The animals knew it was there, because they could see the smoke, but they could not get to it because of the water. They hold a council to see what to do, and every animal that could fly or swim was anxious to go after the fire. The Raven, large and strong was sent first. He flew to the sycamore, but while he was wondering what to do next, the fire scorched all his feathers black and he came back without the fire. Next, the little Screech-owl (Wa'huhu') volunteered to go, but once in the island, a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes. He managed to fly back home, but his eyes are red to this day. Then the Hooting Owl ( U'guku') and the Horned Owl (Tskili') went, but by the time they arrived, the fire was burning so fiercely that the smoke nearly blinded them, and the ashes carried up by the wind made white rings about their eyes and they were never able to get rid of them. Now no more birds would venture, and so the little Uksu'hi snake, the black racer, said he would swim to the island and bring the fire back. He swam across the to the island and crawled through the grass to the tree, and went in by a small hole at the bottom. The heat and smoke were too much for him, and after dodging about blindly over the hot ashes until he was almost on fire himself, he managed to get out, but his body had been scorched black, and he has never since had the habit of darting and doubling on his track as if trying to escape from close quarters. He came back, and the great blacksnake, Gulegi, "The Climber", offered to go. He swam over to the island and climbed out the tree on the outside, but when he put his head down into the hole, the smoke choked him so that fell into the burning stomp and before he could climb out again he was as black as the Uksu'hi.
Now they held another council, but all the animals had an excuse for not going, because they were all afraid, until at last Kanane'ski Amai'yehi ( the Water Spider) said she would go. This is the water spider with black downy hair and red stripes on her body. She can run on top of the water or dive to the bottom, so there would be no trouble reaching the island, but the question was, How could she bring back the fire? "I'll manage that" said the Water Spider; so she spun a thread from her body and wove it into a tusti bowl, which she fastened on her back. Then she crossed over the island and through the grass to where the fire was still burning. She out one little coal of fire into her bowl, and came back with it, and ever since we have had fire, and the Water Spider still keeps her tusti bowl.