_Thompson River_
The people of Sky Land stole Swan’s wife. Swan at once called all
the Earth People to a great council. They agreed to make war on the
Sky People.
Now they gathered their bows and arrows. Swan was their chief. Each
man began to fire his arrows at the sky. Every one came down. Every
man tried to shoot an arrow into the Sky Land, until at last only
Wren was left.
Then Wren shot an arrow. The people watched, but it did not come
back to earth. They watched a long time. It had stuck in the sky.
Wren fired another arrow. That did not come down. It had stuck in
the notch of the first one. Wren fired many arrows. Not one came
back, though all the birds and animals were watching carefully. They
at last could see the chain of arrows, and Wren shot more arrows
until the chain reached the earth.
Now all the Bird People and the Animal People climbed over the arrow
chain and went up into Sky Land and fought the Sky People. Grizzlies
lived there, and Black Bear and Elk. And the Sky People won the
fight. The Earth People began to retreat in great haste. They came
down over the arrow chain, but when about half the people had
reached the ground, the chain broke. Those who could not get down
had to go back to Sky Land. Some of them were made prisoners and
some were killed.
There used to be many more birds and animals than there are now; so
the Indians say. There are fewer now because of this war.