Part 21
Boy gifted with powers by four-world-quarter gods kills so many antelope he is called Antelope-Carrier. Wood-Rats have given him bow and four differently colored arrows. He wanders from home, and while asleep two Thunderbirds carry him up high mountain. He finds nest with four young Thunderbirds. Mother Thunderbird comes and tells him of serpent with two heads that lives in lake and eats her young. She promises him lightning and control of all birds if he will help to kill monster. He promises and Thunderbird, after telling him when serpent would come out of lake, flies away. Fog rises from lake one day and boy sees monster with two heads crawling out of lake. Storm comes from west and Thunderbirds return, making lightning, which strikes serpent. Lightning throws it back, but it again crawls up. Monster opens its mouth to swallow boy. He shoots black arrow into its mouth. Monster falls and bursts open. Other head comes and boy shoots red arrow into its mouth and head broken in pieces. Thunderbirds come with all kinds of birds, which feast upon serpent. They give boy power as objects which he swallows. Boy chief of all birds and kills all bad animals. Two boys, joined together with rawhide, go to shoot birds. One shoots at white object, like mushroom, moving up and down and strong wind carries them far away to an island. They go west and come to lodge of old woman. She makes cakes, four for the great serpent, who will carry them across by water. Serpent comes and carries them across, stopping each day when hungry. They give it cake and soft-shell turtle (lice) from its head. Wild boy jumps before they come to land and is swallowed by serpent. Other boy asks serpent to open its mouth wide and he drags swallowed boy out. Boys travel to Missouri River bottom. They put log of wood on fire and it is serpent. Foolish boy eats chunk of meat and he gradually turns to serpent. Other boy takes him to Missouri River and turns him loose there. Antelope-Carrier hears of serpent and hunts him with all his birds. Serpent uses his power and carries him into his den. Antelope-Carrier is made to vomit up all his power, except lightning in his eyes. Serpent remains in river and gives its powers to people, and songs and medicine-men’s ceremony.
22. THE BOY WHO TURNED INTO A SNAKE.
Idiot boy and son of chief go on war-path. They have to return through want of food, and come to water-serpent. It is so big they can not get around it, and idiot proposes to burn it. Serpent burns in two. Idiot eats of serpent meat and his body gradually becomes colored red and blue. By fourth day his legs are grown together and become snake’s tail. Other boy carries him to lake, where fishes object to him, and finally they come to the Missouri River. He rests in middle of river and people by giving him presents cross over without danger of drowning.
23. THE BOY WHO RECEIVED THE MOUSE POWER.
Young man stays behind when people go hunting. He goes through village and hears crying. He goes to lodge and sees woman wrapped in buffalo robe, who tells him people have taken her children. She says they are in sacred bundle robe, and asks him to go and bring her children back. He does so and gives nest with children to woman. She tells him to return at night and then becomes mouse. Young man goes to lodge at night and finds woman there. Rats come in human form and priest gives him war-club and power to become mouse at any time, and little box of medicine. Woman tells him he is now her son and says they are not to kill mice as they are his relatives. Young man becomes great warrior. In enemy’s camp he turns into mouse and drives ponies out of camp after cutting ropes. He becomes so bold that people become afraid of him, but finally he and young man who has power of Bear fight and kill one another.
24. THE BOY AND THE YOUNG HAWKS.
Small boy discovers hawk’s nest with four eggs. Eggs are hatched and boy feeds birds with insects. Boy goes to take birds home when he sees man who calls birds his sons and says he will be rewarded for taking care of them. Boy takes feathers from young birds to put on his arrows. He becomes good hunter and on war-path fights where the arrows are thickest. He becomes known as brave, but finally does wrong among his people. Many try to kill him, but always forget, until one man capable of killing him does so.
