A long time ago the tide did not come or go. The ocean stayed very high and all the seaweed , clams, and other good things to eat were hidden under the deep waters. The people were often very hungry.
Raven did not think that that was the way it should be, for he was very hungry. So, he flew along the coast until at last Raven came to the house of a very old women who was the one who held the tide-line tightly in her hand. As long as she held onto it, the tide would stay high.
Raven walked into the old women's house. She sat with the tide-line firmly in her hand. Raven sat himself down across from her.
"Ah," he said, "Those clams were delicious to eat!"
"What clams?" the woman exclaimed.
Raven did not answer. He patted his stomach and said, "Ahhhh. It was so easy to pick them up. I've eaten as much as I can possibly eat."
"That just can't be so," said the old woman, trying to look past Raven to see out the door, but Raven blocked the entrance, so it was impossible. She stood up and leaned past Raven to look out. Raven pushed her and she fell through the door. He threw dust in the old woman's eyes so she was blinded. Then she let go of the tide-line and the tide rushed out, leaving all kinds of good things to eat.
Raven went out and gathered clams to eat. He ate as much as he could. All the animals and people thanked Raven for what he had done. Finally he came back to the place where the old woman was.
"Raven, I know it is you," she said,"Heal my eyes so I may see again."
"I shall heal you," Raven said, "But you have to promise to let go of the tide line twice a day, every day. The people can not wait so long to gather food from the shores."
"I will do as you wish," said the women. Raven washed out her eyes so she could see. So it is that the tide goes out and comes in every day because Raven made the woman let go of the tide-line twice a day.