The Fleetfooted Man

Narrated by James StCyr

from a story related to him by a Frenchman

English Translation

The manuscript, which is in the hand of Paul Radin, is extremely difficult to read. Every attempt has been made to check the text against other texts and word lists, but in cases where the reading is doubtful, question marks appear after illegible letters. About 40% of the hand written interlinear text has no English translation, yet all but a few of the untranslated words was either a repeat or its meaning could be found elsewhere. Radin also used Greek letter abbreviations for common whole words or syllables some of which he interpreted in other manuscripts, although there are some whose values are unknown. The Greek symbols used in the text appear on the table below:

alpha beta delta epsilon psi omega
égi édja -kdjanéna gadjâ hâké jegû´

Words supplied by the editor (Richard Dieterle) are found in brackets '[ ]'. It was also necessary for the editor to supply all punctuation and to determine the beginning and ending of sentences.

p. 18 --

Jigi Hotcûk' tcínoknôkcgúni. Wâgwácoce xedéra hotcîtcî´nîgi[j]â
There Hotcâk [a village was]. Brave warrior head [great] [a little boy]

gitcoínegi. P'îxdjî. Xedéhi nâúje, hahí warúdjenîk
they gave birth to him. [Very good]. [Larger] [he grew?], when he got old enough to eat

gip'î´giji tcaraxúracana rútcgigis'áje. Sagerékdjege wágiúnâkce. Hahíxedénîkí
when he could deer lungs only they would make him eat. He wants him to run fast that's why he does it. When he got older

p. 19 --

hiô´djera wagíûs'áje hâdáginatc gigis'áje. Hâp djobóhâ
his father he used to make him fast [always did]. [Day] [four]

nôgá hâhé djobóhâ nâ´gigís'àje. Hotcîtcî´djane waûs'áje.
[and] [night] [four] he used to make him fast. [That boy] [he would do it?].

Hâdáginatc gigírega. Honadjobóhâ honágigús'aje hâbidjâkírahâ dejîdjaî´xdjî
[They fast] [they did it to him]. [Four slumbers] he used to run (that distance) in a day this far

hoûs'áje. E'sge hokizára híjâ nigé hâbnûbóhâ hâp
he used to (run around in). [And so] if an enemy [one] somewhere two days [day]

deeníhâ hokíp'î nîgíhuhaírega wipérezs'áje [alpha = égi] worakikíriga
[during that?] [he liked?] they're coming he used to know [and] when he came back and told

p. 20 --

híkuruhoír[rho = ánâga] hirap'é t'ewahíres'áje. Hotcîtcîdeé
they get ready and watch and kill them. [That boy]

hijaî´tcakórohíje maîkináje. Wâgwácoce tcowédjerera nûpíwiwigí
had a friend of same age. [Brave men] the leading two of them

tcakóro higaíres'àje [alpha = égi] djanâ´hâ wágigoírega
friend [they used to say it to him] [and] whenever [hosts? did]

wap'a harádjires'áje Wâkságerega. Jesganúnige wâkwácocé
they called him to eat the head fleetfoot [Fleet Man]. [But even then] [brave men]

nûbánûka e rùdjwagigís'ajé. Hoícip wapá harádjires'ági.
the two he he used to make them eat it. [Always] [they called him to eat the head].

E'sge wâgwácocénâ´ka hâké gipî´ni hiréje. Hâbijâ
[And so] [those brave man] [not] [liked?] [they did]. [One day]

hagoréjâ wâkwacocénâka híjâ wéje, "Wâkságerega, tcakóro
[then] [those brave] men one of them said, ["Fleet Man], [my friend]

p. 21 --

t'ehigí p'înána. Hâkíunígi hiraréxdjîgi [psi = hâké]wajâ´ wâ´gaikárap
let's kill him If we don't do it after awhile not anything they'll count us

hiraníkdjanéna," éje. Hidjânénâka éje, "Hitcakòro, [psi = hâké]
they'll do," [he said]. The other one [he said], "Friend, [not]

pina?ni waragéra, Wâkságerega hînàjî hadjâ´wina. Waparádjiregácge,
[good ...] you said, fleet=foot [Fleet Man] (they have ??)(depend on him)* we are. When they called upon him for the head,

*Both sets of parentheses are in the text.

nenúdjadjèna, [alpha = égi] hokizára híjâ, nîgé huhegácge
we are they who ate it, [and] [if enemies come] [one], [where] coming

hiperézkiri[rho = ánâga]. Wat'éhip'îxdjî hinâdjéna." Anùnige
[they knew]. Nice killing we are doing." [Nevertheless?]

