Page:Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society V.djvu/194

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164
Navaho Legends.

slept all night; but on this occasion he woke about midnight, and could not go to sleep again.

474. At dawn he heard, faintly, the distant "Wu'hu'hu'hú" of Hastséyalti. At once he woke his grandmother, saying: "I hear a voice. The dĭgíni (holy ones, divine ones) are coming." "You fool," she replied. "Shut your mouth and go to sleep. They would never come to visit such poor people as we are," and she fell asleep again. In a little while he heard the voice a second time, louder and nearer, and again he shook his grandmother and told her he heard the voices of the gods; but she still would not believe him, and slept again. The third time that he awoke her, when he heard the voices still more plainly, she remained awake, beginning to believe him. The fourth time the call sounded loud and clear, as if cried by one standing at the door. "Hear," he said to his grandmother. "Is that not truly the voice of a divine one?" At last she believed him, and said in wonder: "Why should the dĭgíni come to visit us?"

475. Hastséyalti and Hastséhogan were at the door, standing on the rainbow on which they had travelled. The former made signs to the man, over the curtain which hung in the doorway, bidding him pull the curtain aside and come out. "Grandmother," said the Navaho, "Hastséyalti calls me to him." "It is well," she answered. "Do as he bids you." As he went out, bearing his bundle of sacrificial objects, he said: "I go with the divine ones, but I shall come back again to see you." The niece had a pet turkey208 that roosted on a tree near the lodge. Hastséyalti made signs to the Navaho to take the turkey along. The Navaho said: "My niece, the gods bid me take your turkey, and I would gladly do it, for I am going among strange people, where I shall be lonely. I love the bird; he would be company to me and remind me of my home. Yet I shall not take him against your will." "Then you may have my turkey pet," replied the niece. The old woman said to the god: "I shall be glad to have my grandchild back again. Will you let him return to us?" Hastséyalti only nodded his head. The gods turned the rainbow around sunwise, so that its head,204 which formerly pointed to the door of the lodge, now pointed in a new direction, Hastséyalti got on the bow first. He made the Navaho get on behind him. Hastséhogan got on behind the man. "Shut your eyes," commanded Hastséyalti, and the Navaho did as he was bidden.

476. In a moment Hastséyalti cried again: "Open your eyes." The Navaho obeyed and found himself far away from his home, at Tsétadi, where the dĭgíni dwelt. They led him into a house in the rock which was full of divine people. It was beautiful inside—the walls were covered with rock crystal, which gave forth a brilliant light, Hastséyalti ordered food brought for his visitor. The latter