For several years Hatondas dwelt in the land of his wives and so well did he fight in battle and so brave was he in all things that by deeds he gained great fame. However, he tired of the strange land and longed to return and visit his own old home. After preparation he set out on the return journey, each of his wives bearing a large bundle of presents for the old uncle.
After a weary journey and after many days he reached the old lodge by the hill but found it tied fast.
“Kway!” came the answer in a cracked voice. “Who are you?”
“Well, how do I know that?” asked the same cracked voice.
“Don’t you dare come in! If you try I’ll shoot you through the door-hole.”
“Well, I am going to go in so tell me how.”
“Well put your hands through the peek-hole and I will tie them to the post. I will come out and see and if it is real Hatondas you may come in.”
Hatondas did as bidden and some one inside tied his hands around the post. Then a decrepit old man came out with a hatchet.
“Aha! You were deceiving me just as I thought. You are not my nephew! Aha! I will kill you. So!”
“I am your nephew but my face is changed. Look and see if you don’t recognize my women.”
“No, I don’t know any of them. You must be killed now.” (Uncle sings death chant.)
“Hold on, old uncle, can’t we come to a bargain?” asked Hatondas.
“Ugh!” exclaimed the old fellow. “Bargain? Yes, guess so. Let me see. Yes, give me one of the women.”
In haste the grandfather cut the thongs that bound Hatondas and bade the entire party enter the lodge. When all were seated he said, slyly, “Well, I guess I like this one best.”
“I mean I like this one for cutting you loose.”
“Ha! ha! ha! ha!” laughed Hatondas. “She won’t have you!”
Then the uncle laughed too and said it was all just for fun and that he knew them all the time.
As Hatondas looked about him he saw that the elm bark house had grown old and moss covered and in one place a tree had commenced to grow, but before another moon had come all things were as new again, but the old man grew older.
13. HATONDAS, THE LISTENER, FINDS A WIFE.[23]
Hatondas was a poor orphan boy who lived with his uncle, an old man who was very wrinkled. They lived in a lodge far removed from any settlement, so that the boy grew up not knowing how other people acted.