Next morning the Mescaleros did not shoot (were not hostile). The
others came and killed many Mescaleros. The cavalry and infantry
brought us (the Mescaleros) to this camp as prisoners.
The San Carlos scouts were well supplied with ammunition and guns, and
shot many Warm Spring Indians and Mescaleros.
The San Carlos scouts are brave men.
_NA-WA-GI-JIG'S STORY._
The following is contributed by Mr. FRANCIS JACKER:
This narrative was related to me by _John Na-wa-gi-jig_ (literally
"noon-day sky"), an aged Ojibwa, with whom I have been intimately
connected for a long period of years. He delivered his story,
referring to one of the many incidents in his perilous life, orally,
but with pantomimes so graphic and vivid that it may be presented
truly as a specimen of gesture language. Indeed, to any one familiar
with Indian mimicry, the story might have been intelligible without
the expedient of verbal language, while the oral exposition,
incoherent as it was, could hardly be styled anything better than the
subordinate part of the delivery. I have endeavored to reproduce
these gestures in their original connections from memory, omitting the
verbal accompaniment as far as practicable. In order to facilitate a
clear understanding it is stated that the gesturer was in a sitting
posture before a camp fire by the lake shore, and facing the locality
where the event referred to had actually occurred, viz, a portion of
Keweenaw Bay, Lake Superior, in the neighborhood of Portage Entry,
as seen by the annexed diagram, Fig. 319. The time of the relation
(latter part of April) also coincided with the _actual_ time. In
speaking of "arm," "hand," "finger," &c., the "right" is understood if
not otherwise specified. "Finger" stands for "forefinger."
(1) With the exclamation "_me-wi-ja_" (a long time ago), uttered in
a slow and peculiarly emphatic manner, he elevated the arm above and
toward the right at the head, accompanying the motion with an upward
wave of the hand and held it thus suspended a moment--_a long time
ago_. (This gesture resembles sign for _time, a long_, of which it
seems to be an abbreviation, and it is not sufficiently clear without
the accompanying exclamation.) Withdrawing it slowly, he placed the
hand back upon his knee.
(2) He then brought up the left hand toward the temple and tapped his
hair, which was gray, with the finger--_hair gray_.
(3) From thence he carried it down upon the thigh, placing the
extended finger perpendicularly upon a fold of his trousers, which
the thumb and finger of the right held grasped in such a manner as to
advantageously present the smooth black surface of the cloth--_of that
color_, i.e., _black_.
[Illustration: Fig. 319--Scene of Na-wa-gi-jig's story.]
(4) Next, with a powerful strain of the muscles, he slowly stretched
out the right arm and fist and grasping the arm about the elbow with
the left, he raised the forearm perpendicularly upward, then brought
it down with force, tightening the grasp in doing so (fingers pressing
upon knuckle, thumb against pit of elbow)--_strength_.
(5) Pointing first at me--_you_.
(6) He next held out the hand horizontally and flat, palm downward,
about four feet above the ground, correcting the measure a moment
afterward by elevating hand a few inches higher, and estimated the
height thus indicated with a telling look, leaning the head toward the
side--_about that height_, i.e., _a youth of about that size_.
(7) He then rapidly extended the arm about two-thirds of its length
forward and toward the right, terminating the motion with a jerk of
the hand upward, palm turned outward, and accompanied the motion with
a nod of the head, the hand in its downfall closing and dropping upon
knee--_very well_.
(8) Musing a few moments, he next slowly extended the arm and pointed
with the fingers toward and along the surface of the frozen bay--_out
there_.
(9) In an easterly direction--_eastward_.
(10) Thence turning the arm to the right he nodded the finger toward
a projection of land southward at a distance of about two
miles--following in each case the direction of the finger with the
eyes--and immediately after placed the hand again eastward, indicating
the spot with the same emphatic nod of the finger as though carrying
the visible distance to a spot upon the expanse of the bay, which,
bearing no object, could not be marked otherwise--_two miles out
there_.
