proclaim it abroad." So when morning came, he went to the top of the
tent, and sat, and said, "I, I have abundance laid up. I eat the fat
of the animals."

That is how the meadow lark came to be made, they say. It has a yellow
breast and black in the middle, which is the yellow of that morning,
and they say the black stripe is made by a smooth buffalo horn worn
for a necklace.

The young man said, "Grandfather, I want to go visiting."

"Yes," said the old man. "When one is young is the time to go
visiting."

The young man went and came to a people, and lo! they were engaged in
shooting arrows through a hoop. And there was a young man who was
simply looking on. By and by he said, "My friend, let us go to your
house."

So they came to his lodge. Now this young man also had been raised by
his grandmother, and lived with her, they say.

"Grandmother, I have brought my friend home with me; get him something
to eat," said the grandson.

Grandmother said, "What shall I do?"

Then the visiting young man said, "How is it, grandmother?"

She said, "The people are about to die of thirst. All who go for water
will not come back again."

Fallen Star said, "My friend, take a kettle; we will go for water."

"With difficulty have I raised my grandchild," objected the old woman.

"You are afraid of trifles," said the grandson. So he went with
Star-born.

They reached the side of the lake. By the water of the lake stood
troughs half full of water.

Star-born called out, "You who they say have killed every one who has
come for water, where have you gone? I have come for water."

Then immediately whither they went is not manifest. Behold, there was
a long house which was extended, and it was full of young men and
women. Some of them were dead and some were dying.

"How did you come here?" asked Star-born.

They replied, "What do you mean? We came for water and something
swallowed us."

Something kept striking on the head of Star-born.

"What is this?" he said.

"Get away," they replied, "that is the heart."

Then he drew out his knife and cut it to pieces. Suddenly something
made a great noise. In the great body, these people were swallowed up.
When the heart died, death came to the body. Then Star-born cut a
great hole in the side, and came out, bringing the young men and the
young women. All came to life again.

So the people were thankful and offered him two wives.

But he said, "I am journeying. My friend here will marry them."

Then Star-born went on, they say. Again he found a young man standing
where they were shooting through a hoop. He said, "I will look on with
my friend," and went and stood beside him.

Then the other said, "My friend, let us go home," so he went with him
to his tepee.

"Grandmother, I have brought my friend home with me," he said. "Get
him something to eat."

Grandmother replied, "How shall I do as you say?"

"How is it?" said Star-born.

"This people are perishing for wood," she said; "when any one goes for
wood, he never comes home again."

Star-born said, "My friend, take the packing strap; we will go for
wood."

The old woman protested. "This one, my grandchild, I have raised with
difficulty," she said. He answered, "Old woman, what you are afraid of
are trifles," and went with the young man. "I am going to bring wood,"
he said. "If any wish to go, come along."

"The young man who came from somewhere says this," they said, so they
followed him.

They had now reached the wood. They found it tied up in bundles. He
ordered them to carry it home, but he stood still and said, "You who
killed every one who came to this wood, where have you gone?"

Then, suddenly, where he went was not made manifest. And lo! a tepee,
and in it some young men and young women; some were eating, and some
were waiting.

He said to them, "How came you here?"

They answered, "What do you mean? We came for wood and something
brought us here. Now you also are lost."

He looked behind him, and lo! there was a hole.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Stop!" they said. "That is the thing itself."

He drew out an arrow and shot it. Then suddenly it opened out and
behold! it was the ear of an owl in which they had been shut up. When
it was killed, it opened out. Then he said, "Young men and women, come
out," so they went home.

Again they offered him two wives. But he said, "My friend will marry
them. I am traveling."

Again he passed on. And he came to a dwelling place of people and
found them shooting the hoop. There stood a young man looking on. He
joined him as his friend. While they stood there together, he said:

"Friend, let us go to your home." So he went with him to his tepee.

The young man said, "Grandmother, I have brought my friend home with
me; get him something to eat."

She said, "Where shall I get it from, that you say that?"

"Grandmother, how is it that you say so?" asked the stranger.

She replied, "Waziya treats this people very badly. When they go out
to kill buffalo, he takes it all, and now they are starving to death."

