XML version dated February 14, 2024. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

20

Mouse Mouths, the Boy

Blessed by the Mice

Alfred Morsette

aniNAhuukaahaanúʾa tišwačeehUxuúkuʾ wiísuʾ sAhaánuʾ.
This river valley coming this way they used to call it Heart River.
nikuwituuxitUhwaáhAt wehnaahta- kuwaʾá anuú haawíNIt
That's where the villages were when they came as a group there (from) below
hunaanapsíniʾ tihwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
the south they used to say.
nawáh – niikohnuxtaáʾAt wehnaraanoótA – wehna-
Now – however long the time was when they lived there – when
raanukaataʾiišá wituxtaačeéʾA AhnuxtaanoótA.
they came to the river bank, it was a long time their staying.

číkuʾ kaakiraahunuuwá – NAhnunáhtš – wehnaRAhkatoorúhkUt
There were not any roaming around – deer – after they disappeared,
wiináxtš AhnaraaNIhuúNU AhniinaaWIhkAhunuuwaáWI.
boys their being many their going around hunting.
nawáh neešaánuʾ AhniinoohUhkawaakaroóku noowitiwáčiʾ Axtóh
Now the chiefs the ones making the rules then they said: "Surely
nootiraačitéʾ – tiiháʾ.
it is difficult – here.
wah – nooNAhiínaʾ toxtaahnaáNAt číkuʾ niinaraahunuuwaáWI sthaʾaaníšuʾ.
Now – farther on let's go (ie move) where some are roaming around game!
nikiitoxtaapóʾ.
Let's go there!"
hunaaneeká nikuwitiiraawiiʾót wenaawiRIstaʾaanuuxukú.
Spring it was about that time when it usually gets warm.
nootehtakukáwatAt.
Then they moved out as a group.
noowitaahtakuwáʾ xuúhuniʾ wehnaRAhkataʾá čitAhaáhniniʾ Ahnaweetuunúʾa.
Then they migrated closer after they came up on top its being a ridge.

nawáh – áxkUx wiiteešútš – witiisAhkáʾa
Now – one young man – he went around in the village
NAhkuwaawanú niiʾAhnaakaawaáWI.
his going all around where the lodges were.
niraawičeenaáNA na neeteéʾAt niiwenaaxIhtakúwo.
"After a while and I will go where you have gone as a group."

tiwehnaátA noowituuNAtkóʾ sápat wehnačíkAt
When he was going then he heard her a woman as she cried
iiʾAhnaakaáWI akanaanataáʾuʾ.
where the lodge was earth lodge.
witičíkAt sápat.
She was crying a woman.
noowitíʾAt tinaaríčI wiiteešútš.
Then he went this young man.
noowitIhuúkAt a inoowitiíkUx sápat AhnačíkAt.
Then he entered and there she sat a woman her crying.

na noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI wiiteešútš aa tičé nuú- ʾUt.
And then he said this young man: "Ah, what is the matter
– ka wešiNAhuunáwa.
– Did they leave you behind?
– tičé nuutAxítIt wešiNAhuunáwa.
– What happened that they left you behind?"

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx sápat kaakíʾ.
Then she said this woman: "No.
šikaakikUhuuná- wa.
They didn't leave me.
atsú – piirátš – wešitikuunáNAt– niiháʾ– niiʾaniwenaahta- kuwáNA.
But – children – they took mine– there– where the group has gone off.
wešitikuunáNAt.
They took mine.
nikutAhnaaničíkAt.
They are the ones I cry for.
nawáh ka naraáwiʾ NAxkukuhnanaʾá piirátš.
Now is it possible for you to bring mine children?"

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI koxtíʾAt.
Then he said this one: "I will go.
– koxtuúta.
– I will do it.
– noo- kananiiraačiteéʾU koxtuúta.
– If it is not hard I will do it."

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx sápat nawáh.
Then she said this woman: "Fine.
nuunaraaniRAxaáhNA taNAhaataaká – šininaáhNA skarútš –
Those in the lead white buffalo – their having a robe –
nikutatiniiNAhkákUx piiráʾuʾ.
that is where mine are in children.
nawáh ka naraáwiʾ NAxkukuhnanaʾá.
Now is it possible for you to bring mine?"

