Exbat’sa

3. Exbat’sa (Good-One)

Good-One was a chief of the tribe at Humpback-Salmon place. His son was Wa’xid and he always wore abalone-shells in his ears. Wa’xid went into his friend Scabby-knee’s house, carrying his throwing stick. “Let us play, friend,” he said to Scabby-knee.

They staked the abalone-shell of the right ear. Wa’xid lost. Then he staked the abalone-shell of his left ear, and again lost. When Wa’xid went home his father scolded him and he lay down on his back, covering his face.

That evening he went to his sweetheart to ask for a rope. Notched-Mouth (which was her name) gave the rope to Wa’xid. Then he went home to his father’s house, tied the rope around his neck, and killed himself.

When morning came, Good-One was told by a man, “Wa’xid is hanging here.” Good-One saw he was really dead. Wa’xid had felt sad because his father scolded him.

Good-One took his dead son down, and buried him in the house. Good-One went to the water and sprinkled the body, He purified it, that his son might come to life again.

When night came, and he sat on the ground. Then he heard some one saying, “We shall try to beat time, shamans.” He saw sparks flying through their place where his dead son was lying. Then he looked at them.

One of the ghosts spoke to a mouse and said, “Go out, Quick-as-a-Spark.” She jumped out of the house and went to Good-One. He gave her an abalone shell so she wouldn’t tell the ghosts that he was watching through the hole. The Mouse went in and said that nothing was to been seen.

They tried to beat time again, and again it was not going right. The Mouse was sent out again. As soon as the mouse came out, Good-One took hold of her and gave her his abalone shell.

The mouse said, “Take care, my dear! If you see your son arise from the floor for the first time, do not go into the house. Be very strong that you do not (then) enter the house. When they begin to beat time again, then you may enter.” Then the mouse went into the house. (and said), “I do not see anything.”

They beat time again. Now Wa’xid arose and walked about the house. As soon as Good-One saw his son, he entered the house and embraced him, but Wa’xid changed into foam. Good-One frustrated the attempt to resuscitate his son.

If he had not gone into the house too soon, Wa’xid would still be alive; and everybody would be dead for four days only, if Good-One had not muddled it. That is the end.

Source: Adapted from F. Boaz by William Wasden Jr