man who happened to go out saw the eagle, and called the people, saying, "See what is coming there!" They rushed out, and among them was an old woman, who was no other than Xî′lgō. Meanwhile, the girl had assumed the shape of a mole, who had gained access to the houses by passing underground. She stole all the dentalia she could lay her hands on. When Xî′lgō came out of the house, the eagle rushed down and took her up. Her hat fell down when he lifted her up, but he took her out to the ocean, where he tore her to pieces.
Then he joined the girl again, and they travelled on. Soon they came to another town. Again the people rushed out of the house in order to see the eagle, and last of all there came an old woman, who was no other than Xî′lgō. The young man was surprised to see her still alive. He took her, carried her far out into the ocean, and tore her to pieces. When he took her up, her hat fell down.
He returned and met the girl, and they travelled on and met the Blue Jay, who asked them, ‘"What are you going to do with the old woman?" The young man replied, "I want to kill her. Do you know how I can accomplish it?" The Blue Jay did not reply, and they left him. After a while they came to a town, and again the people came out to see the eagle, and last among them an old woman, who was no-other than Xî′lgō. Once more he took her up and tore her to pieces far out in the ocean, and her hat fell to the ground as he lifted her up. He returned and met the girl, and when they were travelling on they again met the Blue Jay, who asked them what they were going to do with the old woman. The young man replied, "I want to kill her.” Then the Blue Jay said, "You must not take her body, but take her hat. You will find a small, long thing in the top of her hat. That is her heart. You must tear that and throw it into the sea, then she will be dead." He followed this advice, and thus succeeded in killing the old woman.
In every town where they had been the girl had obtained dentalia, which they divided among themselves and returned home.
Frans Boas.
