Note 412 — SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS

It so happened that one of the marksmen would run up and attempt to withdraw the arrow, but would fail,412 and then another, and then another; but they all failed. Again Godwĕñniăʹʻdănĭʻ, coming up, said, “Who has become my son-in-law?” As the marksmen failed to withdraw the arrow, she continued, “He who shall be able to withdraw the arrow shall be my son-in-law.” Just then Oñgweʻ Hañgesʹʻhäʼ came up, saying, “All stand back. This is my arrow.” The people drew back, and he walked up to the bird and, as he walked along, he drew out the arrow. Then the old woman said, “Oñgweʻ Hañgesʹʻhäʼ has become my son-in-law,” and, taking him by the arm, she led him back to her lodge. Then the people dispersed in all directions. Then the old woman and her companion reached her lodge, in one side of which was a sort of apartment occupied by her daughter, who was born with a caul, and hence was regarded as of noble birth. The epithet applied to such maidens and young men is “down fended.” The old woman, leading the young man into this apartment, said to her daughter, “This man has become my son-in-law. He is called Oñgweʻ Hañgesʹʻhäʼ, and he is immune from enchantment.”