“I fear danger ahead, as dangerous as the old, bright sun,” Timpoochee said.
“Just as in the old days when the old sun continued to shine blistering rays and they spread a fever and many people died.
“The people went to the Little Men for help who proposed killing the sun as the only remedy.
“The people agreed and the Little Men made medicine and changed two men into snakes, one a spreading adder and the other a copperhead, and sent them to wait for the sun to reach her daughter’s house.
“As the sun approached the next day the spreading adder leaped out at her but was so blinded by her light all he could do was spit out yellow slime, which he still does today.
“The copperhead was so frightened he ran away.
“The Little Men made more medicine and turned one man into a great Uktena and the other into a rattlesnake and sent them to wait for the sun.
“The rattlesnake was quick and eager and arrived at the sun’s daughter’s house way ahead of Uktena so that when the sun’s daughter opened the door to greet her mother he sprang up and bit her and the sun’s daughter fell dead.
“The rattlesnake was happy and returned immediately to brag to the people, forgetting completely to wait for the old sun.
“Since that time, we pray to the rattlesnake and do not kill him because he doesn’t attack us if we don’t disturb him.
“Discovering what happened Uktena grew very angry and also returned to the people with vengeance in his heart. He grew more angry by the day so that even if he looked at a man he would kill him.”