qwul’qwul’ ’u tthu ’upeenu suw’wuy’qe’ ’i’ tthu shes | The Story of Ten Brothers and the Sea Lion.
sti’tum’at | Ruby Peter
This story was found in English in Martha Douglas Harris History and Folklore of the Cowichan Indians (1901), p. 29-33. This is a volume of stories from the Cowichan Tribe of Vancouver Island and she says “I have translated them as a memento of British Columbia.” But she does not identify the person who told her this story and helped translate it. Ruby Peter translated this story into Hul’q’umi’num’ and then she and Donna Gerdts re-translated the English. This version was edited in February 2026.
- ’u kw’un’a wulh hith, ’i’ qux tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul suw’wuy’qe’ ni’ ’utl’ quw’utsun’.
Once upon a time there lived near Cowichan a family of ten brothers. - mukw’ tthu ni’ sul’uthut-s ’i’ ’uw’ xisul’, we’ kwus nem’ ’a’luxutus tthu shes ’i’ nilh tthu te’ulh ni’ ha’kwushus.
They were well-known for their doing dangerous things and their skill at spearing sea lions, using spears. - ’i’ tl’e’ ts’uw’ ni’ tthu qw’uqw’i’tul, lhq’utsse’lu qw’uqw’i’tul, ’uwu niis tsakw tthu swe’s shni’s.
Not far off there lived another family, consisting of five brothers. - ’i’ yath ’uw’ st’e ’uw’ pe’ptitul’ste’wut.
And they were very competitive. - ’i’ nilh tthey’ nan ’uw’ hw’i’ttsus, hw’i’ttsus ’u tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul.
And they were terribly jealous of the ten brothers, - nilh kwus nem’ q’aaytus tthu shes ’i’ ni’ hay nuw’ kwen’nuhwus.
This was because they were very adept at killing and getting the sea lions. - ’i’ ya.a.th ’uw’ hw’i’ttsus tthuw’ne’ullh, hw’i’ttsus ’u tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul.
And so they were always very jealous of the ten brothers. - yath ’uw’ ni’ tthu shes ’u tthu hwsmunmeent skwuli’kwthu, ’uwu niis tsakw ’utl’ quw’utsun’.
The sea lions often lived on the little rocky islands not far from Cowichan. - ’uw’ hwun’ yu kw’ekw’iyul’ ’ul’, ’i’ wulh nem’ hunum’ tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul, nem’ q’ayuls ’u tthu shes.
At early dawn, the ten brothers went there to kill sea lions. - wulh tl’lim’ ’uw’ t’eyuq’ tthu lhq’etsse’lu qw’uqw’i’tul.
Now, these five brothers became greatly enraged. - suw’ qwul’ul’qwul’tul’ stl’i’s kws q’aayt-s tthu ni’ …tthu ni’ shhw’i’ttsuss.
And they talked together about how they would like to kill the ones they were jealous of. - yath ’uw’ hw’i’ttsusme’tus tthu ’upeenu.
They were always jealous toward the eight of them. - na’nuts’a’ ’u tthey’ lhq’utsse’lu thut-st-hwus tthu sq’uq’a’s, “’uy’ kws nem’ tst lemut kwthu soulich.”
One of the brothers suggested a visit to Soo-ol-li-che.” - nilh kw’am’kw’um’ swuy’qe’, shne’um.
He was a very powerful man, gifted with spiritual powers. - ’i’ ni’ st’ee kw’uw’ shtatul’st-hwus tthu shqwultuns tthu tthuw’ mukw’ stem, tul’tul’uw’ —tatul’uthun’ ’u tthuw’ mukw’ stem tul’tul’uw’ ni’ ’u tthu tumuhw.
He had the ability to understand animal talk, understand all the animals of the world. - suw’ nem’s ’u tthu soulich shne’um, yuthustus tthu ni’ shqwaluwuns ’eelhtun, stl’i’s kws q’aaytewut tthu ’upeenu swaaw’lus.
So off they went to Soo-ol-li-che and told him their troubles and how they wished to get rid of the ten brothers - hay ’ul’ qulst-hwus ’eelhtun.
They hated them so much. - “stem tse’ kwu’elh kw’un’s s’amustham’sh’uhw?
“Well what will you give me as a reward? - skw’ey kwun’s ’uwu ’uw’ ’ahwustthuhw.”