25. THE END OF THE ELK POWER.
Four strong young men, of whom only oldest is married, go to trap eagles, leaving woman and child at home. On their return woman is missing. Eldest unmarried brother is filled with pity for child and goes to cry near timber, where is old skull of buck elk. On second night voice tells him woman and three others captured by Bear and that he has received Elk power. He is to go again and receive instructions. Pretty-Voice goes again and learns ceremony of Elks. He is to blow whistle and all females will come to him. He goes near Bear’s home and whistles four times. Women run out of den and they go away with Pretty-Voice. Bear follows and he orders party to stop. Pretty-Voice shoots arrows at Bear without effect. He then throws himself on ground and becomes Elk. Elk and Bear fight, and Bear admits his defeat. Elk again becomes man and Pretty-Voice wins great honor by capture of women. He causes ill-feeling by using his magic whistle to attract girls and then married women. Men shoot at him, but nothing can harm him. Sioux attack village, but they can do nothing while Pretty-Voice is living. Men come on friendly visit and Pretty-Voice secures Sioux girl by his ceremony. She gets to know secret of his power and then runs away. She obtains necessary things and then starts at head of war-party to kill Pretty-Voice. Inhabitants of village are defeated and Pretty-Voice finally falls. His mother wishes to collect his flesh, as he had told her, but men will not let her. They make big fire and destroy his body. White fog seen to arise from place for many days after.
26. THE ELK RESCUES A WOMAN FROM THE BEAR.
Poor young man and chief’s daughter run away together. They live alone and man kills deer and elk. He goes to catch eagles and while away Bear comes and takes wife away. Elk tells man and teaches him how to transform himself into Elk. Gives him whistle to attract female elk. Bear leaves den and man blows whistle. Wife and other women rush out to him. Bear comes and attacks Elk, which puts its head down and sticks horns into body. Man shoots and kills Bear. Man takes his wife and Elk other women, who become Elk.
27. THE BOY AND THE ELK.
Young man goes to place where animal skull near lake to cry because no girl will marry him. He hears flute and Elk comes. Elk tells boy to take teeth from skull and gives him flute which will attract girls to him. He goes home, tries flute, and girls come. After he is married, women also come and men kill him. One of his relatives takes teeth and flute. Boy is left unburied and several days afterwards he goes to mother’s tipi. He sends mother to society of Young-Dogs for tobacco. Men afraid of him. Boy goes away followed by relatives. They go into river and all turn into animals. Young man who had flute and elk teeth does not go and is the only one who lives.
28. THE COYOTE, THE GIRL, AND THE MAGIC WINDPIPE.
Beautiful girl lives alone in timber. Has plenty of buffalo meat and some wonderful bundles. Coyote becomes her errand man. When out of meat girl tells Coyote to cover his head up as her brothers are coming. Girl waves buffalo windpipe over smoke and dust in it turns to her seven brothers. They take bows and arrows and girl goes on to lodge, yells and waves towards west and south. Buffalo come and brothers kill them. They return to lodge and girl puts them again into windpipe as dust. Coyote sees performance and decides to steal windpipe. Coyote goes away with windpipe, and while he sleeps girl has brothers bring him back again. This occurs three times. Fourth time girl lets Coyote carry thing off. He goes up hill near village and howls for people to come and kick with him. Several young men go and Coyote turns windpipe upside down, but, instead of dust and boys, swarm of bumblebees come out. Young men run into timber, bees go into hollow tree, and Coyote goes away as coyote.
29. THE BUFFALO-WIFE AND THE JAVELIN GAME.
Young man out hunting dreams of two buffalo bulls turning into sticks and of buffalo cow turning into ring. In morning he sees cow and lies with her. Finds ring in grass and wears it on his wrist. He makes sticks and plays game with young men, winning many things. Goes hunting and sees old woman, who induces him to carry her across river on his back. He can not throw her off and he goes home with her fast to his back. Medicine-men are sent for, but they can do nothing. Poor boy puts on old robe and goes to young man’s lodge with bow and four arrows of different colors. He shoots black arrow and splits woman in two. With red arrow he takes her off boy. The other arrows he places on boy’s back to remove sore place. Old woman is then burned. Next day crying and voice are heard near where woman burned. Young man finds ring has gone. White tipi with woman and child inside appears where others were. Young man goes to see it and woman with new buffalo robe passes by him, having child. Young man makes bundle of eagle feathers and follows them. They become buffalo. Calf communicates with father, and woman finally becomes reconciled to him. They come to hill on which Buffalo bull, boy’s grandfather, is waiting for them. Man puts two eagle feathers on his horns. He sends them on to next hill and at last they come to hill with four Buffalo bulls, chiefs of Buffalo camp. Man puts feathers on their heads. They are sent into village and Buffalo become mad because man has not feathers enough to go around. Man made to sit on hill until they decide what to do with him. He sticks flint knife into ground and asks gods to form stone around where he sits. Buffalo devise various ways for killing him, but do not succeed in doing so. They decide to send man with Buffalo cow and calf to Indian village for presents. Buffalo bull turns man into Buffalo. Buffalo follow them. Man finds village and tells errand. People bring eagle feathers and native tobacco, which man takes to Buffalo. Buffalo willing to be slaughtered and man tells chiefs. Four times people go and kill Buffalo. Leader of Buffalo gives man sticks to play with. Sticks and ring different kinds of people. Man lives long life. Buffalo calf starts Buffalo ceremony among people.