Now Waziya was a giant who caused very cold weather and blizzards.

Then he said, "Grandmother, go to him and say, 'My grandchild has come
on a journey and has nothing to eat; so he has sent me to you.'"

So the old woman went and standing at a distance, cried, "Waziya, my
grandchild has come on a journey and has nothing to eat; so he has
sent me to you."

He replied, "Bad old woman, get you home; what do you mean by coming
here?"

The old woman came home crying, and saying that Waziya had threatened
to kill some of her relations.

Star-born said, "My friend, take your strap; we will go there."

The old woman interfered: "I have with difficulty raised my
grandchild."

Grandchild replied to this by saying, "Grandmother is very much
afraid." So the two went together.

When they came to the house of Waziya, they found a great deal of
dried meat outside. He put as much on his friend as he could carry,
and sent him home with it; then Star-born entered the tepee of Waziya,
and said to him, "Waziya, why did you answer my grandmother as you did
when I sent her to you?"

Waziya only looked angry.

Hanging there was a bow of ice. "Waziya, why do you keep this?" he
said.

The giant replied, "Hands off; whoever touches that gets a broken
arm."

Star-born said, "I will see if my arm breaks." He took the ice bow and
snapped it into many pieces, and then started home.

The next morning all the people went on the chase and killed many
buffaloes. But, as he had done before, the Waziya went all over the
field, gathered up all the meat, and put it in his blanket.

Star-born was cutting up a fat cow. Waziya came and stood there. He
said, "Who cuts this up?"

"I am," answered Star-born.

Waziya said, "From where have you come that you act so haughtily?"

"Whence have you come, Waziya, that you act so proudly?" he retorted.

Waziya said, "Fallen Star, whoever points his finger at me dies." The
young man thought, "I will point my finger at him and see if I die."
He pointed his finger, but it made no difference.

Then Fallen Star said, "Waziya, whoever points his finger at me, his
hand loses all use." So Waziya thought, "I will point my finger and
see." He pointed his finger. His forearm lost all use. Then he
pointed his finger with the other hand. It was destroyed even to the
elbow.

Then Fallen Star drew out his knife and cut up Waziya's blanket, and
all the buffalo meat he had gathered there fell out. Fallen Star
called to the people, "Henceforth kill and carry home."

So the people took the meat and carried it to their tepees.

The next morning, they say, it was rumored that the blanket of Waziya,
which had been cut to pieces, had been sewed up by his wife. He was
about to shake it.

The giant stood with his face toward the north and shook his blanket.
Then the wind blew from the north. Snow fell all about the camp so
that the people were all snowed in. They were much troubled. They
said, "We did live in some fashion before; but now this young man has
acted so we are in great trouble."

But he said, "Grandmother, find me a fan."

Then she made a road under the snow, and went to people and said, "My
grandchild says he wants a fan."

"What does he mean by saying that?" they asked and gave him one.

Now the snow reached to the top of the lodges, and so Fallen Star
pushed up through the snow, and sat on the ridge of the lodge. While
the wind was blowing to the south, he sat and fanned himself and made
the wind come from the south. Then the heat became great. The snow
went as if boiling water had been poured over it. All over the ground
there was a mist. Waziya and his wife and children all died with the
great heat. But the youngest child, the littlest child of Waziya, took
refuge in the hole made by the tent pole, where there was a frost, and
so he lived. So they say that is all that is left of Waziya now, just
the littlest child.

[Illustration: PETROGLYPH IN NEBRASKA

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

QUARREL OF THE SUN AND MOON

_Omaha_

"I am out of patience with you," said Moon to Sun. "Although I bring
people together, you scatter them. Thus many are lost."

"I have desired many people to grow," said Sun, "and so I have
scattered them; but you have been putting them in darkness and thus
have you been killing many with hunger. Ho! ye people!" called the
Sun. "Many of you shall mature. I will look down on you from above. I
will direct you, whatever you do."

Then Moon said, "And I, too, will dwell so. I will collect you; when
it is dark, you shall assemble in full numbers, and sleep. I myself
will rule you, whatever you do. And we shall walk in the road, one
after the other. I will walk behind him."

Moon is just like a woman. She always walks with a kettle on her arm.