I can’t help you if you don’t give me something.” - “’amusthamu tst tse’ ’ukw’snuhwulh.”
“We will give you a canoe.” - “’uwu.”
“No.” - “’amusthamu tst tse’ ’ukw’ kw’uluw’.”
“We will give you some hides.” - tl’e’ wulh thut, “’uwu.”
And again he said, “No.” - “’amusthamu tst tse’ ’ukw’ luxwtun.”
“We will give you a blanket.” - tl’e’ wulh thut, “’uwu.”
And again he said, “No.” - nilh hay ’ul’ yulhi’a’uqwt kwus wulh thut-stum tthuw’nilh, “’amusthamu tsun tse’ ’u lhu q’e’mi’, stsi’elh q’e’mi’, hay ’ul’ ’iyas.”
And at last he said, “I will give you a young girl, a high status young lady, who’s very pretty.” - “’uy’, nilh p’e’ stl’atl’um’ kwthey’.”
“Good, that will indeed do.” - suw’ huye’stum tthuw’ne’ullh nem’ustum ’u tthu xatsa’, ni’ ni’ ’u tthu tsa’luqw ’u tthu shhweele’ts.
So he took them away to a lake that was up the mountain on Lopez Island. - wulh ni’ ’u kwthey’ hwi’ tssetum yeq’utus tthu xpey’ thqet.
There he made them cut down a large cedar tree. - sus hwi’ thuytus tthuw’nilh tthu shelh nem’ xwte’ ’u tthu tun’ni’ ’u tthu xatsa’ nem’ tus ’u tthu kw’atl’kwu.
He also made a passage from the lake to the sea. - suw’ xte’um tthu soulich ni’ xt’ekw’tus tthu xpey’ hwu st’e ’u tthu shes.
Soo-ol-li-che now carved the cedar wood into a sea lion. - susuw’ hwu shhwuhwul’i’wun’st-hwus tthey’ ni’ thuytus—thuytus tthu tth’ele’s, tthu spuhw, thunthun, q’uq’i’—mukw’ nuw’ thuytus ni’ ’u tthu ni’ shhwuhwul’i’wun’st-hwus.
He hollowed it out, made the heart, lungs, liver, etc. - suw’ ’aluxutus tthu slhexun’ ni’ tl’uw’ nuw’ushus ’u tthu ni’ thuytus.
Then he collected some herbs, which he put into it. - sus tl’uw’ hwi’ yutl’qtus tthu ni’ s’utl’qiws ’u tthey’ ni’ ’aluxutus slhexun’.
Then he rubbed the herbs he had collected over the outside. - sus muw’ thuythut tthu kw’uluw’s.
The skin grew immediately. - ’i’ hay tthu sqwiniyuthuns nilh tthu xpey’ nilh ni’ t’uyum’tus ’u tthu ni’ sht’es ’u tthu thathuns sht’es tthu shes.
For the whiskers he took long cedar twigs and stuck them around the sea lion’s mouth. - tuw’ thu’it shes ’i’ hay ’ul’ ’uy’uy’mut tthu sqwiniyuthuns tuw’ lhuw’sum’ ’i’ nilh hay ’ul’ stl’i’.
The real sea lion has beautiful shiny whiskers, which are greatly prized. - ’i’ ni’ ha’kwushum’ ni’ hwu st’i’am’st-hwus tthu huy’wi’na’qw, yuw’ina’qw ’u tthu s’itth’ums, ni’ t’uyum’tus ’u tthu sxuy’usth, yasa’qws.
And they are used to ornament the head-dresses of the chiefs. - ni’ kwu’elh wulh hwu tl’lim’ ’uw’ hwu nulhtul tthu syalh ni’ xt’ekw’tus ni’ tl’lim’ ’uw’ hwu st’ee ’u tthu shes.
Now the wooden animal looked just like the real thing. - kwus mukw’ stem ’uw’ ’ulh hwusaay’, ni’ hwu sthuthi’.
When everything was ready, all prepared. - kwuyxthut tthuw’nilh shne’um sus ’uw’ qwulst-hwus, yuthustus ’u tthu ni’ stl’i’ kws sla’thut-s tthu ni’ thuytus.