30. THE ORIGIN OF THE WOLF DANCE.
Young man, son of chief, refuses to marry and seven girls plan to put him into hole. They spread weeds over hole and young man falls in. Girls promise to take him out if he does certain things, but finally they leave him. He cries and gray Wolf hears. Wolf says he will help him, and while he is gone Bear comes. Wolf returns and they quarrel about boy, but finally agree that whoever digs through to boy first shall claim him. Wolf gets to boy first, but Bear says he shall be his son. Wolf takes boy among Wolves and he comes to act like wolf. Afterward Buffalo hunters see him, but they cannot catch him. They make trap and place buffalo meat inside inclosure. Wolves are run into trap and four strong men with rawhide leggings are put in. Other Wolves are let out, but Wolf man caught. They tie him, put him into sweat-lodge, and make him vomit. Wolf man recovers and has tipi made. Seven girls who had put boy into hole are invited. Man goes and calls for Wolves and Bears. They come, and he places them about tipi. He tells girls, who try to escape, but Wolves eat them. Father tells people boy’s story and girls’ relatives do not offer to save them. Young man finally becomes chief. He starts Wolf dance.
31. MEDICINE DANCE OF THE BEAVER, TURTLE, AND WITCH-WOMAN.
Animals meet for sleight-of-hand performances. Only Beaver, soft-shell Turtle, and Witch-Woman are to perform. Beaver gnaws nearly through three of lodge posts and people ask him to stop, as they think lodge will fall. Turtle sticks knife near left collar-bone and water pours out all over lodge. People are afraid and Turtle takes all water back again. Witch-Woman plays with gun, but calls for help and gives birth to child, who is to be great medicine-man.
32. THE VILLAGE-BOY AND THE WOLF POWER.
Four girls are made fun of for dancing with their brother. “Village-Boy” has never gone on war-path. Boy goes to graveyard to mourn. Wolf comes and asks why he is crying. Wolf tells boy to join next war-party and he will lead him to enemy’s camp. War-party starts and Village-Boy follows in three days. Wolf has taught him secret powers and when he comes to ravine he rolls on the ground and becomes wolf. He barks and friend brings him burnt bones, which he gnaws. Next day he tells friend enemy’s camp is near. He drives in ponies. When enemy is attacked Village-Boy is in lead and takes scalp. He gives scalp to leader and returns ahead of war-party, but says nothing. Leader gives all credit to Village-Boy. Scalp-dance held. Young man’s sisters dance without fear of ridicule. He goes east with warriors and takes head of medicine-man of Dumb People. Head dries and is used for medicine purposes. Now about size of hen’s egg.
33. THE RABBIT-BOY.
Young man who has not been on war-path mourns on graveyard hill. Remains there several days in storm. Jack-Rabbit crawls under his robe. Eagle comes and asks for Rabbit. Rabbit promises him powers if he will save him. Eagle promises him scalps if he will turn Rabbit loose. Boy refuses and Eagle flies away. Rabbit says he will make young man great warrior and gives him war-club, rabbit-skin, and medicine paints. Boy returns home. He follows war-party and acts as scout. Goes and brings ponies from enemy’s village. Attack is made on enemy’s camp. Rabbit-Boy kills old man and goes through village and escapes. Sees pretty girl who watches him. Soon after they go again to village. Boy kills man and again sees girl. Girl gives Arikara woman captive moccasins, beaded bracelets, and beaded armlet to take to young man. Woman gives him things and young man at once starts for enemy’s camp. He goes to girl’s tipi, puts in his hand, and she recognizes him by bracelet. He sleeps with girl and father finds them in bed together. Father sends for warriors, who prepare to kill young man. He is saved by new-comer, who is glad he has married one of their girls, as he will now lead their people. They go on war-path to young man’s country. He kills captive woman and gives her scalp to chief. This happens several times and young man never kills members of his own tribe. The two tribes make peace.
