A man is targeted by his malevolent father-in-law, who schemes to kill him. First, he sends the man to hunt near a cannibal toad’s lair, but with the aid of his animal protectors—a grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and lynx—the man defeats the toad. Undeterred, the father-in-law attempts other deadly plots, including transforming his own daughter into a grizzly bear to attack her husband. Each time, the man overcomes the dangers, ultimately leading to the father-in-law’s demise.
Source:
Tahltan Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.32, No.124, pp.198-250
April-June, 1917
Vol.34, No.133, pp.223-253
July-September, 1921
Vol.34, No.134, pp.335-356
October-December, 1921
► Themes of the story
Supernatural Beings: The protagonist receives assistance from supernatural animal protectors, including the grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and lynx.
Conflict with Authority: The story centers on the protagonist’s struggle against his authoritative and malevolent father-in-law.
Trials and Tribulations: The protagonist endures and overcomes a series of lethal challenges orchestrated by his father-in-law.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
A man who had married a girl, the daughter of a man of evil disposition, was hated by his father-in-law, who had made up his mind to kill him. One day he told the man to go hunting at a place where a gigantic cannibal toad lived. When the man approached the toad’s abode, he knew by the power of his protectors that he was in danger, and called on them for assistance. His four protectors — the grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and lynx — appeared at once. The toad came out to fight the man, and opened its great mouth to bite him. Grizzly Bear, who was foremost, immediately jumped down its throat before it could bring its jaws together, and the others followed him. Then the four tore its entrails, and the man shot and killed it. The animals ate their way out, leaving four great holes in its body. When the man returned, his father-in-law was much disappointed because he had not been killed.
► Continue reading…
The following day he asked him to go hunting on a high mountain at a place where snow-slides always came down and killed people. When he reached this place, he changed himself into something so tiny that the snow-slide could not crush it. The avalanche came and carried him down, but failed to harm him. When he arrived at the bottom, he resumed his natural form and went home. His father-in-law could hardly suppress his disappointment and anger. He said to his daughter, “I will change you into a grizzly bear. Go out on yonder side-hill and act and feed like a bear.” He put a bear-skin on her, and told her to tear her husband. Then he pointed out the bear to his son-in-law, who went to kill it. When he came near and was about to shoot, his wife called out, “Don’t shoot! Save me! I am your wife.” He never heeded, and kept on shooting until he had killed her. His father-in-law was now very angry, and pursued him. The man threw down part of the inside of the bear; and this formed a deep chasm between them, stopping for a time the advance of his pursuer. The latter caught up again; and the man threw something behind him, which again formed an obstacle and delayed his pursuer. Thus he threw down several things, which became canyons, lakes, etc., behind him. His father-in-law managed to pass them all, and again caught up. He had only one thing left that he could throw. This was a stick, which turned into fire [some people say it was a fire-drill or fire-rock]. His pursuer ran right into the fire, and was burned to death.
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