The spiritual man gave the sea lion his orders. - kwus wulh qwulst-hwus tthey’ ni’ thuytus tssetus nem’ nem’ suw’q’t kwthu shxun’utun’s kwthu nem’ xwte’ ’u tthu kw’atl’kwu, nilh niilh ’uwu niis kwunnuhwus kwthu qw’uqw’i’tul’ kwthey’.
First the sea lion had to dive into the salt lake and find the passage to the sea, as the brothers had failed to find it. - nilh tse’ sus ’uw’ nem’ tthu shes nem’ ’u tthu hwsmeentum sqwthe’ ’i’ hiiw’a’lum’ st’e ‘u tthuw’ tl’lim’ ’uw’ shes.
Then the sea lion was to go to the rocky island and play about as the other just like the real sea lions did. - ’i’ ni’ tse’ suw’ lumnewut ’u tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul’.
And then the ten brothers would see it. - nilh tse’ sus ’uw’ thq’utum, ’i’ ha’ ni’ hwu sthutheq’t tthu s’unums ’i’ nilh tse’ sus ’uw’ ’ulh’ hwkw’astum ’ul’ nem’ xwte’ ’u tthu hwtuywul.
They would try to spear him, and when their spears were stuck in good, then he was to start north. - ’i’ nem’ ’uw’ yu huy’ustum’ kwthey’ ’upeenu swaw’lus.
And he would carry the ten young men with him. - sus hwi’ nuqum tthey’ shes ni’ ’u tthu xatsa’, sus m’i hun’utl’q ’i’ ’i hwi’ ’i ’utl’ tl’upalus.
Then the sea lion plunged into the lake and came out in Cowichan Bay. - sus nem’ hwi’ shtem xwte’ ’u tthu hwsmeentun skwthe’, wulh ni’ ’u kwthey’ ’i’ hwi’ huw’a’lum’.
Then he swam to the rocky island and there he played about. - ’i’ wulh sqw’aqw’ulh tthey’ ’upeenu swaw’lus.
And the ten young men were laying in wait. - yath ’uw’ ’al’mutsun’ kws st’e ’u kw’uw’ huw’a’lum’.
They always waited to engage in their sport. - wulh nilh ’ul’ sus ’uw’ ’ulh ’aalh ’u tthu snuhwulh, sus nem’ ’uw’ tseeltus tthey’ shes.
And they instantly got on board their canoes to go chase after the sea lion. - “’unuhw! ’unuhw!” thut tthu hay ’ul’ sun’tl’e’.
“Stop! Stop!” said the elder brother. - “tl’lim’ ’e lhu ’uw’ lemut tun’a.
“Take a good look at that. - ’uwu q’u shesus tun’a.
That is not actually a sea lion. - tl’lim’ ’uw’ ’uwu shesus.
That is not a real sea lion. - nilh yuhw kwthu shumen tst ’i’ hw’i’ttsus tswe’ tsyays ’u tun’a ’i’ yaaysmutalum.”
Our enemies must have been at work, doing mischief to us.” - ’i’ nilh tthu s’a’luqw’a’s ’i’ nilh nilh yuhw hwi’ thhwimuthut, “’uy’ kwun’s qul’et thq’ut tun’a, qul’et thq’ut.
The other brothers, however, begged, “You should spear that thing again as usual.” - ’i’ nilh tthey’ sun’tle’ nilh hay ’ul’ kw’am’kw’um’, ’i’ nilh hay ’ul’ stsuw’et ’u tthey’ shhw’a’luqw’a’s.
He was the strongest and most expert of the brothers. - ’i’ nilh tse’ kws lhq’ilt-s kws ’uw’ shesth, sus hwi’ mukw’ ’uw’ ’eelhtun ’uw’ ’amust tthu shuyulhs ’u tthu s’unums.
To make sure of the lion, they gave him their spears. - suw’ hwun’a’ ni’ wenshus s’unum ‘i’ nuw’ tahw nuw’ yu sthuthi’.
The first spear was well planted. - ’i’ nilh tthey’ ni’ xwi’lum’s sus ’uw’ kwunutus tthu na’nuts’a’ shhw’aqw’as.
And the cedar line was given to one of the brothers. - sus ’uw’ mukw’ tthu s’unums tthuw’ne’ullh ’upeenu ni’ hwu sthutheq’ ’u tthu shes.