34. THE MAN AND THE WATER-DOGS.
People in large village are afraid of man who commits evil deeds. They make plot to seize him. They attack him and he walks towards river. He steps in and walks on bottom and sees tipi. He goes in and sees many dogs. Leader tells him not to be afraid of any man and if hurt he is to come to them. Man returns home and men afraid. He commits worse acts than before and his relatives and his wife’s relatives separate from the village. People dare not fight with man.
35. THE FIVE TURTLES AND THE BUFFALO DANCE.
Five soft-shell Turtles go to village. Four of them have eagle feathers on head. Fifth has black feather and is so angry it goes to river. Four turtles die and they are made into drums, which are afterwards changed for rawhide drums. Buffalo dance organized. Mysterious being with magpie feathers growing on his head et qui falsum penem inter crura habebat dances. Girl not permitted to leave lodge while mysterious being dancing. She goes out and et monstrum fecit quasi cum illa concumbere vellet. Girl becomes pregnant and gives birth to child like father. People kill it and throw it into river. Father goes to medicine-man, who throws rock into river and waters part. They see child in water and man pulls him out. Medicine-man breaks big stone in two with club and they bury child between stones. Mysterious being then marries girl who gave birth to mysterious boy.
36. THE NOTCHED STICK AND THE OLD WOMAN OF THE ISLAND.
Notched stick for rubbing other sticks on and dried buffalo hide used to make rain during medicine-men’s ceremony. At end of ceremony notched stick and buffalo hide are taken to island. Man goes to island and sees old woman sitting. He tells father, who says objects are put on island because they are old woman.
37. THE MAN WHO MARRIED A COYOTE.
War-party is attacked by enemy. One man killed and others return home. Man only stunned, and year after he comes to. He falls in with Coyotes and marries one. Warriors hunting surround and capture him. He becomes well by taking medicine. He shouts for coyote wife from top of lodge. Coyotes come and wife goes into lodge. They smoke her, but she goes away and joins other Coyotes. Man finds one of his baby coyotes in snow bank. He goes home to warm himself and on return baby is gone.
38. THE MAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE.
Old man with great reputation as medicine-man goes with people to meet hunting party. He sits on hill waiting for dried meat to offer sacrifice to gods, but no one presents any. Last young man gives him dried buffalo tongue, but old man sits with head down. Feasts and councils are held, but old man absent. They go in search of him and he tells them it is too late. His legs have turned to stone and next day he is a rock in form of man.
39. THE WOMAN WHO TURNED INTO A STONE.
Daughter of chief refuses to marry, but at last is persuaded by mother. Husband fails to have connection with wife, who has only sunflower. She goes away and turns to stone through shame.
40. THE POWER OF THE BLOODY SCALPED-MAN.
Young man goes to hill to obtain power. Bloody scalped-man comes and young man runs away. Friend goes and when scalped-man comes he closes his eyes, but does not run. Man takes him to cave. There men are seated in circle, but none are scalped. Leader tells young man how to make himself look like scalped-man; gives him war-club, and root to make him run swiftly. Enemy comes and young man makes himself look like bloody scalped-man. He attacks enemy and kills one. Enemy retreats and while his people run after them he smokes body, washes in creek, and returns to lodge. In night he goes to place where he received power. He becomes great medicine-man and brings home many pieces of scalps, which he makes himself.
41. THE BOY WHO CARRIED A SCALPED-MAN INTO CAMP.
Party of warriors on war-path run into lake by enemy and all killed and scalped. Another war-party starts from same village. Camp near lake. Poor boy goes at night to get water from lake. Voices tell him to go further into lake for water. By light of moon sees leader of first war-party scalped, with hands and feet cut off. Boy carries scalped-man on his back to camp. They kill number of enemy equal to number in lake and return home.