WHY THE POSSUM PLAYS DEAD

_Cherokee_

Rabbit and Possum each wanted a wife, but no one would marry either of
them. They talked over the matter and Rabbit said, "We can't get wives
here. Let's go to the next village. I'll say I'm messenger for the
council and that everybody must marry at once, and then we'll be sure
to get wives."

Off they started for the next town. As Rabbit traveled the faster, he
got there first. He waited outside the village until people noticed
him and took him into the council lodge. When the chief asked his
business, Rabbit said he brought an important message: everyone must
be married at once. So the chief called a great council of the people
and told them the message.

Every animal took a mate at once, and thus Rabbit got a wife.

But Possum traveled slowly. Therefore he reached the village so late
that all the men were married and there was no wife for him. Rabbit
pretended to be sorry. He said, "Never mind. I'll carry the same
message to the next village."

So Rabbit traveled ahead to the next village. He waited outside until
they invited him to the council lodge. There he told the chief he
brought an important message: there had been peace so long, there must
be war at once. The war must begin in the council lodge.

The animals all began to fight at once, but Rabbit got away in just
four leaps. Then Possum reached the lodge. Now Possum had brought no
weapons. So all the animals began to fight Possum. They hit him so
hard that after a while he rolled over in a corner and shut his eyes
and pretended to be dead. That is why Possum pretends to be dead when
he finds the hunters after him.

BOG MYTH

_Dakota_

Bogs are very mysterious. Strange things, with thick hair, remain at
the bottom of a bog. These things have no eyes, but they eat
everything which comes to them, and from their bodies water flows
always. When one of these Beings wishes, he changes his place of
abode. He lives at a new place. Then the old place where he lived
dries up; but a fresh spring of water gushes from his new lodge. The
water of this spring is warm in winter; but in summer it is as cold as
ice. Before one dares drink of it, he prays to the water, else he may
bring illness on himself for irreverence.

In the olden days, one of the Bog Beings was pulled out of a bog and
carried to the camp. A special tepee was built for him. But so much
water flowed all around that the people were almost drowned. Then
those who were not drowned offered him food. He sat motionless, gazing
at them. But the food vanished before they could see it go; and no one
saw the Bog Being eat it.

COYOTE AND SNAKE

_Omaha_

Coyote was going in a straight line across the prairie. While he was
seeking something, a person said suddenly, "Stop!" Coyote thought,
"Who can it be?"

He looked all around but saw no one. Then he walked on a few steps,
when some one said, "Walk around me!" Then Coyote saw it was Snake.

"Humph!" said Coyote. "When I walk here, I do not wish to walk around
anyone at all. You go to one side. Get out of my way!"

Snake replied, "I am here. I have never thought for a moment of giving
place to anyone!"

"Even if you think so," said Coyote, "I will run over you."

"If you do so, you shall die," said Snake.

"Why should I die? There is nothing that can kill me," said Coyote.

"Come! Step over me. Do it in spite of me," said Snake. Then Coyote
stepped over him. And Snake bit him. But Coyote did not feel it.

"Where is it? You said that if I stepped over you, I should die.
Where have I received my death blow?" said Coyote.

Snake made no reply and Coyote walked on. After some time he came to a
creek. As he was about to drink, he saw himself in the water. He
seemed very fat.

"Whew!" he said. "I was never so before. I am very fat." Saying this,
he felt himself all over; but that was all he did. Then he walked on
until he felt sleepy. He said, "I am very sleepy." So he pushed his
way into the thick grass and fell asleep. Coyote did not wake up.
Snake had told the truth.

WHY THE WOLVES HELP IN WAR

_Dakota_

Once upon a time an Indian found a wolf den, and began digging into it
to get the cubs.

Wolf Mother appeared, barking. She said, "Pity my children," but he
paid no attention to her. So she ran for her husband.

Wolf Father soon appeared. He barked. Still the man dug into the den.
Then Wolf Father sang a beautiful song. He sang, "O man, pity my
children, and I will teach you one of my arts." He ended with a howl
which caused a fog. When the Wolf Father howled again, the fog
disappeared.