(11) Carrying the finger toward the body, he touched his breast--_I
myself_.
(12) Thence erected the hand, turning its palm forward, forefinger
perpendicularly extended, others slightly closed, and nodded
it downward in an explanatory manner, all in an uninterrupted
movement--_one_, meaning in connection with the preceding gesture--_I
for one_.
(13) Again, with an emphatic movement, he turned the hand upward,
slightly erecting the index, thumb pointing forward, remaining
fingers partially and naturally opened and more or less
separated--_furthermore_.
(14) Then quickly and after a moment's stop brought down the hand to
a horizontal position, first and second fingers joining and fully
extending during the movement, and pointing forward--_another_, i.e.,
_joined by another_. Repeating this motion, he at the same time called
out the name _Ga-bi-wa-bi-ko-ke_.
(15) Following the exclamation with a repetition of No. 2--_gray
hair_--repeatedly touching the hair, meaning in this case--_an old
man_.
(16) Pointed with the finger toward the right, directing it obliquely
toward the ground--_at a short distance toward my right_.
(17) Repeated No. 13--_furthermore_.
(18) Repeated No. 14, adding the third finger to joined fore and
middle fingers, thumb resting upon tip of fourth--_another_, i.e.,
_joined by a third_, and pronounced the words "_o-gwis-san Sa-ba-dis_"
(this is a corruption of the French "Jean Baptiste," a favorite name
among Christianized Indians)--_John Baptist, his son_, while repeating
the movement.
(19) Held up the three separated fingers perpendicularly in front of
the face, pushing the hand forward a little--_three in all_.
(20) Presently lowered the hand, fingers relaxing, and carried it
a short distance toward the left, thence back to the right, fingers
pointing obliquely toward the ground in each case--_placed to the
right and left of me at a short distance_.
(21) He then brought the hand--back toward the right, index
horizontally extended, remaining fingers closed, thumb placed against
second finger--in front of abdomen, and moved it slowly up and down
two or three times, giving it a slight jerk at the upward motion, and
raising the arm partially in doing so. At the same time he inclined
the body forward a little, eyes looking down--_fishing_. This refers
to fishing on the ice, and, as may be inferred from it, to the use of
hook and line. A short stick to which the line is attached serves as a
rod and is moved up and down in the manner described.
(22) After a short pause he elevated the hand, directing the index
toward that point of the meridian which the sun passes at about
the tenth hour of the day, and following the direction with, the
eye--_about ten o'clock_.
(23) Turning his face toward the southwest and holding up the flat and
extended hand some distance in front of it, back outward, he waved
it briskly and several times toward the face--_fresh breeze from the
southwest_.
(24) Repeated No. 21 (_fishing_), playing the imaginary fish-line
up and down regularly for a while, till all at once he changed the
movement by raising the hand in an oblique course, which movement he
repeated several times, each time increasing the divergence and the
length of the motion--_the fish-hook don't sink perpendicularly any
longer_, i.e., _it is moving_.
(25) Quickly erecting his body he looked around him with
surprise--_looking with surprise_.
(26) Shading his eyes with the hand, gazed intensively toward the
south--_fixedly gazing toward the south_.
(27) Threw up his arm almost perpendicularly the next moment--_greatly
astonished_.
(28) Extended and slowly moved the arm from southeast to northwest
as far as he could reach, at the same time exclaiming "_mig-wam_"
"ice"--_the ice from shore to shore_.
(29) Approximated the flat and horizontally extended hands, backs
upward, with their inner edges touching, whereupon, suddenly turning
the edges downward, he withdrew them laterally, backs nearly opposed
to each other--_parting_.
(30) Pushed the left hand, palm outward, fingers joined, edges up and
down, forward and toward its side with a full sweep of the arm,
head following the movement--_pushed in that direction_, i.e.,
_northeastward_.
(31) Repeated No. 23, but waved the hand only once and with a quick
and more powerful movement toward the face--_by the force of the
wind_.