hawehíje àdjaû raxurùkce. [alpha = Égi]
he kept at him as he was coaxing him he finally got him to. [Then]

gûzirecgùni djasgé t'ehírekdjégi. Waghóni regikarahéregi.
they planned what way [they would kill him]. [Hunting] they asked him to go.

p. 22 --

Wakíjurèje [alpha = égi] wes'áje Wâkságerega, "Djádji
He went with them [and] [he would say] [Fleet Man], "Father

djodjaî´xdjî hagá hîháhegí tcége. Wáû[delta = kdjanéna],"
whenever there darkness overcame me I'm dead. [They would do],"

es'áje. Waghonína. Uâhíre[epsilon] denâ´djedja nûxirá
[he would say]. [He hunted]. As they went middle of lake ice

gihápiréje wâgwacocénôka [alpha = égi] nînatcgaínege
they cut a hole [those warriors] [then] then they dreamt

mîgir[rho = ánâga]. [alpha = égi] ûcíreje. [psi = hâké] unínunige.
[they lay]. [And] they asked him. [Not] didn't do it at first.

Raxurúgiréje mîg[rho = ánâga] nînátcgô. [epsilon] nûxk'ûkâ
They finally got him to [lay] [dreamt]. [Then ?] under ice

howátcip hiré[epsilon]. Hik'cánuga xépgugàdjâ. Mâsdánihuíjâ hijâ´
they ducked [dunked] him. He laughed as he was coming out. A tomahawk one

p. 23 --

hanídje[tau] hiródjî[epsilon], deé docónokskaxdjî´jâ nûgíwâkce. Hâpséretc
he who had one he hit him with it, [that one] he turned into a [very white] otter commenced to run (to swim). [Long day]

nû´x'erogî´gîx ruxaírèje. Nîge hopóxríjâ tcagíwagácge mâsdàniku
all over the ice they chased him. [Where] [hole] he made for [tomahawk]

hirodjî´ hires'áje. Wirírexdjî´[epsilon] docónok sgaxdjî
[strike with
an object]		 [he would think]. Just about sundown [otter] [very white]

wâgenúnige "Gwakgwak[rho = ánâga]," nîtcédjera tcagíwá[p or rho = ánâga?].
old male ["Gwak gwak," and] towards the bank he made.

[beta = édja] hakiritégi. Djasgé s'ágiji jésge
[There] he came and died. How he used to be that way

kínipce. T'éra hiperézeregí. Wâgwácocéra hakaraíreje
he laid. When he was dead they knew. [The brave men] [they would go home]

hagiregi hâhéregi wâkságeriâdjera hinîgra hikáwâxcé.
[when they came home] [they arrived, came] [the fleet man's father] [son] he asked for.

p. 24 --

"Hâbrédjâ hagó hî´t'ûnáwina. Nâguídjâ híjâ hogiwéguni,"
"Sometime early in the day [then] he left us. Another road [one] he must have gone,"

aìreje. Hâhe égi wahuhíje tcinógenôkâ wagit'égi.
[they had said]. [Night] that it snowed [that village] &? death for all.

É'sge hanâ´tc moûkip'ís?na honíhiranúnige. Jégû hûké
[And so] [all] could move about (fast) they went to hunt for him. [Again] [not]

waghó howesîwi hiraníje. Wâkságerega hitcakóroracana nâtcgéra
[hunt?] they could get track of [they did ?]. [Fleet Man] [his only friend] [the heart]

dekce é'sge hâdáginàdjera mâcdjâ û´je (or û´ghe?) hitcakorora.
[became sore] [and so] [fast] [strength] [tried to acquire ?] [the friend].

Hikarahâde nâî´je. Hagoréjâ wenáîkorokógi widjadjaíreje. "Hoixô´nona
He tried to dream [he tried]. Some time it was near spring they sent message around. "Moving time

p. 25 --

herekdjonéna," aíreje. Hitcowédja howáreje [alpha = égi]
it will be," [they have said]. He went ahead [and]

[beta = édja]hi detcedjédja nâxá mîkíji.
[there ---?] near the lake a log lay.

édjahímîg[rho = ánâga] [letter stricken in the text] x'ágôkce hitcakarora. Gixagô´kce,
He lay too [-] [calling out ?] [friend]. [He called out ?],

"Gixô´nuna hàdjiaránâkce." Hoxdjanâ´xdjî[epsilon] dée hanâtc
"The movers they're coming past." Near evening [that] [all]

hadjiàraíre[epsilon] dée wâgwacoce hitcakoròk'î´nâká hit'et'é hahuhaíreje.
when (all) went by, [that] [warrior] his friends talking they're coming.

