Father Fox

When Silver-Fox left this world, he said to his sweat-house, "Nobody shall ever come in here," and he left a strong wind there to guard the place. No one dares go near this place, for a whirlwind blows up out of it and makes a noise like thunder. Only shamans can approach it; but whoever enters is immediately turned to stone inside. Wolf and Silver-Fox left their power of wind there. Even now, wolves will catch people that come near; and whoever gets inside turns to white rock.

—"House of Silver-Fox," Achumawi tale in "Achomawi Myths" by Jeremiah Curtin from Journal of American Folkore, Vol 22, 1909.

Ⓒ The Susan Eleanor Boulet Trust (illustration)
Ⓒ Text copyright Michael Babcock