The December, 1946 issue of AMAZING STORIES magazine, on pages 24-25, carries the following story, titled ‘LEGEND OF QUINMAS VALLEY’. The story was told by a man – an explorer – by the name of Rex Du Howard:
“…The storm had become quite bad, and Chatham Sound was no place for small craft such as ours, so we put about and into a nearby harbor. Farther cruising into Alaska waters would be held up till the storm abated.
“Overlooking the harbor was an Indian village, and having nothing better to do, I took my pencils and sketch book and went to shore to look around. I do a bit of sketching, something I fondly believe to be my artistic talent. This town was a far cry from the day when the Indians lived in log and shack lodges, to the modern homes I was seeing; and my hopes of seeing a real Indian or hearing any native legends seemed small indeed. However luck was with me in that I found sitting on the front steps of his home a very old man, who when I spoke to him, immediately called to someone inside the house. A young lady came to the door. When I made known my wishes, she, after translating to the old man, readily agreed to tell me all the legends and tales he could recall. While he talked in his oddly drawled, yet smooth dialect, the girl, his great grand-daughter, translated-this odd tale:
“For several days Nis-We-Bask had been following the banks of a large creek; his friend Kae-lth had decided to return to his canoe at tidewater, thence to his summer camp. But Nis-We-bask was determined to explore this river as far as possible – now during the low water season – just to see how many beaver colonies and other fur-bearing animals could be located. Kae-lth had suggested, rather apprehensively, that it wasn’t safe for one man to venture into unknown territory; in fact even hinted that other creatures other than just wild animals might be found, with unpleasant results. Nis-We-Bask had laughed at his friend`s fears; moreover he was young and strong and a good hunter as well as the fact that many other hunters of their tribe had at different times gone out hunting alone, and with one or two exceptions had always returned. Aside from such wild animals as were usually found in these parts, what was there to be afraid of? Surely not the stories old squaws told their grand-children by the lodge fire; stories of giant men who long ago had paid their tribe a visit and taught the tribe many things now forgotten.
“Musing thus, Nis-We-Bask walked silently along; sometimes along animal trails, sometimes along trails of his own devising. At the mouths of several tributary streams he had noted beaver cuttings along the banks; thus Nis-We-Bask traveled, mentally charting and placing the spots he and fellow hunters would return to in the spring-time. Beaver pelts stacked the height of a long rifle could be used to buy the rifle, at the new trading post at Fort Simpson. With such pleasant thoughts he came upon an ideal camp site, and gathered some dry twigs, made a small fire and prepared his evening meal of smoked fish roasted at the fire, then, having eaten, he rolled in his blanket and was soon asleep.
“Toward dawn Nis-Wei-Bask was awakened to instant alertness. That there was something watching him he could not doubt; and the feeling was almost physical, then in an instant the feeling was gone. He was certain that it was not an animal that had caused him to awaken so suddenly; too, any animal would have made some slight sound in leaving that his trained hunter’s hearing would have registered. At the first rays of dawn Nis-We-Bask was on his way, ever up the river. Despite the odd experience of the night before he was determined to reach the headwaters of this river before returning home.
“The river lessened in size as Nis-We-Bask proceeded, and toward afternoon he arrived at a high walled pass through which the stream ran. The river being low, it was not difficult to find a way along its edge, which on the inside opened into a fairly large valley, through which the river meandered. Following this, Nis-We-Bask came upon a burned over area fully the length of six war canoes and fully half as wide, the surface being as smooth as the surface of the deep water in the river. Vaguely troubled as to what may have caused this burned area, Nis-We-Bask prepared to spend the night, and on the morrow start the journey home. Even as he sat by his fire Nis-We-Bask became aware of being watched in the half light of twilight. He could not see who or what could be the cause of it. There had been no sign of bears or other large animals, yet that feeling of being watched persisted. Then he remembered Kae-lth’s remarks to the effect that this was where the legendary giants had vanished. Still, why believe old squaws’ tales?