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI koxtíʾAt.
Then he said this one: "I will go.
tiraačitéʾ.
It is difficult.
inoošinikunuhnaawiiʾátA – šiNIhkuutiriičiwátI – taNAhaataaká skarútš.
If they are willing – for them to unfold it – white buffalo robe."
nikuwitiRAhkaáRIt kunaáʾuʾ.
That is where they were inside medicine.
nikuteh- neenunuusuuxaáhuʾ anuú naapakúhtuʾ.
That must have been how they kept theirs long, long ago.
koxtihwísaʾ inookananikuunaačiteeʾaáNA.
"I'll return if it is not (too) difficult for me."

na tinaaríčI wiiteešútš nooteéʾaʾ.
And this young man then he came.
nuu witakatáʾ aninawaanaanúhAt.
Then he climbed the hills (passing by).
noowitaNAhčítA.
Then they were on top in the distance.
noowitiwísAt.
Then he arrived.
xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitinaaniʾít NIhkUhuhwaawáʾA.
The horses then they had turned them loose for them to eat grass.
čéstIt wetiihíʾ niinataraapó.
"Far it is where we are going."

nawáh– tinaákUx– wiiteešútš– nootiwísAt.
Now– this– young man– then he arrived
– noowitiwaákoʾ neešaánuʾ tiNAxtAhnaanoótA tatskáʾ šiNAxkuutiriičiwátI
– Then he said: "Chiefs you sitting here, I want for you to unfold it
aninaákUx skarútš.
that robe.
tatskáʾ aatooteéRIt.
I want that I see it.
tatskáʾ aatawa- karaanoótA kunaáʾuʾ tinakaroósI.
I want that I pray medicines these in it."

heeʾ.
"Yes.
wah nikiisuúxa.
Now do that!"

nikunoowituúta noowitUstareečíWAt.– na – inoowi- tiirós saákAx.
Then that's what he did: then he untied it.– And – there they lay mice.
čiitíʾIš wituhnaánuʾ AhnuxkaroósI.
Four there were their lying in it.
noowitiroosít apAhníniʾ.
Then he took them furtively.
noowiwituhnaaninikatákux.
Then he put them under his arm.
nawáh štoh nootUstareewaápI tinaákUx skarútš.
Now again then he tied it up this robe.
noo- tiihUhtaawátAt – na – nuu – nootíʾAt –
Then he quickly left the group – and – there – then he went –
štoh niiʾAhnoóxa.
again whence he had come.
nootiihuununáhAs.
Then he vanished quickly.

kanawituxtaačeéʾA witiihuuNIsAhkaʾuúkUt niiʾAhneetUhkarúxkUx.
It was not a long time he hurriedly went into the village where the empty village was.
– a – nuu – nootíʾAt – nii sápAt AhnuxkaákUx.
– And – there – then he went – where woman she had been sitting inside.
nootIhuúkAt na inoo- witiíkUx.
Then he entered and there she sat.
hawá áxkUx wiítA inoowitiíkUx.
Also one man there he sat.
WIšitíʾa pítkUx wešohnaákUx.
They (du) were two their (du) being inside.

wah tiweneéros.
"Now here they are.
ka nikunáʾIt.
Are they the ones?"

noowitiwaákoʾ hąąʾ nikutíʾIt.
Then she said: "Yes, they are the ones.
haa wah weši- tAxkoosšteéRAt.
Ha, now we are thankful to you.
tinaákUx nikutikoohtákuʾU.
This one he is the one who is my husband.
tinaraanoótA kUšineetihnaanáʾA.
These they are our children."

nawáh WIšititwaaWIhtít.
Now they (du) talked to him.
wah wekaakoonaačitee- waahnúxtA – naapaatúh –
"Now the ways will not be difficult for you – the enemy–way –
tinaraáčI – na – niinooʾuuxaWIstaáʾU niiNAxkuWIskáʾA.
these way – and – whatever it may even be whatever you want.
wekaakAxiniinaačitéštA.
You are not going to have it difficult."

