_Kwakiutl_
Mink called all his friends together—Deer, Raccoon, Young Raccoon,
and Canoe-Calking, the Raven. The four friends went in at once to
the council.
Mink said, “Oh, friends, my reason for calling you is that I wish to
make war on Southeast Wind.” Thus he said. Deer thanked Mink for
what he said. They said they would ask Halibut, Sea Bear, Devilfish,
and Merman to go along. Mink and all these people lived at Crooked
Beach. Southeast Wind was blowing hard all the time, and therefore
these people had no way of getting anything to eat.
Therefore they all went to the house of Devilfish[4] and Halibut,
for these two lived together. They asked them to join in war on
Southeast Wind. They agreed at once. Sea Bear and Merman also
agreed.
In the morning, when daylight came, they started in their canoe. In
one day they expected to reach Southeast Wind’s house. They went
southward from Crooked Beach. They were already sailing close to the
southeast wind. The wind blew hard. It did not detain them. When
evening came, they discovered the house of Southeast Wind. Then Mink
said, “Let us stop at this cove and consider how we may conquer
him.” Then they held a council.
Now Mink said, “Oh, friend Halibut! Lie down flat outside of the
door of Southeast Wind. When he comes out of his door, he will step
on you, and slip on you, and come stumbling down into our canoe,
where we will hold him.” Then Deer said the wrong thing. He said
they should go to Southeast Wind’s house while it was not yet dark.
They indeed tried to, but they could not, because of the strong
wind. When night came, it was calmer. So they started at once, and
stopped on the beach right in front of the house. Halibut at once
went and lay down flat just outside of the door. Soon Southeast Wind
came to the door and stepped upon Halibut. At once he slipped; he
could not stand up. He slipped right down into Mink’s canoe. Then
Devilfish caught hold of him, and Sea Bear and Merman. Now they held
Southeast Wind.
Then Southeast Wind said, “Oh, Born-to-be-the-Sun, tell me what you
intend to do with me!” He said that to Mink. He saw that Mink was a
great warrior.
Mink answered, “I am doing this because you do not let our world be
calm.” Southeast Wind answered quickly, “Oh, Chief, now your world
shall always be calm, and your sea shall always be smooth.” So he
spoke to Mink.
Mink said, “Don’t give us too much. I do not say that it is good
when our world is always calm.” Thus he spoke.
Then Southeast Wind said, “It shall not blow in your world for four
days.” Thus he said. Then those who held him let him go at once,
because Southeast Wind was very much afraid of Born-to-be-the-Sun.
Therefore the southeast wind does not blow all the time, on account
of what Mink did. This is the end.