Then all ten spears were thrust in, spearing that sea lion. - ’i’ nilh tthey’ ni’ thuthi’stum’ shes ni’ hwi’ timuthut xwte’stum ’u tthu tuyt, nem’ huya’stum tthuw’ne’ullh.
The sea lion recovered and vigorously headed northward, towing them with him. - ni’ wulh nem’ hwtsukwilumustum, kwus yu huy’ustum’ xwte’ ’u tthu tuyt.
They were dragged far away toward the north. - t’a’thut thuw’ne’ulh swaw’lus kws ’ikw’ut-s tthu xwi’lum’ ’i’ skw’ey.
The young men made every effort to throw the lines off, but they couldn’t. - ’i’ hwi’ kwoon’s p’ulithut tthu xwi’lum’ ’u tthu tselushs.
But the lines had grown attached to their hands. - kwus wulh t’qw’atus tthu xwi’lum’ ’i’ wulh nilh ’ul’ sus ’uw’ qul’et m’i wil’ kwoons ’u tthu tselushs.
They cut the lines, but they grew back immediately. - sus ’uw’ t-hwyu st’est-hwus ’ul’ ’eelhtun, ’uwu stsla’thut-s.
So they gave up the struggle, as there was nothing they could do. - hay ’ul’ qux skweyul kwus nem’ yu huy’ustum’ ’u tthey’ shes.
And for many days they were dragged along by the sea lion. - ’i’ wulh tus ’u tthu thi.i.i smunmunut, ni’ ’u tthu kw’atl’kwu kwus m’i wil’.
And then they came to a large mountain that rose straight out of the sea. - ’i’ hay ’ul’ qux ni’ sqwuqwe st’i’am’.
And it was full of many holes. - sus hwi’ xwte’ tthey’ shes, nem’ hwi’ xwte’ ’u tthu hay ’ul’ wulh thi sqwuqwe.
Into the largest hole, the sea lion scrambled. - sus nem’ ’uw’ yu huy’ustum’ tthuw’ne’ullh ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul.
And he took the ten brothers with him. - hay ’ul’ yu sulii’si’ tthuw’ne’ullh, ni’ wulh xlhum, hay ’ul’ wulh kw’e’li’.
How terrified they were, and sore and hungry. - kwus wulh tus ’u tthey’ hay ’ul’ thi sqwuqwe, ’i’ hay ’ul’ qux suw’wuy’qe’ slhunlheni’, ’uwu te’ s’itth’um’s, luw’luw’i’tth’e’.
In the huge cave there were a whole lot of naked men and women. - ’i’ m’i hwiwul tthu yuw’i’na’qws ’eelhtun, nem’ ’u tthu shes suw’ ptem’utum niis nutsim’ ’a’lu ’ushus m’i ’ewust-hwus tthu nults’uwmuhw.
The chief of them came to the sea lion and asked him how it was he had brought these strangers in. - thut ttthey’ yuw’i’na’qw, “skw’ey p’e’ kws xlhast tst.”
The chief said, “We can’t feed them.” - mukw’ tthu mustimuhw ’uw’ ’ewunus tthuw’ne’ullh, xe’xtsitum’ tthu qw’uqw’i’tul.
The people crowded around and examined the brothers. - xe’xtsi’tum’ tthu s’itth’ums.
They examined their clothes. - sus hwi’ me’shum tthu s’itth’ums, hwi’ t’e’tus tthuw’ne’ullh.
They took off their clothes and tried them on. - hwuw’e tum’temus ’i’ lumnuhwus tthu s’itth’um, tthey’ luw’luw’itth’e’ mustimuhw.
Those naked people had never seen clothes before. - tthey’ mustimuhw ’i’ nilh st’e ’uw’ niis suli’s tthey’ shes.
Those people were the spirits of the sea lions. - nilh kwu’elh nuts’a’ sil’anum kwus skw’uyuth tthey’ qw’uqw’i’tul.
For one year those brothers were slaves. - tus ’u nuts’a’ sil’anum yelh sus ’aantum ’u tthu yuw’in’a’qw kws nem’s t’akw’.
After a year’s slavery the chief allowed the brothers to go home. - ni’ ’aalhstum ’u tthu snuhwulh sus ’uw’ tssetum, “nem’ tseep kwu’elh t’akw’.”