nawáh uunaákUx wiítA náʾU noowiteehuunukaáʾ.
Now that other one, man the one, then he jumped up.
AhnakatAhkáʾU AhnoowitiihUhtaʾuúkUt.
On the other side then he just flew against him.
skawaahaa- WIhíniʾ noowitoonawé saákAx.
On the side of the face then there was its image a mouse.
uunaákUx sapaahnáʾU nikunoowituúta haáwaʾ.
The other one the woman then that is what she did also.

wah šitAxkoosšteéRAt.
"Now we are thankful to you.
wekaakAxiniinaačitéštA.
You won't have it difficult.
niinaakoosšó na tAxunáx.
Whatever you want and you'll find it.
na tAxkúxit na tAxtá.
And you'll take it and you'll have it."

wah tinaákUx wiiteešútš nooteéʾaʾ.
Now this young man then he came.
nootuutakunaa- wísaʾ niiwehnaahtakuwaʾá.
Then he caught up with them where they were coming as a group.
na niikoh- niíhiʾ wituxtaanúʾAt.
And wherever it was they stayed.
na tinaákUx wiiteešútš kaakunuunaa- čiteewaahnúʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ
And this young man it was not difficult for him the warpath,
xaataʾuútuʾ wenaačee- waahú.
horse stealing, his striking them (the enemy).
wah kanaʾaanuuxaananiwiítIt číkuʾ.
Now I do not know whether he ever married.
nookaakištaatAhkáWI aninaraáʾU.
They never mentioned it (lit brought it out) that matter.

wah noowituutaawaanuuxítIt oopiínuʾ.
Now then he began doing things wrong.
kanawituuNU- húne wehnuuNAhtawaʾuútu sápat.
He was a bad person when he was stealing theirs women.
tákuʾ šinehkooh- takúʾU – a – či – wewitaahtaʾút.– noowitaNAhunáhAs.
When someone was married – and – her – he stole her.– Then he eloped with her.
nuuwehnuutaawaanú noošikaakeenunusteešítIt.
As he was doing things then they (people) began to dislike him.

na piiráʾuʾ číkuʾ wituxčíkAt – na – noowitiwaákoʾ šuxwakuunoóxAt.
And a baby one would cry – and – then she said: "Cease crying!
wekohnaáʾ saakAxaakaáwa.
He must be coming Mouse Mouths."
wewitsux- teésiš noowitiinawiʾiškataríkUt.
Now he had just found out, then he snatched it away.
noowituxpAxu- naaníWI piiráʾuʾ.
Then he threw its head on the ground the child.
witikoótIt wehnakawoo- ruutikú piiráʾuʾ.
He killed it as he was killing various ones babies.
wekanawituunaaNUhuniwá.
Now his ways were not good.

wah áxkUx wiítA kanawitUstaruuwanúx.
Now one man he was mean.
witiRAhčíš.
He was strong.
noowituutíštI AhnataRAhčiíšU.
He was confident (in) his strength.
noowitiwaákoʾ nootatii- WIskaaxiíkuʾ saakAxaakaáwa
Then he said: "I just always wish Mouse Mouths
witiʾaasihnunuuwaáNAx na nooʾaatuNAhuninoosiwá
that we should find each other and that I would work him over,"
wehnawaakAhú anináʾu wiítA.
as he was saying the one man.

anináʾU wiítA číkuʾ tehnáʾAt.
That man he must have gone somewhere.
noowituutAxawaawihUxítIt.
Then he began to trap.
wah witiiNIšunaahnatawihUxuúkuʾ.
Now they used to dig a hole.
noowitohnunaahnátA NAhkuraawičeésU NAhnunáhtš niiNAhkuRAhwó.
Then there would be a hole its being a deep hole deer where they used to go.
na NAhnunáhtš noowitaahnaahkáʾAt na
And a deer then it would fall in the hole, and
inoowitiihaahkót weNAhku- toočiíNA.
there there was a carcass in it when it was trapped inside.
wah nakuraatawé sčiríhtš niinooNAh- kuúʾU
Now sometimes a coyote, whatever kind it was,
NAhkUhaahkaátA na witikoótIt.
when it would fall into it, and he killed it.

