Page:Indian nature myths (IA indiannaturemyth00cowl 0).pdf/82

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He said, "I will try to throw one of these bands about the great bird, and snare him before he ends my life. Then you must come and kill him."

So the young brave started out, and when he reached a bare place on the mountain side he sat down on the ground and sang his death-song while he waited.

Presently, with a terrible cry, the great Mosquito flew down with his enormous wings outstretched, and just as he buried his talons in the young warrior's flesh, the brave youth sprang erect, threw one of the rawhide thongs about the foot of the bird and bound him to the rock.

The men of the tribe who had watched the conflict ran to the mountain side and let fly their arrows. Soon the great Mosquito lay dead upon the rocks.

There was great rejoicing in the village. The news was spread by runners, so that braves both young and old came from neighboring tribes to see the body of the monstrous bird.

"The body should be burned," counseled one of the old men of the tribe; but so proud were they of the young warrior who had given his