and the heavy pack of food. The higher she climbed, the more the ladder creaked. The strain on it became too much, and all at once there was a thunder-like crash, and the trail pulled loose from the Upper World Land. Down came the arrows, and down came Grizzly Bear. The fall did not kill her, but it gave her a bad shaking-up, and she was sore and lame for a long time.
Grizzly Bear's accident was not known to the others. They did not know their trail was destroyed. After their hard climb, they rested and congratulated themselves on reaching such a wonderfulcountry. They were pleased to see so much food. It seemed to be everywhere. Off in the distance they saw a big camp. They started toward it. They did not notice a scout that was watching them. The scout was a wise bird. He flew to the camp and told the people that enemies were coming, and the headmen of the village shouted: "The Lower Earth People have come to make war. Let us get ready for them."
So, when the Animal People got close to the camp they saw that the Upper World Land People were armed for war. That made them afraid. They did not want to fight in that strange country. They wanted peace. They sent Beaver, their wisest person, to talk and make peace. Beaver took a water-trail, where he was more at home. The trail led close to the camp, where Beaver heard a warrior say: "What shall we do with Stulz'-whu, the wisest of the earth people! He is coming along the water-trail. He is near."
That scared Beaver. He did not wait to hear more. He swam back as fast as he could. Then the people sent Eut-la-who--Raven--to talk peace. He flew low over the camp, but he did not alight, for he heard someone say: "What shall we do with Eut-la-who--Shiny Back! He is not liked even by his own people. Who will pierce him with an arrow?"
Well, Raven left in a hurry. One after another, the Animal People approached the camp to make peace, but the other people would have nothing to do with them. At last the Animal People gave up hope. The food that had appeared to be so plentiful was guarded by their enemies and, as the suns passed, they became thin from hunger. They began to long for their old homes on earth. With sad hearts they turned back to the place where they thought the arrow-trail was fastened. Eh-ahe! It was gone! The only way down to earth was to jump, and it was a long, long jump. It was so far below that none could tell the color of the water or the color of the land.
Some jumped for what they thought was water, and some at what they guessed was land. Qhu-quak--Sucker--jumped at what looked like a patch of blue. It was water, but she missed it! She struck on the rocky bank of a river. And later, when high water came, Sucker's body was washed down the river. That restored her to life. But she was not the same as before. The fall to the rocky river bank broke all her bones--smashed them into splinters. That is why there are so many little bones in all suckers today. It is those splinter-like bones that make suckers hard to eat, that give them the name "choking-fish."
Sten-ten'-ywa, the Web-winged--Bat--was so excited when he jumped that he forgot to use his wings. He traveled to earth so fast that he was flattened right out when he hit the ground. He still can travel fast, but he is very ugly looking. He used to be handsome. Coyote got down safely. First he turned himself into a pine needle, which fellfast. Then he became a leaf and floated gently to the ground. Then he resumed his own form.
After that time the Animal People were content to stay on earth, where they belonged. The breaking of their arrow-trail was the will of the Spirit Chief. He did not want the Animal People bothering the people of the Upper World Land again.
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