nikuwewituutaawaanúʾ tinaákUx wiítA noowituhnunaah- natawihUxítIt.
That's what he was doing this man: then he began to dig a hole.
wehnuNAhwanú witireewaáta a inoowitiičitaáRIt anináʾU
As he was busy doing it he looked and there he stood on top that one
wiítA saakAxaakaáwa wešohnih- néhku.
man Mouse Mouths the one they called.
witipAxkót AxkaáʾA.
He had it on his head an antelope.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx wiítA AhnuuxaahkaʾaáhNA aa nikutataRAxwéʾ.
Then he said this man the one in the hole: "Ah, you are the one I have been seeking.
Axtóh nuunaahé tiwenatAhúNAx.
Surely it is good my finding you here."
noowi- tikawátAt anináʾU wiítA.
Then he got out that man.
kaakAxunaaNUhuniwá niiweNAxuutaawaanú.
"Your ways (ie actions) aren't good the things you have been doing.
wetaaxaakAsštuuwaʾá tineetuunoótA niiNAsiíNU ačitaánuʾ.
You have hurt their feelings (in) this village ours tribe.
nawáh wetsiina- páxtA.
Now now we are going to fight."

noowitiwaákoʾ saakAxaakaáwa číkuʾ kaneenuhnaaʾúʾ.
Then he said Mouse Mouths: "If it is to be that way!
nikuʾaaxaahWIskáʾA koosiinápAt.
If you want it thus we will fight."

na – noowititinaahnoósI tinaaríčI – wiítA AhnatinaahnanaáhNA.
And – then he put his bow (and arrows) down this – man the one who had the bow (and arrows).
hawá uunaaríčI noowititinaahnoósI.
Also the other one then he put down his bow (and arrows).

wah nooWIšiteépAt weWIšitohnaRAhwánu.
Now then they (du) fought as they (du) were fighting one another.
wah wešineh- kurátA nitsíniʾ – tinaaríčI – wiítA
Now when they pushed him backward – this – man
AhnuutAxawaaWIhú noowitiraanawikUxíhAt AhnaanunuhtinaahnoósI
one who was trapping then he kicked them the bow (and arrows) that he had
kanaaʾaaxitinaaka- wiroosíkA.
so that he would not snatch the bow (and arrows) up.
wah nikunoowituhnaaʾúʾ wešineh- kurátA saakAxaakaáwa
Now then it was the same way: when they pushed him Mouse Mouths
hawá nikuwituúta.
also he did that.

atsú– tiweWIšitohnaRAhwánu na – WIšitee- sšoóxAt.
But– as they (du) were fighting one another and – they (du) calmed down.
wah tákuʾ wešikaakihkootíkuʾ.
Now neither of them (du) was beaten up.

tinaaríčI wiítA wešohnihčiRIhnaanuutunáʾU taRAhtšíniʾ noowitireewáʾAt.
This man when they made his eyes swell up barely then he was looking.
nuu nootíʾAt.
There then he went.
nootikaaʾiíšAt niiʾAhneetúhkUx.
Then he went home where the village was.
wehnaátA witikAxaáhuʾ tákuʾ axkuutuniʾá.
As he went he was calling out someone 'that you fetch me.'

witohnaánaʾ.
They came for him.
tičé nuúʾUt.
"What is the matter?"

noowitiwaákoʾ weWIšititatuuxunuuwaanáx saakAxaakaáwa.
Then he said: "We have found each other Mouse Mouths.
nikuwekohnuúʾUt niitinatuútA.
He must be thus as I am."

nooWIšiteenuusiráxaʾ.
Then they took him into (the village).

wah witikaáRAx.
Now he was tough.
číkuʾ kaakíʾ číkuʾ šiNIhkuutUhuNAhuunuúʾA tinaákUx saakAxaakaáwa.
They could not do anything with him this Mouse Mouths.
wešinehkutaraʾó a či witaaNAtkoókuʾ.
When they talked about him, and here he would hear it!
wah šikoosihteeriíʾa.
"Now we will spy on him.
šikoosihkoótIt.
We will kill him."
či witanuhneesiíšuʾ.
Here he would know it!