The man thought, "These animals have mysterious gifts." So he tore up
his red blanket into small pieces. He tied a piece around the neck of
each of the wolf cubs, as a necklace. Then he painted them with red
paint and put them back into the den.

Wolf Father was very grateful. He said, "When you go to war hereafter,
I will go with you. I will bring about whatever you wish." Then the
man went away.

After a while the man went on the warpath. Just as he came in sight
of the village of the enemy, a large wolf met him.

Wolf said, "By and by I will sing. Then you shall steal their horses
when they least suspect danger."

So the man stopped on a hill close to the village. And the wolf sang.
After that he howled, making a high wind arise. The horses fled to the
forest, but many stopped on the hillside. When the wolf howled again,
the wind died down and a mist arose. So the man on the warpath took as
many horses as he pleased.

HOW RABBIT ESCAPED FROM THE WOLVES

_Cherokee_

Once upon a time, Wolves caught Rabbit. They were going to eat him,
but Rabbit said he would show them a new dance. Now the Wolves knew
that Rabbit was a good dancer, so they made a ring around him.

Rabbit pattered with his feet and began to dance around in a circle,
singing,

    On the edge of the field I dance about,
    _Ha' nia lil! lil! Ha' nia lil! lil!_

Then the Rabbit stopped a minute. He said, "Now when I sing 'on the
edge of the field,' I dance that way"--and he danced over in that
direction; "and when I sing '_lil! lil!_' you must all stamp your feet
hard."

The Wolves liked that. They liked new dances.

Rabbit began singing the same song, dancing nearer to the field, while
all the Wolves stamped their feet. He sang the song again, dancing
still nearer the edge of the field. The fourth time he sang it, while
the Wolves were stamping their feet as hard as they could. Rabbit made
one jump off and leaped through the long grass. The Wolves raced after
him, but Rabbit ran for a hollow stump and climbed inside. When the
Wolves got there, one of them put his head inside, but Rabbit hit him
on the eye and he pulled his head out. The others were afraid to try,
so they went away and left Rabbit in the stump.

[Illustration: PLAINS INDIANS DRAGGING BRUSH FOR A MEDICINE LODGE

_By permission of Sumner W. Matteson, the photographer_]

[Illustration: AN EARTH LODGE

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

HOW RABBIT LOST HIS FAT

_Omaha_

At first all the four-footed animals were fat. The one who made them
wished to know if they looked well so fat. So he called all the
four-footed animals together. He seized by the head each one who did
not look handsome with the fat, and scraped it all off.

At length someone took Rabbit to him.

"Fat makes me handsome," said Rabbit "I will be the one."

"Let me see! Come here!" said the one who made the animals. Then he
made Rabbit fat. Then he looked at him. "Fat makes you ugly beyond
measure."

So he seized Rabbit by the head and scraped off the fat from the base
of his neck. But he pulled suddenly at the flesh in the space between
the shoulders. Therefore, ever since then Rabbit has had a hollow
space between his shoulders, and only in that place is there a piece
of fat.

At length the person who made the animals saw that Raccoon was the
only person who looked well when fat. So he made the whole body of
Raccoon fat.

HOW FLINT VISITED RABBIT

_Cherokee_

Long ago, in the old days, Flint lived up in the mountains, and all
the animals hated him because he had helped to kill so many of them.
All the arrowheads were made of flint. They used to have councils.
They tried to think of some means of killing him. But everybody was
afraid to go near to his house, until at last Rabbit, who was the
boldest, offered to try to kill Flint.

So Rabbit asked the trail to Flint's house. At last he reached the
house.

Flint was standing at the door of his lodge when Rabbit reached there.
He said, "_Siyu!_ Hello! Are you the fellow they call Flint?"

"Yes; that's what they call me," said Flint.

"Is this where you live?"

"Yes; this is where I live."

All the time Rabbit was looking at the lodge and all about him. He was
trying to think how to kill Flint. Rabbit had expected Flint to invite
him into his lodge. But Flint only stood in the door.

Rabbit said, "My name is Rabbit. I've heard a good deal about you, so
I came to see you."

Flint said, "Where is your lodge?"

"Down in the broom-grass field near the river," said Rabbit.