42. THE GIRL WHO WAS BLEST BY THE BUFFALO AND CORN.
Mother while busy puts baby girl on buffalo skull at altar. Skull thinks baby given to him. Child grows and shows signs of having power from gods. When grown to womanhood famine prevails. Medicine-men can do nothing. Woman tells people to clean cellars. They do so and give her their seed corn. Woman throws little seed into each cellar, which is covered up, and after fourth day cellars filled with corn and other things.
43. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE SNAKES.
Arikara go to hunt and see pretty little snake by path. They give it presents. Two foolish boys come along and kill snake. They tell people, who turn back from hunt and climb upon high arbors. Many snakes come. Arikara kill snakes with clubs, but many Arikara are killed, among them the two foolish boys.
44. THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE ARIKARA AND THE BEARS.
Young wife has garden in woods. She goes every day in spring and takes much food. Husband secretly follows her. He sees man with bear’s claws about neck come and help wife and afterwards lie with her. Next day husband pretends to go hunting, but hides in garden. Man again comes to wife and while they are lying together husband shoots man with arrow. He then clubs woman, who tells him man is bear. Three days afterwards bears attack Arikara camp and kill husband and all people who do not hide in cellars.
45. THE WIFE WHO MARRIED AN ELK.
While man goes hunting men come to see wife. She goes away with one. Husband follows and sees wife walking with Elk. He shoots at it, but arrows do no harm. Elk and woman go into lake. Man stays there crying. Woman comes and tells him to go home and that when he starts upon war-path to come to lake. Man goes on war-path, first going to lake. Sees woman, who tells him that they would kill people in three tipis and capture their ponies. They do so. Next time man goes on war-path he again visits lake. Woman tells him she can not leave lake any more and that in fight he will see woman like her. He is to catch her and she will become his wife. It happens as she said.
46. THE FOUR GIRLS AND THE MOUNTAIN-LION.
Mountain-lion tells four girls who are gathering wood he wants them for wives. They run to different wonderful beings for protection, but none can help them. They come to Hair-Cut-in-Notches and offer to live with him as wives if he will save them. He sends them into lodge and then sings about his head and hair—his hair is his arrows. Mountain-lion comes and man shoots and kills him. Hair-Cut-in-Notches tells girls he is not human being and sends them home.
47. THE DEEDS OF YOUNG-EAGLE.
Chief of north village of Arikara has beautiful daughter, Yellow-Calf. Chief of south village has handsome son, Young-Eagle, who does not look with favor upon women and has not been on war-party. Young-Eagle starts for north village to see Yellow-Calf, and same day Yellow-Calf starts for south village to see Young-Eagle. They meet on hill half-way between villages. They make pile of stones on hill and start for Yellow-Calf’s home. They come to lake and Young-Eagle says they must wash before going to village. Yellow-Calf washes first. Young-Eagle wades into water with clothes on and when he comes out he is quite changed in appearance. He is like “Burnt-Belly” boy. Girl takes him home and they lie together. In morning Yellow-Calf’s parents are ashamed of him and so is she, but he remains. Boy hears that war-party is going out and tells girl that in three days her youngest brother is to get buffalo intestines and bones and that he will come. Young-Eagle takes wife to lake and after she has washed he wades into lake. He comes out same man she had first met. He sends wife home and turns to young eagle, which flies to where warriors gone. Brother-in-law hears eagle’s cry and takes him intestines and bones. Young-Eagle brings in ponies and then kills several men and takes their scalps, which he sends by brother-in-law to leader. He goes to lodge, but does not tell wife what has happened. War-party returns and tell story of Young-Eagle’s doings. Scalps are put upon pole at entrance of old woman’s lodge. This occurs on several occasions, and once Young-Eagle goes with wife to lake and gets his own likeness. They go with scalps Young-Eagle has taken to village of his father, Black-Sun. Black-Sun sings scalp songs and braves and warriors decide that Young-Eagle shall lead people to girl’s village. Arikara become one tribe again.
48. THE GIRL WHO BECAME A WHIRLWIND.