They were put on their canoe and told, “You all go home now.” - kwus wulh ’aalhstum ’u tthu snuhwulh suw’ hwi’ thut-stum, “nem’ tseep kwu’elh taal ’u tthu hay ’ul’ thi qa’, kw’atl’kwu.
They were put on the canoe and told to go as far out to sea. - “’i’ ha’ ch tse’ ni’ ’u tthu ni’ tus ’u kwthu shni’s kws nem’s xatl’uthut, ’i’ nilh shni’s tthu hay ’ul’ thi tth’uxe’luts.”
And if you come to a place where you are blocked in, that’s the home of a big ogre.” - ’i’ nilh tse’ ni’ lhuyxt ’eelhtun, ’uw’ niis tse’ lumnum.
And he would eat them if he saw them. - yuse’lu kwu’elh tthu shes ’uw’ hwun’ mumun’lh tssetum ’uw’ nem’us lumst-hwus ’u kwthu nem’ xwte’ nem’s huye’.
Two young sea lions were ordered to show them the way. - sus nem’ ’uw’ hwkw’astum ’u tthey’ yuse’lu shes, nem’ hwkw’astum numustum ’u tthu tsuw’tsuw’ ’u tthu kw’atl’kwu.
And they towed them way out to the open water of the sea. - suw’ thut-s tthu hay ’ul’ sun’tl’e’, “nu stl’i p’e’ kwunus lumnuhw kwthu tth’uwxe’luts.
Now the eldest brother said, “I want to see that giant.” - suw’ xut’us tthu s asuqwt, “’uwu. ’uwu. ni’ p’u thut-stalum ’u kwthu shes kw’uy’atalum ’uw’ huy’aata’lum’ ’uw’ we’ nem’ ’utl’ xwte’ ’u kwthey’, [kws] nans ’uw’ xisul’.”
And the youngest one said, “No. No. We were told by the sea lion to leave that alone, warned not to go toward that fierce thing.” - ’i’ ’uwu tthu sun’tl’e’, stl’i’s kws nem’s ’uw’ lumnuhwus kwthu tth’uxe’le’ts.
But the eldest refused, as he wanted to see the giant. - suw’ ’uw’ thu’it ’uw’ nem’ ’uw’ ’ushul xwte’ nem’ t-suthut ’u kwthu ni’ skw’ey’ute’wut ’uw’‘’uwes nem’us hunum’.
So he paddled as close as he dared to go. - “’i’ ha’ tse’ m’i ’ewu kwthu tth’uwxe’le’ts ’i’ nilh tse’ ’uw’ kwulusht ’u tthunu t’uxwa’ts, q’aayt tsun tse’.”
“If the giant comes, I will shoot him with my bow and kill him.” - wulh xi’xlhem’utum’ ’u tthu tth’uwxe’le’ts.
Now, this giant was watching for them. - kwus wulh nem’ tuw’ ts’imul’ tthuw’ne’ullh sus nem’ ’uw’ sixwum ’i’ ni’ kwunutum we’ tthu snuhwulhs ’i’ nilh tl’uw’ ni’ yu sq’uq’a’ kwus kwunutum.
And when they came close enough, he waded out to them and seized them, even their canoe was taken with them. - sus nem’ ’uw’ hwkw’astum nem’ lheelstum.
And he dragged them into shore. - sis ’uw’ tssetum ’eelhtun ’uw’ nuw’ilumus ’u kwthu shhw’uw’hwu’i’wun’ smeent.
Then he ordered them into his cave. - nilh hwu sk’uyuth tthuw’ne’ullh.
There they were kept as prisoners. - hay ’ul’ quliima’ tthey’ ni’ shni’s.
It was a gruesome place. - ni’ ’u tthu ’unwulh tthu thi.i.i smeent, plhet smeent.
In the centre lay a huge, flat stone. - ’i’ sts’uts’e’ ’u thu huy’qw, huy’qw tthu ni’ ’u tthu ’unwulh ’u tthey’ smeent.
And on it the fire burned in the middle of that rock. - stutes tthu le’tsus.
And near it was a basket. - “lemut!” thut tthu tth’uwxe’le’ts. “thun’a thu ni’ ’u tun’i nilh nu sta’lus.”
“Look,” said the giant, “Yonder is my wife.” - hwsuw’qus tthuw’ne’ullh suw’qtus kw’ slheni’ ni’ xut’ust-hwus ’i’ ’uwu te’.
