The cloud woman

He crossed the mountain, and reached a beautiful valley. At some distance he discovered a lodge. He thought: “This must be my brother’s lodge,” and went down to it. When he had reached it he entered, but did not see a soul. The lodge was built of bark. It was full of meat. Now he heard somebody laughing and speaking, but he did not understand what was said. He looked around everywhere, but he did not see any one. Finally he discovered a small cloud of mist which was moving about in the house. He entered and sat down. He saw the mist moving towards a small basket, which was then taken to a large basket and filled with berries. Then the mist moved to a spit, which was lying near the fire. It was lifted, covered with a slice of meat, and put close to the fire. When the meat was done, the mist enveloped a dish and a knife, and moved to the spit. Then the meat was put into the dish, and the mist carried it to the young man, who began to eat. When he had finished, the mist brought a basket filled with water, and the young man drank. Next came a dish filled with salmon berries mixed with bear grease. The mist enveloped a spoon, which began to stir the mixture, and then stayed in front of the young man. While he was still eating, his elder brother entered the lodge. Again he heard the laughing of women. The young man said: “Both mother and myself thought you were dead, and I came to search for you.” Then the mist gave to the elder brother a basket filled with berries, and left the house. It reappeared, carrying a basket filled with water. It took up the elder brother’s pouch. It opened, and marmots fell out of it. Then the mist lay over the marmots, and the young man saw that they were being skinned and dressed. Soon the mist left the lodge, carrying the skins. The elder brother spoke: “That cloud of mist is my wife. Do not ever mention the word ‘cloud’ in her presence, else she will leave me.”

In the evening the elder brother gave a skin blanket to his visitor and they went to sleep. The mist settled at the side of the elder brother. On the following morning, after they had taken breakfast, the young man prepared to return to his mother. He was going to tell her that his lost brother had been found, and to invite her to come and stay with him. He started, and when he had reached his lodge he told his mother that her eldest son had married a cloud, and that he desired them to stay with him. The old woman packed her belongings and they started to cross the mountains. When they approached the lodge, the cloud woman was engaged in drying marmot skins. When the young man, who had gone in advance, reached the house, his elder brother sent his wife to meet his mother, and to help her carry her load. Swiftly the cloud moved up to the old woman, and flew around her, emitting a hissing noise, which frightened the woman. Then the cloud returned to the lodge. Her husband asked: “Did you bring the load?” She replied: “Your mother declined to give it to me.” Then the man sent her back, and asked her to take the load. She obeyed. When she reached the old woman, she found her resting her load on a rock. She took it from her back, and carried it home. Before the old woman had been able to reach the lodge, the cloud had left again to pick berries. Soon she returned. She put stones into the fire and boiled meat for her guests.

The man’s mother and brother continued to live with them. After some time, they saw the toes and the fingers of a woman protruding from the cloud of mist. Gradually arms and legs and the body began to appear, and finally they were able to see her face. She was very beautiful. One morning when they awoke the last trace of the mist had disappeared, and they saw a beautiful woman in its place. The younger brother said to her: “Why did you never speak to me?” She replied: “I spoke to you, but you did not understand me.”

She was with child, and after some time she gave birth to a boy. He had red hair. And after some time she gave birth to a girl. The children grew up.

One day, while the brothers were out hunting, the children were playing in front of the lodge. Their mother was putting on her moccasins, preparing to pick berries in the woods. Then the boy said: “O mother! see the cloud on that mountain.” At once the woman began to vanish, she took her daughter in her arms, a hissing sound was heard, the house burst, and she was transformed into a cloud. The grandmother held the little boy in her arms, while the cloud carried away the girl. The mountains were covered with clouds, and it began to rain in torrents. The brothers heard the cries of the girl in the clouds and saw her being wafted from place to place. The “cloud woman” was not seen any more. Later on the elder brother was lost while hunting. I suppose his wife took him with her.

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