wah naawiinakuúnuʾ noowitiRAhwooxítIt wah toxtaapóʾ– naawiinakuúnuʾ.
Now (on) the warpath then they proceeded to go: "Now let's go– (on) the warpath!"
– noowitiraáNAt.
– Then they went.
witiraaNIhuúʾU.
There were many.

wewitinanaahnúʾ – štípiiʾIt – haritšstaakaánuʾ.
Now they always had the – cornballs, – ground corn flour.
uu nikuwitsuxkáʾA anináʾU wiítA saakAxaakaáwa haritšstaakaánuʾ.
Oh, that is what he used to like that man Mouse Mouths ground corn flour.
wewitinaná.
Now they had it.

nuu wehnaraanátA nooWIšitiiteéRIt.
There as they went then they saw him.
noowitaaNUhuu- wiraáhAt.
He was running by at a distance.
– noowitIhaʾuúkUt.
– Then he went into the water
– nuukuwitaah- nuukatáʾAt.
– There he crossed to the other side.
witičiWAhaáhkUx.
There was a lake.

aniweneéʾAt saakAxaakaáwa.
"There he goes Mouse Mouths."

nooWIšititkAxaahUxítIt.
Then they began to call him.
witeehuuwiraáʾ.
He came running.

hee Axtóh wetunaahé wešinataakuuteéRIt.
"Hey, certainly it is so good our seeing you now!
noo- wetAxiwaawanúʾ.
Now you are just wandering around."

noowitiwaákoʾ heeʾ.
Then he said: "Yes.
tsu nootatiwaawanuuxuúkuʾ.
But I just usually wander around.
wekaakAtwánuʾ niiNAxtaakítAt.
I no longer go where your village is.
wešikaakAxkunústeʾ.
You (pl) don't like me."
nikuwitiwaawaakaáhuʾ.
That is what he was saying.

wah tinaroósI šitatohnánaʾ.
"Now these we have brought them for you.
tíʾIt NAxwaaNUxúku číkuʾ.
They are what you (lik e to) eat.

kanawiteetaʾiitUxáwiʾ wehnawáʾA.
He was overjoyed when he ate.

nawáh.
"Now."
WIšitiitawaʾuuníkUt wešohnihnitsukaráʾU.
Then they grabbed him as they tickled him.
noo- wituuNAhkatakUxí.
Then he choked.
witikootAxtAhweeraʾuúkUt.
He fell over unconscious.
wah nooWIšitih- koótIt.
Now then they killed him.

nuu nootiraáNAt.
There then they went.
nuu weNAhunuúWI noowiteeRAhkaaʾiíšaʾ štoh.
There after they had gone around then they came home back.
wah čiraátoʾ itaraapóʾ niiweši- NAsihkootíkA saakAxaakaáwa.
"Now let's go where we killed him Mouse Mouths!"

noowitiRAhwísAt niiʾAhnačiWAhaáhkUx niiʾAhnuuxoókut.
Then they arrived there where the lake was where he had gone into the water.
na inookanawitiišá.
And he was not lying there.
tehnaaraánaʾ saákAx.
They must have come the mice.
šitehniinírut.
They must have picked him up.
šitehninipaána.
They must have hidden him.

nooteeRAhkaaʾišwáʾ.
Then they came home.
wehnaaRAhWIsá wešitatuxkoótIt saakAxaakaáwa natakuraahNAhnunuúWI.
When they returned, "We killed him Mouse Mouths the one who bothered us.
neešiineetiʾiituunáwa.
We left his body.
wetuusá.
He was lying there.
– wetuxkoóʾAt.
– He was dead.
– anuú wenatinaahnaána čeešiisiiteéRIt.
– There as we were coming, 'Let us see him.'
na nookaneeniíša.
And then he was not lying there!
niikoh- nuutAxítIt.
It is not known what happened.
niikohnáʾAt.
It is not known where he went."

wewitIhunáhAs.– WIšitihkoótIt saakAxaakaáwa.– wekanawi-
He had died.– They killed him Mouse Mouths.– His ways
tuuNUxtaaNAhuniwá wenuxtaanoswaawíhA.
had not been good the various things he had done.
nooWIšitee- nunuunúxtoʾ.
Then they hated him.