Hikidjâ´regí hadjire[epsilon]. Dée wanî´genî´ge naîsáwarégï djidji[rho = ánâga].
When they got opposite him they came. [That one] (a little bird) water fowl* on top of the tree. he came.
*The parentheses occur in the text.

At the bottom of the page, after a check mark with a superscripted 'x', it says, "tcúgik'ásanapkéjâ = shape of spoon."

p. 26 --

"Gwak gwak," e[epsilon]. Hikcait'aireje wâgwacocenâka. Hitcakóro hijâ
["Gwak gwak,"] [said]. [Laughed ?] [those warriors]. [Friend] [one]

ejé, "Wâkságeregá maníne denúdjeregi nûxk'úkâ honânátcip[epsilon].
[he said], ["Fleet Man] this winter in the center of lake under ice you stomped him in.

Docónok ska hîk'û[epsilon] hâpséretc curuxé [epsilon].
[Otter] [white] he used (he became) [long day] you chased him," [he said?].

Hoxdjanáxdjî[epsilon], 'Gwak gwak,' [rho = ánâga]. Nîtcédjera tcagíwera dejesge,"
[Near evening], 'Gwak gwak,' [he said]. Near the bank he came towards [that way],"

éhare, air[rho = ánâga]. hik'cait'aíreje. Hotcîtcîc?âgere wanaxgû´gi nûxáwâxdjî
he said [they say ?}. [He laughed ?]. The boy [he heard them] he hid

mîkce. [omega = Jegû] [beta = édja] mígâk'û. Hâhés'i[epsilon] hagoréjâ
[he laid]. [So] [there] [he began to lay down]. Late at night [then]

p. 27 --

kikáwa u[rho = ánâga] homâtcíra tcagíweje. Hiunína
[he arose and] camping place [he started back ?]. His mother



[beta = édja] gi[rho = ánâga]. Weje "Náni, rex'nî´gera
[there] he went. [He said], ["Mother], little kettle

hidjákéregédjani wohô´ni wahaítcenáwina. [rho = Ánâga]
put it on boil something we're going to eat." He said

hiô´djera, "Eowárekdjonéje hidjáhi[rho = ánâga] dée wâgenúnîka
to his father, "He's going [elsewhere] [that] [old man]."

Kikácasébenòkce. Wéje hotcîtcîdjega, "Djadjí, hî´kerekdjége wâwâdjína.
He was mourning (he blackened his face). [He said] [that boy], ["Father,] we're going home that's why I came.

Gosgé waraítcegé," wahèna. Egíji. Wâgenúnigenôka hakijú
just for nothing I want you to eat," he said. [He said that.] [That old man] [with him]

p. 28 --

kerejé. Hagíregi wawagízéreje [alpha = égi] wéje, "Djádji
[he went home]. [When they arrived] they dished up for them [and] [he said], ["Father,]

hâ´bere méginâgúregi hamî´kmâk'û nâxá k'ûhaídja, wanîgenîgi[j]â.
today over here in the road as I was lying down under the log, [a little bird].

Wâgwacocenâ´gere hidjakírire[epsilon] hik'îdjaî´dja wanîgenîkdjéga
[Those warriors] when they got there [through] [that little bird]

wéna, 'Gwak gwak!' E[epsilon], "Wâgwacocenâgerijâ´ wéna,
[he said], 'Gwak gwak!'" [He said], ["A warrior] [said],

'Hitcakóro, maníne Wâkságerega t'er[rho = ánâga] nûxk'ûhâ
['Friend], [this winter] Fleet Man killed [under the ice]

hononátcip[epsilon]. Doconogsga hik'u[rho = ánâga]. hoxdjanóxdjî[epsilon]
[you stomped him in]. [White otter] [he used it]. [Near evening]

p. 29 --

'Gwak gwak,' [rho = ánâga]. Nîtcédjera tcagiwenihéra hisgéra wanigenâkdjané
'Gwak gwak,' [he said]. [Towards the bank] he had gone there. Like him [that little bird],'

[rho = ánâga]. Hikcait'exdjî´na?r?a | Wâgwacocenâ´gera. | * híjâ ew?a** "E'sge
[he said]. They laughed loud[ly]. [The warriors] [one] said, ["And so]
*One bar occurs before the word, and two parallel bars occur here in the text, the first of which is crossed out.
**The word was inserted as a superscription in the text.The question mark was introduced by the present editor to indicate a doubtful reading.

jeénîk nânax'gûkdjege. Warúdjinicína," éje, égi wâ´genúnika
that I want you to hear. I asked you to eat," [he said], [and] the old man

x'apgúnínâk'û. Wéje, "Hinîk k?áxdjî ép'îna," éje. [alpha = égi]
he was quiet for awhile. [He said], ["My son ----] [it is good]," [he said]. [And]

"Hîkérekdjéna," éje. Hagíregi kikurujaíreje, [alpha = égi] rokíkewéreje.
"Let's go home," he said. [When they arrived] they washed (mourning) off, [and] they painted their faces.