“Those were only to frighten small children. The feeling of being watched became stronger, then the creatures appeared; the things that had been watching Nis-We-Bask. Even as he saw them he knew what they were. They were the Bow-iss, neither man or animal yet with the cunning and vileness of both. Creatures which in olden times, had boldly stolen children and woman from the tribes; but they were supposed to have disappeared a long time back. The Bow-iss slowly shambled toward Nis-We-Bask making peculiar sounds as if laughing at some monstrous joke.
“Panic stricken, yet quite unable to move, Nis-We-Bask watched the slow approach.
“Then the creatures circled him, removed his bow and arrows and knife; then with two in front and two behind they marched him back the way they had come.
“Nis-We-Bask though terrified had time to observe these creatures closely. Each was about the size of a youth, though in shoulder breadth equal to a man, bowlegged and with long unkempt hair of a dirty brown color. Each was clad in loincloth and sandals of some smooth, shiny material, and at each belt was a knife and a small box-like affair which appeared to be a weapon of some sort. The creature in the lead headed for a low overhanging cliff at the base of which an opening to a cave was visible, followed by Nis-We-Bask and the other Bow-iss. Nis-We-Bask would have fled
there and then, but even as he turned one of the Bowiss aimed his little box-like weapon at him, causing extreme pain and paralyzing him completely. Amid wild, pealing laughter, Nis-We-Bask fainted. When he regained consciousness, he and two of the creatures were traveling in a weird conveyance that made little sound yet traveled at great speed, along a wide shiny road. Inside the cave it was quite light for the very rock overhead shone with a pale silvery color. Ever downward their conveyance went, then finally came to a stop in what seemed to be a vast cavern.
“Nis-We-Bask had no choice but to follow the creatures. He looked about for an exit should escape be possible, but saw none save the way they had entered. On all sides towered terrifying monsters of metal that somehow or other seemed to have lives of their own; one or two even glowed with a weird blue light. Beyond that his mind could not conceive or describe. One of the Bow-iss aimed his little box-weapon at Nis-We-Bask causing that intense pain and paralysis, after which they dragged him over and chained him to a ring set in the floor of the cave, then they proceeded to place around him, in a half circle, a pile of wood, collected for this very purpose. This was then set afire. He knew what his fate would be; he was to be roasted alive.
“Already the heat from the fire was unbearable.
“Realizing their captives crazed fear, the Bow-iss screamed and danced themselves into a frenzy, as moans and cries were forced from Nis-We-Bask’s seared and cracked lips, then merciful unconsciousness.
“Nis-We-Bask awoke to a feeling of infinite coolness and comfort; then he realized that he was still in the cave, but on that strange vehicle, and being returned to the surface; but instead of the hideous creatures that had taken him down into the cave, the other occupant of the conveyance was a man, huge and fair in coloring. The giant seemed to be aware that Nis-We-Bask was awake, for he turned and smiled, then he spoke though his lips did not move.
“‘Have no fear Nis-We-Bask, you will be returned to your people, those whom you call the Bow-iss in this cave are no more. While we were absent our home was discovered and occupied by the Bow-iss. The gods were kind that we returned when we did.’
“Through Nis-We-Bask’s mind ran the stories told him in his childhood of the giants who had visited his people in ages past. Surely this being was also one, aye even the same, as were not these ones of ancient times immortal? Soon they reached the cave entrance and the giant and Nis-We-Bask got out of the now motionless vehicle. Dimly Nis-We-Bask could discern the outline of something huge resting where that burned patch of earth was and he knew somehow that this monster had caused it. The giant broke in on his thoughts, in that way of speaking without uttering a sound.
“‘I will return you to your canoe at tidewater; do just as I instruct you to. Stand within this circle I have inscribed, close your eyes and do not on any account open them.’
“With that the giant left Nis-We-Bask and entered the cave again. Just then Nis-We-Bask felt a sickening falling feeling as if he were falling from a great height, then the feeling was gone, and he looked about to find himself on the sand near his canoe.
“When Nis-We-Bask returned to his native village and tried to tell of his adventure; he was scoffed at as having a bad dream or falling and hurting his head and dreaming it all. But there were a few who did believe and some who still do.”
