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Source: Myths and Tales of the
Southeastern Indians, By John R. Swanton, 1929
A boy went along on a hunting party with
three of his uncles. While they were away from camp he took charge of it,
prepared sofki for them and did any other work that was necessary. The
camp was on a small stream and one day he beard a kind of roaring in this
stream. He went in the direction of the sound and saw something standing
up over the water, part way up which another creature had wrapped itself.
The latter was white about the neck. The thing it was wrapped about was
quivering and making a thundering noise. This was Thunder and the creature
coiled about it was a Tie-snake or Strong-snake (Ståhwånaia). Each of the
contestants asked the boy to help him, saying, "My friend, help me."
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The boy did not know at first which being to assist, but finally he aimed
an arrow at the white neck and pierced it, whereupon the snake loosened
its coils and fell into the water dead. Then Thunder said, "You are just a
boy, but you shall always be my friend."
Then the boy went back to camp, and presently his uncles returned from
hunting. Thunder had told him that when they all went home from their camp
he must walk behind his uncles, and he did so. He added, "When you get
home, ask your oldest uncle to give you a medical course (a fast for four
days), and if he refuses ask the others in turn."
So the boy asked the oldest uncle, but he said, "You are too young." He
asked the next younger and he refused. The youngest, however, said he
supposed he had better do so, and he did.
In those days the Indians were always going on war expeditions and when
the fast was over the boy said to his uncle, "Let us travel," meaning "Let
us go to war."
When they got close to the enemy's town the boy told his uncle to remain
where he was for a while. Then he went off into the woods a short distance
and made a circle and came back in the form of a rainbow. His uncle
followed him and the boy went along making it thunder and lighten until by
his powers his uncle saw him destroy the entire town.
After that they returned home.
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