(32) Rotated hands in front of body, rolling them tips over tips very
rapidly, fingers with thumbs nearly collected to a point--_winding up
the hook-line in a hurry_.
(33) Quickly passed the hand toward the left breast of his
coat--_putting it in pocket_.
(34) And bending the body forward made motion as if picking up
something--_picking up_.
(35) Raised the hand closed to fist, arm elevated so as to form a
right angle with elbow, and made a short stroke downward and toward
the left--_hatchet_.
(36) Thence moved the hand to side of breast and pushed it down the
waist--_putting it into belt_.
(37) Placed the closed hands to each side of the waist (thumbs upward
with tips facing each other) and approximated them rapidly and with a
jerk in front of navel--_tightening the belt_.
(38) With both hands lowered to the ground, he described an elongated
oval around his foot by placing tips of forefingers together in front
of the toes and passing them around each side, meeting the fingers
behind the heel and running them jointly backward a few inches to
indicate a tail--_snow-shoe_.
(39) Raised up the heel, resting the foot on the toes and turning it a
little toward the right, brought it back in a downward movement with a
jerk--_putting it on_.
(40) Waved the left hand emphatically forward, palm backward, fingers
joined and pointing downward, extending them forward at termination of
motion, at the same time pushing forward the head--_starting_.
(41) Directed the finger of the same hand toward the
light-house--_toward that point_.
(42) Pointed with extended first two fingers of the same hand,
thumb with remaining fingers partially extended to right and to
left--_companions_.
(43) Repeated No. 40 (_starting_) less emphatically.
(44) Made several very quick jumping movements forward with the
extended left fingers, joined, back upward--_going very fast_.
(45) Repeated No. 23 (_wind_), increasing the force of the movement
and terminating the sign with the second repetition (wave)--_wind
increasing_.
(46) Raised up the hand in front of head and then arrested it a
moment, palm outward, fingers extended, upward and forward--_halt_.
(47) Partially turning the body toward the north he lowered the
extended hand, back forward, fingers joined and pointing downward
toward the left of his feet and moved it closely in front of them, and
with a cutting motion, toward the right, following the movement with
the eye--_cut off right before feet_, i.e., _standing on the very
edge_.
(48) Still facing the north, he carried the hand, back upward, fingers
joined and extended, from left side of body outward and toward the
right horizontally, indicating the rippled surface of turbulent
water by an appropriate motion, and extending the arm to full length,
fingers pointing northeastward (toward the right) at termination of
motion, and accompanied the movement with a corresponding turn of the
head, eyes gazing far into distance--_water all along the shore_.
(49) Pushed the extended finger, back upward, forward (i.e.,
northward) in a slightly arched movement--_across_.
(50) Directing it toward an object (tree) at a distance of about
one hundred yards the next moment--_a distance of about one hundred
yards_.
(51) Repeated No. 49 (_across_) without interrupting the motion--_that
distance placed across_.
(52) Motions as follows: Hands naturally relaxed, edges up and down,
backs outward, are with a quick movement and simultaneously carried
from the epigastrium forward and toward their sides, arms being
extended from elbows only. The hands change their position during the
movement and are ultimately placed palms upward, thumbs and fingers
extended and widely separated, pointing forward. This is the general
sign for _doubt_. He also turned the face from one side to the other
as though interrogating his companions--_what are we to do_?
(53) Repeated No. 35 (_hatchet_).
(54) Raised up the finger perpendicularly, other fingers closed, thumb
resting against second, and emphatically inclined it forward--_only
one_.
(55) Elevated the arm from the elbow toward the head, hand naturally
relaxed, back obliquely upward, inclining the face sideward with a
look of consternation, simultaneously, and again mechanically lowered
it, dropping palm of hand heavily upon the knee--"_bad fix_."
(56) Placed the hand to his hip and raised it up, closed to fist, by
a rapid and very energetic movement, ejaculating _haw!--quick to the
work_ (referring to the ax or hatchet).