Flint said, "I will come and visit you after a while."

Rabbit said, "Come now and have supper with me."

So Rabbit coaxed Flint until he said yes, and the two started down the
mountain side together.

When they came near Rabbit's hole, Rabbit said, "There is my lodge,
but in summer I stay outside here, where it is cooler."

So he made a fire and they had their supper on the grass. When supper
was over, Flint stretched out on the grass to rest. Rabbit picked up
some heavy sticks and his knife, and cut a mallet and wedge.

Flint looked up and said, "What is that for?"

"Oh," said Rabbit, "I like to be doing something and they may come in
handy."

Flint lay down again and soon he was sound asleep. Rabbit spoke to him
once or twice, but he did not answer. Then Rabbit came over to Flint
and with one blow of the mallet drove the stake through Flint. Then he
ran with all his might for his own hole. But before he reached it,
there was a loud explosion, and pieces of flint flew all about. That
is why we find flint in so many places now. One piece struck Rabbit
and cut him just as he dived into his hole. He sat listening until
everything was quiet again. Then he put his head out to look around,
just as another piece fell. It cut his lip, just as we see it now.

HOW RABBIT CAUGHT THE SUN IN A TRAP

_Omaha_

Once upon a time Rabbit dwelt in a lodge with no one but his
grandmother. It was his custom to go hunting very early in the
morning. But no matter how early in the morning he went, a person with
a very long foot had been along, leaving a trail. Rabbit wished to
know him.

"Now," he thought, "I will go in advance of that person." Having risen
very early in the morning, he departed, but again it happened that the
person had been along, leaving a trail. Then Rabbit went home.

"Grandmother," he said, "though I arrange for myself to go first, a
person goes ahead of me every time. Grandmother, I will make a snare
and I will catch him."

"Why should you do it?" she asked.

"I hate the person," he said.

Again Rabbit departed. And again had the footprints gone along. So
Rabbit lay waiting for night to come. Then he made a noose of a
bowstring, setting it where the footprints were commonly seen.

Next morning Rabbit reached the place very early, to see what he had
caught in his trap. And it happened that he had caught the Sun.
Running very fast, he went homewards to tell about it.

"Grandmother," he said, "I have caught something or other but it
scares me. Grandmother, I wished to take away my bowstring, but I was
scared every time."

So he went there again with a knife. This time he got very near it.

"You have done wrong. Why have you done it? Come and untie me," said
the Sun.

The Rabbit, although he went to untie him, kept going past him a
little on one side. Then he made a rush with his head bent down and
his arm stretched out, and cut the bowstring with his knife. And the
Sun rose into the sky. But Rabbit had the hair between his shoulders
scorched yellow by the heat of the Sun as he stooped and cut the
bowstring. Then Rabbit arrived at his lodge.

"I am burnt. Oh, grandmother! the heat has left nothing of me," he
said.

Grandmother said, "Oh, my grandchild! I think the heat has left to me
nothing of him!"

From that time Rabbit has always had a singed spot upon his back,
between his shoulders.

HOW RABBIT KILLED THE GIANT

_Omaha_

When Rabbit was going on a journey, he came to a certain village. The
people said, "Halloo! Rabbit has come as a visitor."

On meeting him, they said, "Whom did you come to see?"

"Why, I will go to the lodge of any one," said Rabbit.

"But the people have nothing to eat," they said. "The Giant is the
only one who has anything to eat. You ought to go to his lodge."

Yet, the Rabbit passed on to the end lodge and entered it.

"Friend, we have nothing to eat," said the host.

"Why, my friend," said Rabbit, "when there is nothing, people eat
anything they can get."

At length the Giant invited Rabbit to a feast.

"Oh ho!" called the man whose lodge Rabbit had entered. "Friend, you
are invited. Hasten!"

Now all the people were afraid of the Giant. No matter what animal
anyone killed, the Giant kept all of the meat.

Rabbit arrived at the lodge of the Giant. As he entered, the host
said, "Oh! Pass around to that side." But Rabbit leaped over and took
a seat. At length food was given him. He ate it very rapidly but left
some which he hid in his robe. Then he pushed the bowl aside.