They looked everywhere for a woman, but there was one. - ’uw’ hay tun’i ’iiw’utus ’i’ thi.i.i le’tsus, sul’its’ ’u tthu thethi’un’.
The only thing he was pointing to was a big basket, filled with blood. - “hwil’asmut ch tthey’ le’tsus.
“Take good care of that basket. - ha’ ch ’uwu hwil’asmutuhw ’i’ nilh tse’ suw’ hwpuhwilums thunu sta’lus ’uw’ niihw stl’i’ kwun’s nem’ tl’iw’.
“If you don’t not take care of that basket, my wife will scream should you try to escape. - ha’ shhw’uy’ kwus wulh ’uw’ statum’ ’ul’, skw’ey kws nans ’uw’ kw’e’lus ’i’ skw’ey kws nans ’uw’ xuy’tl’s.
Keep her just tepid—not too hot or too cold - xwum ’i’ hwpuhwilum ’i’ nilh nu suw’ xuy’utalu.
She will scream, and I’ll beat you. - nem’ tsun kwu’elh yu ’um’mush.
I’m going hunting.” - qux ni’ ti’ya’xweens xwte’ ’u thu sta’lus ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts.
Such trouble they had with the giant’s wife. - kwus tuw’ t’a’thut kws nem’s tl’iw’ ’i’ wulh nilh sus ’uw’ hwpuxwilum thu sta’lus ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts, nilh suw’ ts’elhum’utum, wulh nilh tl’uw’ m’i suw’ hwu’alum’.
The least attempt at an escape she began to scream so loudly that the giant heard her, and rushed back. - “stem ’a’lu tthey’?”
“What is it?” - “’uwu te’ ’ul’,” thut tthu na’nuts’a’.
“Oh, nothing,” said one. - “ni’ tsun p’e’ t-sut ’u thu huy’qw.”
“I only put her too close to the fire.” - “o.o.o, la’lum’uthut ch p’e’ tthu niin’ sul’uthut.”
“Oh, well, be careful what you do.” - na’nuts’a’ ’u tthu qw’uqw’i’tul’ ni’ hwu hay ’ul’ hwu stl’i’s they’ sta’lusth.
One of the brothers became a great favourite with the basket wife. - nilh ni’ ’uy’st-hwus kwus kwun’etum’ kwus shniw’ ’u tthey’ shhw’uw’hwu’i’wun’ smunmunut.
She liked for him to carry her about the cave. - nuw’ tus ’ul’ nuts’a’ sil’anum ’i’ nuw’ hwun’ skw’uyuth ’eelhtun.
A year or more passed and they were still slaves. - stl’i’s kws nem’s ’uw’ tl’iw’namut ’eelhtun ’i’ skw’ey kws nem’s huye’.
They were dying to escape, but they couldn’t get away. - mukw’ sus tuw’ ni’ tthu ni’ sla’thut-s ’i’ wulh nilhulh suw’ hwpuhwilum thu sta’lusth ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts.
Everytime that tried doing that and the wife of tth’uwxe’le’ts would scream. - t-hway ’ul’ kwus q’aays ’eelhtun they’ quliima’.
The only thing to do was to kill the horrid thing. - nilh sus ’uw’ q’putus tthu thithu plhet smeent sus ’uw’ thuytus ’eelhtun sht’es ’u kwsus ha’kwushus.
So they collected a huge flat stone and arranged how they should use it. - ’i’ nilh tse’ tthu hay ’ul’ stl’i’ shhw’aqw’a’s tthuw’ne’ullh ’i’ nilh tse’ kwunut they’ sta’lus ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts suw’ t’ilutst-s.
The favourite brother would take that wife and sing to her. - ’i’ hay tse’ tthu sq’uq’a’s sts’uts’e’num’ m’i ’ewunus ’uw’ wenshewut kwthu smeent, ’imutstum.
And the rest would set her down and then would come throw the stones and flatten her. - sus nem’ ’uw’ ts’e’tus huye’st-hwus, ’i’ wulh xeem’ul’mun’ sis ’uw’ tl’a’tus.
So he carried the basket, as it had begun to whimper, and he hushed it. - sus nem’ ’uw’ sts’e’tus ’u tthey’ plhet smeent, yu t’it’ulutstus.
