All the birds agreed to help the Hala'u (type of black eagle) to steal the wife of the Baldheaded Eagle, who was a very good woman, but ill treated by her husband. The Hala'u said, "We will all go to the underground lodge of our grandfather, the Baldheaded Eagle. I will stay outside whilst all of you go inside, and engage in a game of lehal, and you will at the same time complain of the cold, and keep putting wood on the fire, until the house gets very hot, when his wife will be sure to come outside and cool herself." Accordingly all the birds entered, and engaged the Baldheaded Eagle in a game. They did as directed by the Hala'u, and soon the place was very hot. Before long the wife arose and said, "I am going outside to cool myself. I cannot stand the heat." As soon as she got outside, the Hala'u took possession of her, and conducted her to his house. Shortly afterwards the birds ceased playing with the Baldheaded Eagle, and all went home in abody. As the woman did not return, the Baldheaded Eagle knew what had happened, and began to train himself. After training for some time, he donned a collar of many thicknesses of birch bark, and repaired to the house of the Hala'u, where all the birds were assembled. Here he took up his position on the top of the ladder, and challenged them to battle. Each one of the smaller birds went in succession to the woman to get his hair combed, and straighway to fight the Baldheaded Eagle; but they all fell an easy prey to their war-like and powerful enemy. Then the larger and more powerful birds had their hair combed and went out; but they were also slain. The Raven had his hair combed by the woman and then went out; but he, too, soon fell a victim. Next came the Chicken hawk; but he soon shared the same fate. Then the Fish Hawk sallied forth, and there was a stubborn fight; but eventually the Baldheaded Eagle killed him and cut off his head. After that the Hala'u himself went forth with a birch-bark collar around his neck, and forthwith ensued a fierce battle. The combatants rose to the clouds, and dropped to the earth, fighting; but at last the Hala'u was slain and decapitated. The woman commenced to wail inside the house, for there was only one bird left, viz., the Ha'tahat (a species of hawk), who also had his hair combed, and went to give battle to the Baldheaded Eagle. The contest was a very furious one. The combatants flew up to the clouds several times, and back again. At last the Baldheaded Eagle was slain, and the Ha'tahat took possession of the woman. Afterwards he went around and healed the wounds of the dead birds, but their heads on their bodies, and they all came to life again, except the Baldheaded Eagle.

Last updated 31 August 1998. This digital collection was produced under contract to the SchoolNet Digital Collections Program, Industry Canada. Produced by Schoolnet Digital Collections Team.