THE RATTLESNAKE’S VENGEANCE

THE RATTLESNAKE’S VENGEANCE

One day in the old times when we could still talk with other creatures, while
some children were playing about the house, their mother inside heard them
scream. Running out she found that a rattlesnake had crawled from the grass,
and taking up a stick she killed it. The father was out hunting in the mountains,
and that evening when coming home after dark through the gap he heard a
strange wailing sound. Looking about he found that he had come into the midst
of a whole company of rattlesnakes, which all had their mouths open and seemed
to be crying. He asked them the reason of their trouble, and they told him that his
own wife had that day killed their chief, the Yellow Rattlesnake, and they were
just now about to send the Black Rattlesnake to take revenge.
The hunter said he was very sorry, but they told him that if he spoke the truth he
must be ready to make satisfaction and give his wife as a sacrifice for the life of
their chief. Not knowing what might happen otherwise, he consented. They then
told him that the Black Rattlesnake would go home with him and coil up just
outside the door in the dark. He must go inside, where he would find his wife
awaiting him, and ask her to get him a drink of fresh water from the spring. That
was all.
He went home and knew that the Black Rattlesnake was following. It was night
when he arrived and very dark, but he found his wife waiting with his supper
ready. He sat down and asked for a drink of water. She handed him a gourd full
from the jar, but he said he wanted it fresh from the spring, so she took a bowl
and went out of the door. The next moment he heard a cry, and going out he
found that the Black Rattlesnake had bitten her and that she was already dying.
He stayed with her until she was dead, when the Black Rattlesnake came out
from the grass again and said his tribe was now satisfied. He then taught the
hunter a prayer song, and said, “When you meet any of us hereafter sing this
song and we will not hurt you; but if accident one of us should bite one of
your people then sing this song over him and he will recover.” And the Cherokee
have kept the song to this day.

 

Source:
Myths of the Cherokee, James Mooney