(57) Turning the body downward, he passed the hand, with forefinger
directed toward the ground, forward, sideward, and backward, in three
movements, each time turning at a right angle--_measuring off a square
piece on the ground_, i.e., _on the ice_.
(58) Looked and pointed toward an object some twenty feet off, then
opposed palms of hands horizontally, and at a short distance from
each other, connecting both movements in such a manner as to clearly
illustrate their meaning--_about twenty feet wide_.
(59) Moved the hand--fist, thumb upward--several times quickly up
and down a few inches, the arm progressing forward at every
stroke--_cutting it off_.
(60) Repeated No. 55 (_bad fix_), meaning in this case--_bad job_.
(61) Opposed the palms of both hands, vertically, at a distance of
eight inches, holding them thus steady a moment and estimating the
thus indicated measure with the eyes--_eight inches thick_.
(62) Then struck the palm of left with the back of arched right
forcibly--_solid ice_.
(63) Laid the joined and extended first two fingers, palm up, across
side of leg, a foot above heel, accompanying the movement with the
eye--_one foot deep_.
(64) Pushed downward perpendicularly and from same point the flat,
extended hand--_sinking_, or _giving in_--and turning the hand upward
at wrist, back downward, he flirted up the fingers several times
quickly--_water--slush and water_.
(65) Passed one hand over the other as in the act of pulling off
mittens--_mittens_.
(66) Made the motion of wringing out a wet piece of cloth--_wringing
wet_.
(67) Grasped a fold of his trowsers (below the knee) and wrung
it--_trowsers also wet_.
(68) Placed palms of both hands upon legs, near to the ankles, and
dragged them up to the knees--_up to the knees_.
(69) Shivered--_feeling cold_.
(70) Pointed with thumb backward and toward the right (designating his
companion) and repeated No. 2 (_hair gray_)--_my old companion_, i.e.,
_Ga-bi-wa-bi-ko-ke_.
(71) Repeated No. 69 (_feeling cold_) more emphatically--_more so_,
i.e., _suffering worse from the cold._
(72) Repeated No. 59 (_cutting the ice_).
(73) Made sign for _tired--getting tired_, as follows: The left arm
is partly extended forward, and is gently struck near the bend of the
elbow, usually above it, with the palm of the right hand, at the same
time the head is usually inclined to the left side, then in similar
manner the right arm is extended and struck by the left hand, and the
head in turn inclined to the right.
(74) Repeated No. 35--(_hatchet_).
(75) Turned the slightly closed left (thumb obliquely upward) over
to its side, partially opening it in so doing, fingers pointing to
left--_passing it over to his companion at the left_, i.e., _Sabadis_.
(76) Flung forefingers of both hands, backs forward, thumbs upward,
remaining fingers partially closed, toward their respective sides
alternately--_by turns_.
(77) Repeated No. 59 (_cutting the ice_).
(78) Elevated the hand above head, thumb and first two fingers
extended and directed toward the western meridian, and shook it
emphatically and with a tremulous motion up and down while thus
suspended--_at a late hour_.
(79) Followed with the sign for _done, finished_, as follows: Left
hand, with forearm horizontally extended toward the right, is held
naturally relaxed, back outward, a few inches in front of body and at
a right angle with opposite hand, which is placed on a higher level,
slightly arched, edge downward, fingers joined and extended forward.
Pass the right quickly and with a cutting motion downward and toward
its side, at the same time withdraw the left a few inches toward the
opposite direction--_finished our work_.
(80) Quickly threw up his arm, ejaculating "haw!"--_let us start_.
(81) Passed both hands approximated in front of body, naturally
relaxed, backs outward, forward and toward their respective sides,
extending and widely separating the fingers during the movement, and
again approximating them with quickly accelerated speed and arresting
them, closed to fists, in front of body and with a jerk upward--_with
united efforts_.
(82) Placing the fists, thumbs upward, pointing forward and placed
upon side of forefingers, with their wrists against the breast,
he pushed them forward and downward a few inches, head slightly
participating in the movement--_pushing off_.
