Page 189 - TheHopiIndians

MESA FOLK OF HOPILAND 181
She bade the Pinon maids to gather pinon gum,
wash it, and make a garment in exact imitation of
the flint arrow head armor which rendered Man-
Eagle invulnerable. So did they, and the Spider
Woman gave it, with charm flour, to the Youth. As a
spider, then, so small as to be invisible, she perched
on the right ear of the Youth that she might whisper
advice. Mole led the way to the top of the moun
tains, but the Pinon maids remained behind.
When they reached the summit, Eagle swooped
down ; they got on his back and he soared aloft with
them till he was tired. Hawk came close by, and on
his back he carried them still higher in the sky. When
he was weary, Gray Hawk took them and mounted to
the heavens with them till he could go no farther, and
Bed Hawk received the burden ; thus, for an immense
distance, upward they flew, until the adventurers
reached a chasm in the sky through which the Youth,
Spider Woman, and Mole passed, and saw the great
white house in which Man-Eagle lived.
The ladder which led into the house had for rungs
sharp flint knives. The Spider Woman advised the
Youth, before mounting the ladder, to gather a hand
ful of sumach berries and give them to Lizard, who
received them with thanks, chewed them and gave
him back the cud. The Youth rubbed the sharp rungs
with the chewed berries and they became dull at once,
and he was able to climb the ladder without cutting
himself. When he entered the house of Man-Eagle