[Footnote 1:  A Blackfoot often talks of what this or that person said, without mentioning names.]

“I know not where he stops,” replied the bear.  “I have travelled by many rivers, and I know the mountains, yet I have never seen his lodge.  There is some one beyond, that striped-face, who is very smart.  Go and ask him.”

The badger was in his hole.  Stooping over, the young man shouted:  “Oh, cunning striped-face!  Oh, generous animal!  I wish to speak with you.”

“What do you want?” said the badger, poking his head out of the hole.

“I want to find the Sun’s home,” replied Scarface.  “I want to speak with him.”

“I do not know where he lives,” replied the badger.  “I never travel very far.  Over there in the timber is a wolverine.  He is always travelling around, and is of much knowledge.  Maybe he can tell you.”

Then Scarface went to the woods and looked all around for the wolverine, but could not find him.  So he sat down to rest “Hai’-yu!  Hai’-yu!” he cried.  “Wolverine, take pity on me.  My food is gone, my moccasins worn out.  Now I must die.”

“What is it, my brother?” he heard, and looking around, he saw the animal sitting near.

“She whom I would marry,” said Scarface, “belongs to the Sun; I am trying to find where he lives, to ask him for her.”

“Ah!” said the wolverine.  “I know where he lives.  Wait; it is nearly night.  To-morrow I will show you the trail to the big water.  He lives on the other side of it.”

Early in the morning, the wolverine showed him the trail, and Scarface followed it until he came to the water’s edge.  He looked out over it, and his heart almost stopped.  Never before had any one seen such a big water.  The other side could not be seen, and there was no end to it.  Scarface sat down on the shore.  His food was all gone, his moccasins worn out.  His heart was sick.  “I cannot cross this big water,” he said.  “I cannot return to the people.  Here, by this water, I shall die.”

Not so.  His Helpers were there.  Two swans came swimming up to the shore.  “Why have you come here?” they asked him.  “What are you doing?  It is very far to the place where your people live.”

“I am here,” replied Scarface, “to die.  Far away, in my country, is a beautiful girl.  I want to marry her, but she belongs to the Sun.  So I started to find him and ask for her.  I have travelled many days.  My food is gone.  I cannot go back.  I cannot cross this big water, so I am going to die.”

“No,” said the swans; “it shall not be so.  Across this water is the home of that Above Person.  Get on our backs, and we will take you there.”

Scarface quickly arose.  He felt strong again.  He waded out into the water and lay down on the swans’ backs, and they started off.  Very deep and black is that fearful water.  Strange people live there, mighty animals which often seize and drown a person.  The swans carried him safely, and took him to the other side.  Here was a broad hard trail leading back from the water’s edge.