(83) Repeated No. 38 (_snow-shoe)--with snow-shoes_.
(84) Immediately reassumed the position of "pushing off" as in No.
82, slowly passing forward the fists further and further--_pushing and
gradually moving off_.
(85) Quickly passed and turned the closed left forward, upward, and
backward, opening and again closing the fingers in so doing,
and executing at almost the same instant a similar, but smaller,
revolution with the right--_turning over the snow-shoe, tail up_.
(86) With both hands closed to fists, left obliquely over the
right and on the right side of the body, made motion as if
paddling--_paddling_.
(87) Moved and pointed finger of left towards its side, i.e.,
northward--_toward the shore_.
(88) Moved both hands, flat and extended, backs upward, toward the
left side, by an even and very slow movement--_moving along very
slowly toward that direction_.
(89) Repeated No. 23--_southwest wind_.
(90) Repeated No. 30--_pushing northeastward_.
(91) Turned the thumb of left over to the left--_Sabadis_.
(92) Repeated No. 32 (_winding up_), reversing the motion--_winding
off the hook-line_.
(93) Approximated both hands with their tips horizontally in front of
body, first two fingers with thumb collected to a point, and moving
the fingers as in the act of twisting a cord, gradually receded the
hands--_twisting_.
(94) Thrust forward three fingers of the right--_three_, i.e.,
_hook-lines_.
(95) Repeated No. 93, then rubbed palm of flat and extended
right forward over the thigh repeatedly and with a slight
pressure--_twisting them tightly_.
(96) Approximated both hands closed to fists, thumbs upward, in front
of body and pulled them asunder repeatedly by short, quick, and sudden
jerks--_proving strength of line_.
(97) Hooked the forefinger, hand turned downward at wrist, remaining
fingers closed, thumb resting upon first--_fish-hook_.
(98) Raised and curved three fingers and thrust them forward a little
separated, back to the front--_three_, i.e., _hooks_.
(99) Collecting fore and middle fingers of each hand to a point with
thumb, he opposed tips of both hands, vertically describing with the
upper hand several short circular movements around the tip of the
lower--_tying together_.
(100) Hooked the separated fore and middle fingers of the right,
pointing upward, back forward, and placed the hooked finger of the
left, palm forward, in front and partially between the fork of the
first--_in the shape of an anchor_.
(101) Thrust both hands, backs upward, fingers extended and separated,
forward (i.e., northward), vigorously, left being foremost--_throwing
toward the shore_.
(102) Thence elevating the right toward the head, he thrust it
downward in an oblique direction, fore and middle fingers extended and
joined with the thumb--_sinking_.
(103) Placing hands in the position attained last in No.
100 (_throwing out toward shore_), he closed the fingers,
drawing the hands back toward the body and leaning backward
simultaneously--_hauling in_.
(104) Elevated the naturally closed hand to side of head, fingers
opening and separating during the movement--at the same time and with
a slight jerk of the shoulders inclining the head sideward--and again
closed and slowly dropped it upon knee--_in vain_.
(105) Dropped the finger perpendicularly downward, following the
movement with the eye--_bottom_.
(106) Passed the flat hand, palm down, from side to side in a smooth
and horizontal movement--_smooth_.
(107) Made the sign for _stone, rock_, as follows: With the back of
the arched right hand (H) strike repeatedly in the palm of the left,
held horizontal, back outward, at the height of the breast and about
a foot in front, the ends of the fingers pointing in opposite
directions.
(108) Repeated No. 100--_anchor_.
(109) Dragged the curved fore and middle fingers over the back of the
extended left--_dragging_.
(110) Waved the left--bent at the wrist, back outward--forward and
upward from body, extending the arm to full length, at the same time
inclining and pushing forward the head, and repeated the gesture more
emphatically--_trying again and again_.
