One of woodsman stories collected and recorded by Curt Madison and Yvonne Yarber in their "Biographies series",interviews with Koyukon Athabaskan elders.(I forget which of a couple dozen books this is...but they're all Very much worth reading.And since i couldn't find the exact one i'm retelling it in my own words. ).
"One winter a young man went away on a long walk-about,to see different country,maybe to find a wife somewhere far from his own people.When quite far in unfamiliar country he happened to run into a woodsman.Woodsman turned out to be really friendly,and invited the young man to spend the winter camping together,and the man agreed.They moved into the woodsman's hole(pit-house),which at first the young man found really stinky,but soon got used to it and never noticed the smell.When the time came to think of going to look for some game for dinner the woodsman asked the man what he felt like eating this time.The young man was kind of puzzled,as hunting in deep winter is challenging,and you pretty much ate what you could find,but he humored woodsman and named an animal.In a short time that very animal just happened to appear right outside their house,and the young man realized that the woodsman had the ability to make this happen.And it turned out that he was right,and when they were out of meat the woodsman caused just the wanted animal to appear right there,and they spent a nice winter,never wanting for food,and happy and entertained in each other's company.
When spring came it was time for the young man to get again under way.He thanked the woodsman for his generous hospitality,and the woodsman in turn thanked him for the company,for helping to while away a long harsh winter.At their parting the woodsman asked the man to please keep their acquaintance a secret from other people,as many of them fear him,and would seek him out to harm him.The young man gave his word,and went on his way.
He kept his word,and in a few years that same young man happened to be travelling through that country again.While staying with some people he met he heard a story how a short time back these people have discovered a woodsman not far away from there,and stalked him and killed him.
The young man then felt honor bound to kill all these people,to avenge his woodsman-friend's death,and grieved for him,and accomplished all the necessary death rites.
Then he went back to where he was from,and not any longer being bound by the word he gave to woodsman has told this story to others."
...they Do sympathise though,their hearts are with us...if not their cold scientific minds!
