Before the house of Nas-nas-shup there was a lake in which there
lived great demon frogs, which croaked loud warnings when any dared
approach. Inside the outer door a codfish lay, of size enormous,
ready to devour the bold intruder who might gain entrance there, and
if the stranger safely passed the cod, his body would be entered by
two snakes which waiting, sought to kill the fearless one. All these
were safely passed by Eut-le-ten, who changed himself, when danger
pressed too close, to that small primal pool of tears from which
he sprang.
Within the house he saw chief Nas-nas-shup clothed in his robe of
prime sea otter skins. He also saw the spikes which surrounded
the sacred place where lay the daughter of the chief.
The spikes were hidden in the ground, just where a stranger would be
asked to rest awhile, but Eut-le-ten remembered what the old squaws
said to him, and taking the stone charm he broke them down. The chief
was astonished to see the power of Eut-le-ten, and forthwith asked of
him from whence he came and what his errand was.
Then Eut-le-ten declared himself and said, "I come from that great
world beneath the sky where many people live who do not know the land
where dwells the Tyee Nas-nas-shup. I come to see the wonders of his
lodge, and learn the many secrets hid from man, so that returning to
my home below, I may be able so to teach the tribes, that many things
of which they do not dream, may be revealed, and made as plain as
day. But there is one of whom great tales are told among the young
men of the world below, it is of her that I would speak to thee. Thy
daughter, chief, I come to ask of thee, to be the mother of my little
ones."