(111) Waved both hands--backs outward, fingers slightly joined, tips
facing each other and closely approximated in front of breast--forward
and toward their respective sides a short distance, turning the palms
upward during the movement, thumb and fingers being extended and
widely separated toward the last. At the same time he inclined the
head to one side, face expressing disappointment--_all in vain_.
(112) Repeated No. 80--_Let us start anew_!
(113) Repeated No. 86--_paddling_.
(114) Repeated the preceding gesture, executing the movement only once
very emphatically--_vigorously_.
(115) Waved the finger toward the place of the setting sun, following
the direction with the eye--_day is near its close_.
(116) Repeated No. 69, more emphatically--_feeling very cold_.
(117) Repeated No. 70--_Ga-bi-wa bi-ko-ke_.
(118) Made sign for _without_, dropping the hands powerless at the
sides, with a corresponding movement of head--_exhausted_.
(119) Pointed with finger toward the light-house and drawing back
the finger a little, pushed it forward in the same direction,
fully extending the arm--_that distance_, i.e., _one mile beyond
light-house_.
(120) Elevated both hands to height of shoulder, fingers extended
toward the right, backs upward, moving them horizontally forward--left
foremost--with an impetuous motion toward the last--_drifted out_.
(121) Repeated No. 86, executing the movement a series of times
without interruption and very energetically--_paddling steadily and
vigorously_.
(122) Pointed with the left forefinger to his breast--_I myself_.
(123) Waved the thumb of the same hand over to left side without
interrupting motion of hand--_and Sabadis_.
(124) Moved the extended left--back upward, fingers slightly
joined--toward left side, and downward a few inches--_shore_.
(125) Elevated it to level of eyes, fingers joined and extended, palm
toward the right, approaching it toward the face by a slow interrupted
movement--_drawing nearer and nearer_.
(126) Drawing a deep breath--_relieved_.
(127) Repeated No. 86 very emphatically--_paddling with increased
courage and vigor_.
(128) Gazed and pointed northeastward, shading the eyes with the
hand, at the same time pushing the left--bent downward at wrist,
palm backward--forward in that direction, arm fully extended, fingers
separated and pointing ahead at termination of motion--_out there at a
great distance_.
(129) Made a lateral movement with the hand flat and extended over the
field of ice in front of him--_the ice-field_.
(130) Described a series of waves with the flat and extended left,
back upward, horizontally outward--_sea getting turbulent_.
(131) Joyously flourished the hand above head, while pronouncing the
word _ke-ya-bi_--_only yet_.
(132) Pointed the finger toward the upturned root of a tree a few
yards off, thence carrying it forward directed it toward the shore in
front--_a few yards from shore_.
(133) Pointing toward the sun first, he placed palms of both hands
in opposition vertically, a space of only an inch or two intervening,
with a glance sideways at the height thus indicated--_the sun just
setting_.
(134) Made three vigorous strokes with the imaginary paddle--_three
more paddle-strokes_.
(135) Moved both hands (flat and extended, backs upward) evenly and
horizontally toward the left, terminating the movement by turning
hands almost perpendicularly upward at wrist, thus arresting them
suddenly--_the ice-raft runs up against the shore_.
(136) Lastly threw up the hand perpendicularly above head, and
bringing it down, placed the palm gently over the heart with an air of
solemnity--_we are saved_.
_Free translation of the story_.