"Friend," he said to the Giant, "here is the bowl." Then he said,
"Friend, I must go." He sprang past the fireplace at one leap, at the
second leap his feet touched the chest of the Giant's servant, and
with another leap he had gone.

When Rabbit reached the lodge where he was visiting, he gave his host
the food he had not eaten. The man and his wife were glad to eat it,
since they had been without food.

Next morning, the crier passed through the village, commanding the
people to be stirring.

They said, "The Giant is the one for whom they are to kill game." So
they all went hunting. They scared some animals out of a dense forest
and shot at them. Rabbit went thither very quickly. He found Giant had
reached there before him and taken all the game. When Rabbit heard
shooting in another place, he went thither, but again found the Giant
was before him.

"This is provoking!" thought Rabbit.

When some persons shot at game in another place Rabbit noticed it,
and went thither immediately, reaching the spot before the Giant.

"Friend," he said to the man who had killed the deer, "let us cut it
up."

The man was unwilling. He said, "No, friend, the Giant will come by
and by."

"Pshaw, friend," said Rabbit. "When one kills animals, he cuts them up
and then makes an equal distribution of the pieces," said the Rabbit.

Still the man refused, fearing the Giant. So Rabbit rushed forward and
seized the deer by the feet.

When he had only slit the skin, the Giant arrived.

"You have done wrong. Let it alone," Giant said.

"What have I done wrong?" asked Rabbit. "When one kills game, he cuts
it up and makes an equal distribution of the pieces."

"Let it alone, I say," said the Giant.

But Rabbit continued to insert the knife in the meat.

"I will blow that _thing_ into the air," said the Giant.

"Blow me into the air! Blow me into the air!" said Rabbit.

So the Giant went closer to him, and when he blew at him the Rabbit
went up into the air with his fur blown apart. Striding past, the
Giant seized the deer, put it through his belt, and departed. That was
his custom. He took all the deer that were killed, hung them on his
belt, and took them to his lodge. He was a very tall person.

At night Rabbit wandered around, and at last went all around the
Giant's lodge. He seized an insect and said to it, "Oh, insect! You
shall go and bite the Giant right in the side."

At length when it was morning, it was said the Giant was ill. Then he
died.

The people said, "Make a village for Rabbit!"

But Rabbit said, "I do not wish to be chief. I have left my old woman
by herself, so I will return to her."

HOW THE DEER GOT HIS HORNS

_Cherokee_

Long ago, in the beginning, Deer had no horns. His head was smooth
like a doe's. Now Deer was a very fast runner, but Rabbit was a famous
jumper. So the animals used to talk about it and wonder which could go
the farther in the same time. They talked about it a great deal. They
decided to have a race between the two, and they made a pair of large
antlers to be given to whoever could run the faster. Deer and Rabbit
were to start together from one side of a thicket, go through it, and
then turn and come back. The one who came out of the thicket first was
to receive the horns.

On a certain day all the animals were there. They put the antlers down
on the ground to mark the starting point. Everyone admired the horns.
But Rabbit said, "I don't know this part of the country; I want to
look through the bushes where I am to run."

So the Rabbit went into the thicket, and stayed a long time. He was
gone so long the animals suspected he was playing a trick. They sent a
messenger after him. Right in the middle of the thicket he found
Rabbit, gnawing down the bushes and pulling them away to make a clear
road for himself.

The messenger came back quietly and told the animals. When Rabbit came
back, they accused him of cheating. Rabbit said, "No," but at last
they all went into the thicket and found the road he had made.
Therefore the animals gave the antlers to Deer, saying that he was the
better runner. That is why deer have antlers. And because Rabbit cut
the bushes down, he is obliged to keep cutting them down, as he does
to this day.

[Illustration: KANSA CHIEF

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

[Illustration: BIG GOOSE

(Omaha)

_Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution_]

WHY THE DEER HAS BLUNT TEETH

_Cherokee_

One day after the race which they did not run, Rabbit stretched a
large grapevine across the trail, gnawing it nearly in two in the
middle. Then he went back on the trail, took a run, and jumped up at
the vine. He did this again and again. At last Deer came along and
asked him to tell what he was doing.