Then he placed it on the flat stone, still singing to her. - sus nem’ ’uw’ ’uy’qthut ’i’ ni’ wulh wenshum tthu nuts’a’ smeent, thi smeent.
Then he stepped aside and they dropped one stone, a big stone. - sus nem’ ’uw’ mitth’ tthu sun’iw’ ’u tthu le’tsus.
It smashed right into the basket. - mukw’ ’untsu ni’ shtus tthu thethi’un kwus m’i kw’ulh.
And the blood splashed everywhere. - nilh kwu’elh ni’ sht’es ni’ q’aaytum thu sta’lus ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts .
So in this way the giant’s wife was killed. - hay ’ul’ qux smeent ni’ wenshum, sus nem’ ’uw’ lhulheqw’ ’ukw’ qulutsus ’u tthu sqwuqwes smeent.
The stones were all thrown, and they scrambled for the opening of the cave! - kwus wulh hun’utl’qt sus ’uw’ lumnuhwus tthu snuhwulh sus nilhs shhw’aalhs ’eelhtun kwus wulh nem’ huliye’, hay ’ul’ xwum kwus nem’ yu lhelhuw’.
When they got out, they found a canoe and they boarded it and swiftly fled. - ’uwu stl’i’us kws kwun’ne’wut ’utl’ tth’uwxe’le’ts.
They didn’t want to be captured by the giant. - ni’ wulh nem’ tus ’u tthu tsuw’tsuw’ ’i’ yul’ew’namut ’u tthu ni’ shni’s kwus xisul’.
They got to the shore, mananging to pass by the fierce giant’s place. - wulh ts’elhum’utus tthu tth’uwxe’le’ts kwus tuteem’utum’.
And then they heard the giant shouting at them. - wulh m’i yu tsekwul’e’tum’ ’eelhtun.
He came following after them. - sus ’uw qul’et timuthut tthuw’ne’ullh nem’ ’aw’thut.
And so they tried to double their speed. - lemutus tthu na’nuts’a’ ’uw’ lumnuhwus tthu tthuw’xe’le’ts kwus yu nem’ wulh tus ’u tthu tl’up, nem’ tus ’u tthu tth’umshaythuns tthu kw’atl’kwu.
One of them, looking back, saw the giant sinking in the water up to his chin. - nem’ hwu’alum’ tthuw’nilh, suw’ kwunutus tthu smunment ’i’ ni’ hwi’ pasutum ’eelhtun.
But he turned back and grabbed some stones to pelt them with. - hwi’ nilh tthu sq’umul’s ni’ sts’e’tus ’eelhtun hwi’ tuteem’utus tthu tthuwxe’le’ts ’uw’ nem’us tseeltum ’eelhtun.
But they shook their paddles at him and shouted, taunting him to come and chase them. - hay ’ul’ hwthiqun kwus kwetsum tthuw’nilh sus ’uw’ kwuy’uxum’ tthu tumuhw.
He roared so loudly that he shook the earth, - m’i hwkw’atus m’i qw’umutus tthu thuthiqut ’uw’ yu papusutus tthu snuhwulh.
He pulled up the trees, their roots and all, pelting the canoe. - stl’i’s kws yaqw’ums ’i’ qwsiws tthu ni’ ’ula’ulh.
He wanted to break it up and drown those on board. - yelh sus tl’uw’namut tthuw’ne’ullh xu’athun sil’anum kwus mukw’ ’untsu ni’ shhw’unum’s yelh sus nem’ hun’umut ’u tthu lelum’s.
It was four years that they journeyed around before they reached home. - kwus wulh hun’umut ’eelhtun ’i’ wulh lumnuhwus tthu nilh shni’s kwus ni’ wulh mukw’ stem ’uw’ suyayuqw’ ’ul’, t-hw’uwu te’ tthu siiye’yus.
When they got home, they found their village was in ruin and their friends gone. - nilh kwu’elh ni’ sht’es kwus hith kwus nem’ kwsusulh nem’ lhuw’lhne’num’ tthu ’upeenu qw’uqw’i’tul suw’wuy’qe’.
And it was a long time that those related men were away seal hunting. - xu’athun sil’anum yelh sus hun’umut.
It was four years before they got home. - ni’ hay.
The end.