Many years ago--my hair, then black and smooth, has since turned gray;
I was then in the prime of life; you, I suppose, were a young lad at
that time--the following incident occurred to me:
Yonder on the ice, two miles eastward, I was one day fishing in
company with two others, the old Gabiwabikoke and his son John
Baptist. It was about ten o'clock in the morning--a fresh breeze from
the southwest had previously been getting up--when the hook-line which
I was playing up and down began to take an oblique course as though
it were moved by a current. Surprised, I looked up and around me. When
glancing toward the south I saw a dark streak stretching from shore to
shore across the bay; the ice had parted and the wind was carrying it
out toward the open lake. In an instant I had wound up my hook-line,
picked up my hatchet and snow-shoes, which I put on my feet, and
hurried--the others following my example--toward the nearest point of
land, yonder where the light-house stands. The wind was increasing and
we traveled as fast as we could. There we arrived at the very edge of
the ice, a streak of water about one hundred yards in width extending
northward along the shore as far as we could see. What to begin
with, nothing but a single hatchet? We were in a bad situation. Well,
something had to be done. I measured off a square piece on the ice and
began cutting it off with the hatchet, a hard and tedious labor. The
ice was only eight inches thick, but slush and water covered it to the
depth of a foot. I soon had my mittens and trowsers wringing wet and
began to feel cold and tired. The old Gabiwabikoke was in a worse
state than I. His son next took the hatchet and we all worked by
turns. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon when we finished
our work. With the help of our snow-shoes (stemming their tail-ends
against the edge of the solid ice), we succeeded in pushing off our
raft. Turning our snow-shoes the other way (using their tails as
handles), we commenced paddling with them toward the shore. It was a
very slow progress, as the wind drifted us outward continually. John
Baptist managed to twist our three hook-lines into a strong cord, and
tying the hooks together in the shape of an anchor, he threw it out
toward the shore. Hauling in the line the hooks dragged over the
smooth rock bottom and would not catch. Repeated trials were of
no avail. We all resumed our former attempt and paddled away with
increased energy. The day was drawing near its close, and we began to
feel the cold more bitterly. Gabiwabikoke was suffering badly from its
effects and was entirely played out. We had already drifted more than
a mile beyond the light-house point. John Baptist and I continued
paddling steadily and vigorously, and felt relieved and encouraged
when we saw the shore draw near and nearer. The ice-field, by this
time, was miles away to the northeast, and a sea was getting up. At
last, just when the sun was setting, only a few yards separated us
from the shore; three more paddle-strokes and our raft ran up against
the beach. We were safe.
_The oral part of the story in the language of the narrator, with a
literal translation into English._
(1) _Me[n]'wija_
a long time ago
(2) _aw ninisis'san_
this my hair
(3) _me'gwa giijina'gwak tibi'shko aw_
while it looked like that
(4) _me'gwa gimashkaw'isian_
while I possessed strength
(5) _kin dash_
you and (i.e., and you)
(6) _ga'nabatch kikwiwi'se[n]siwina'ban_
perhaps (probably) were a boy
(7) _mi'iw_
very well
(8)-(10) _iwe'di_
there
(11)(12) _nin be'jig_
I one
(13) _mi'nawa_
again (furthermore)
(14) _Gabiwa'bikoke_
"The Miner"
(15) _akiwe[n]'si_
old man
(16) Expressed by gesture only.
(17) The same as No. 13.
(18) _ogwis'san ga'ie, Sabadis_
his son too, John Baptist.
(19) _mi minik'_
so many
(20)(21) Gestures only.
(22) _mi wa'pi_
thus far, i.e., at that time.
(23) _we'ai gion'din_
then the wind blew from
(24) _me'gwa nin wewe'banabina'ban_
while I was (in the act of) fishing with the hook
_nin'goting gonin'gotchi_
at one time somewhere (out of its course)
_oda'bigamo nimigis'skane'ab_
was drawn my hook line
(25) _a'nin ejiwe'bak_?
how it happens?
(26) Gesture only.
(27) _taai'!_
ho!
(28) _mi'gwam_
the ice
(29) _ma'dja_
goes
(30)(31) Gestures only.
(32) _we'wib_
quickly
(33)(34) Gestures only.
(35) _wagak'wad[)o][n]s_
hatchet
(36) (37) Gestures only.
(38) (39) _nin bita'gime_
I put on snowshoes
(40) _win madja'min_
we go (start)
(41) Gestures only.
(42) (43) _mamaw'e_
together
(44) Gesture only.
(45) _esh'kam ki'tchi no'din_
more big wind
(46) Gesture only.