Dee haíni[epsilon] jégû rokíkewexdjînâka. Wâkcígera waíreje,
[That] in morning [again] they went all painted up. The people [they said],

p. 30 --

"Wâgenúnîka hik'îgíguni," aíreje, [alpha = égi] wawagécguní "Wâgenúnîke
"The old man he must have given up (mourning)," they said, [and] he said to them, "The old man

hâpdeé née tcowéra. Wáwa[rho = ánâga] homâtci hirucdjâ´
today you ahead of. I'll go the camping place I'll make ready

hakdjanéna," éje. Dée hox'djanâ´negi pèdjera kereponaíjânoga nûbacána
I'll do," [he said]. [That one] [in the evening] [fire ?] 10 and 2 (12)

hot'û´je [alpha = égi] wâgwácocenâka hominâ´gere. P'îxdjî wagikereje.
[he threw away] [and] [that warrior] [he was sitting in it]. [Very good] he made for them.

[alpha = égi] hanâtc´ hagíregi hiraréxdjînégi wagenúnîka wéje,
[And] [all] [when they arrived] after awhile that old man [he said],

p. 31 --

"Hâhó, hâhé deé djásge hacúnuna wakárakaraíkdjonéna,"
["Well,] [night] [that] how Iused to do I'm going to tell something about,"

éje. Wâgwoíkikáxera hanâ´tc wik'u[rho = ánâga]. Wádjeje, "Hinîkàra
[he said]. A warrior's dress [all] he had on. He was saying, "My son

hîgíxaíranina s'í nâtcgéra hîdekcána," éje. [alpha = égi]
when he disappeared [long] [repentant]," [he said]. [And]

wâgwacocénâka tcowehirédja hahí mâná mâtcgúra hijókere,
[that warrior] in front of [after awhile] arrow in bow he had ready,

[alpha = égi] dáni hirarútcap nâji[rho = ánâga?] wéje, "Hâhó
[and] tobacco he held with he stood and [he said], ["Well]

tcegerégi wonáxire haû´ga, mejegû haconúna," [rho = ánâga].
in early (days) war (path) I went, [] [I used to do,"] he said.

p. 32 --

Mâtcgúra ruzíkg[rho = ánâga] wâgwácocenâka hijâ
[Bow] he pulled (the bow) warriors [one]

nâtcgédja maîgutcé, [alpha = égi] nûbóhôna wonax'ire
[heart-there] [shot with an arrow ?], [and] [two times] [war]

haúna. Mejegû´ hána," [rho = ánâga]. Jigé mâ´na
[I did]. [] I did, he said. [So] [the arrow]

hokére[rho = ánâga] ruzíkdji[rho = ánâga]. Wâgwacoce hidjanénâka nâtcgédja
he placed it [he pulled]. [Warrior] the other [heart-there]

gútce, [alpha = égi] wéje, "Hâhó [psi = hâké] nécana
[shot], [and] [he said], "Well not only you

mat'ehíra wacúrup'î´winína. Hinîkára t'énagígiwíra. Nâtcgéra
killing you do not know how. [My son] you've killed. [The heart]

degìnawína e'sge hicgé wanîgiu'wína," [rho = ánâga]. Jedjû´ga
you made it ache [and so] I did the same to you," [he said]. [And then]

p. 33 --

nâmâ´tcera kúruz[rho = ánâga], hinû´hike nâsúra waixúxuxce. Me [omega] hi[tau]
the club [he picked up], both of them their heads he smashed. [This]

[omega = jegû] hi[tau]. Wâkcígenâka hidoî´neje. Wâkságeregá
[thus] he did. The people they liked it (they felt proud). Fleet Man

hinâjî´xdjîna, núnige wagiuíneje aíreconúna.
they gained (by him), [but] [they did this ?] [(the thing?) what they were saying].

English Translation

Source:

James StCyr, "Fleetfoot," in Paul Radin, [unpublished] Winnebago Notebooks (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society) Notebook 19, Story II, pp. 18-33.