(47) _mi ja'igwa gima'djishkad_ (i.e., _mi'gwam_)
already has moved off (i.e., the ice)
(48) (49) Gestures only.
(50) _mi'wapi_
thus far, i.e., at such a distance
(51) Gesture only.
(52) _a'nin dash gediji'tehigeiang?_
how (i.e., what) shall we do?
(53) (54) _mi e'ta be'jigwang wagak'wad[)o][n]s_
only one hatchet
(55) _ge'get gisan'agissimin_
indeed we are badly off.
(56) _haw! bak'wewada mi'gwam!_
well! (hallo!) let us cut the ice!
(57) (58) (59) Gestures only.
(60) _sa'nagad_
it is bad (hard)
(61) _mi epi'tading_
so it is thick (so thick is it)
(62) Gesture only.
(63) _mi dash mi'nawa minik'_
that again much (that much again)
(64) _nibi' gon ga'ie_
water snow too (water and snow)
(65) _nimidjik a'wanag_
my mittens
(66) _a'pitchi_
very much
(67) _nindas'san gaie_
my trowsers two
(68) Gestures only.
(69) _nin gi'katch ja'igwa_
I feel cold already
(70) _aw sa kiwe[n]'si_
the old man
(71) _nawatch' win'_
more yet he
(72) Gesture only.
(73) _nind aie'kos ja'igwa_
I am tired already
(74) Gesture only.
(75) _Sa'badis_
John Baptist
(76) _memesh'kwat kaki'na_
by turns all
(77) Gesture only.
(78) _wi'ka ga'ishkwanawo'kweg_
late in the afternoon
(79) _mi gibakwewangid_
now it is cut loose
(80) _haw!_
well! (ho!)
(81) _mama'we_
together
(82) Gesture only.
(83) _a'gimag_
snowshoes
(84) _ma'djishka_
it is moving
(85)-(87) Gestures only.
(88) _aga'wa ma'djishkca_
scarcely it moves (very little)
(89) _no'din_
wind
(90) Gesture only.
(91) _Sa'badis_
John Baptist
(92) _migiss'kaneyab_
hook-line
(93) (94) _oginisswa'biginan_
he twisted three cords together
(95)-(98) Gestures only.
(99) _oginisso'bidonan (i.e., migaskanan)_
he tied together three (i.e., hooks)
(100) Gesture only.
(101) _ogiaba'gidonan dash_
he threw it out
(102) Gesture only.
(103) _owikobi'donan_
he wants to draw it in
(104) _kawes'sa_
in vain ("no go")
(105)-(108) Gestures only.
(109) _ka'win sagakwidis'sinon_
(not) it don't catch on the rock-bottom
(110) _mi'nawa--mo'jag_
again--often (repeatedly)
(111) The same as No. 104.
(112) The same as No. 80.
(113) Gesture only.
(114) _e'nigok_
vigorously
(115) _ja'igwa ona'kwishi_
already evening
(116) _esh'kam kis'sina_
more cold (getting colder)
(117) The same as No. 70.
(118) _mi ja'igwa gianiji'tang_
already he has given up
(119) _was'sa ja'igwa_
far already
(120) _niwebas'himin_
we have drifted out
(121) Gesture only.
(122) (123) _mi'sa e'ta mij'iang_
(now) only we are two
(124) Gesture only.
(125) _ja'igwa tehi'gibig_
already near to shore
(126) _mi ja'igwa anibonen'damang_
now we catch new spirits
(127) _esh'kam nigijijaw'isimin_
more we are strong (i.e., our strength and courage
increases)
(128) (129) _e-eh! was'sa ja'igwa'_
oh! far already
_mi'gwam!_
the ice!
(130) _ja'igwa_
already
(131) _ke'abi_
yet
(132) _go'mapi_
so far perhaps
(133) _ge'ga bangi'shimo_
nearly sundown
(134) Gesture only.
(135) _mi gibima'jagang_
we have landed
(136) _mi gibima'disiang_
we have saved our lives.