"Don't you see?" said Rabbit. "I'm so strong I can bite through that
grapevine at one jump."

Deer said, "Do it." Rabbit ran back, made a long leap, and bit through
the vine where he had gnawed it before.

Deer said, "Well, I can do it if you can."

So Rabbit stretched a larger grapevine across the trail but without
gnawing it in the center. Deer ran back as he had seen Rabbit do, made
a spring, and struck the grapevine right in the center. It only flew
back and threw him over.

Deer tried again and again, but he was only bruised and hurt.

"Let me see your teeth," said Rabbit. They were long like a wolf's
teeth but not very sharp.

"No wonder you cannot do it," said Rabbit. "Your teeth are too blunt
to bite anything. Let me sharpen them for you so they are like mine.
My teeth are so sharp I can cut through a stick just like a knife."

And Rabbit showed Deer a black locust twig, of which rabbits gnaw the
young shoots, which he had shaved off as well as a knife could do it.

So Deer let Rabbit sharpen his teeth. But Rabbit got a hard stone with
rough edges and ground down the Deer's teeth until they were blunt.

"Now try it," said Rabbit to Deer. So Deer tried it again, but he
could not bite at all.

"Now you've paid for your horns," said Rabbit as he sprang through the
underbrush. That is why the Deer's teeth are blunt.

LEGEND OF THE HEAD OF GOLD

_Dakota_

A man had four children. And they were all young men, but they were
poor and it seemed as if they would die of laziness. The old man said,
"Behold! old woman. I have the greatest pity for my youngest child,
and I do not wish him to die of poverty. See here; let us seek the
Great Mystery, Wakantanka. If we find him, behold! I will give the boy
to him to train up well for me."

"Yes, old man; you say well. We will do so," said the old woman. So at
once they went toward the Darkening Land, seeking Wakantanka. They
came to a very high hill; and as they came to it, behold! another man
came there also.

The stranger said, "For what are you seeking?"

"Alas, my friend," the old man said, "my child, whom I pity, I wish to
give to Wakantanka, the Great Mystery, and so I am seeking him."

"Yes, friend. I am Wakantanka," said the man. "My friend, give him to
me. I will take him to my home."

So when the father gave up the boy, the Great Mystery took him to a
house that stood up like the clouds. He said, "Look at this house as
much as you like. Take good care of these horses. But do not look into
the little house that stands here."

Having said this, he gave him all the keys. He added, "Yes, have a
watch of this. Lo, I am going on a journey." He said this and went
away.

It was evening; he came home with a great many men, who sat down,
filling the house. When they had been there a good while one of them
said, "The boy is good; that is enough." Saying this, he went out. In
like manner, all the men went home.

Then again Wakantanka said, "Behold, I go on a journey. Stay here and
keep watch." So again he went away.

While the boy was watching, one of the horses said, "Friend, go into
the little house where you are commanded not to look, and inside in
the middle of the floor stands something yellow. Dip your head in that
and make haste--we two are together. When he brings home a great many
men, they will eat you, as they will eat me, but I am unwilling--we
two shall share the same," he said.

So the boy went into the little house. In the middle of the floor
stood a round yellow thing into which he dipped his head. Immediately
his head became golden and the house was shining and full of light.

Then he came out and jumped on the horse that had talked to him and
they fled.

They went very fast. Now when they had gone a long way, behold! there
came after them the one who called himself Wakantanka. He shouted,
"You bad rascals, stop! You shall not live! Where will you go in such
a small country as this?"

Saying this he came toward them and they were much frightened. Again
he shouted, "You bad rascals, stop! You shall not live." And indeed it
seemed as if they could not live.

Then the horse said, "Take the egg you have and throw it behind us."
The boy did so. At once the whole country became a sea. He who
followed was obliged to stop. He said, "Alas, my horse, have mercy on
me and take me to the other side. If you do, I will value you very
highly."

"Oh, I am not willing to do that," the horse replied. But he continued
to urge. Then he threw himself down from above the water, so that when
he came to the middle of it, he went down and both he and the horse
were drowned. But the boy passed safely on.

So he came to the dwellings of people and remained there. But from
behind they came to attack and fought with them. But the boy turned
his head around, and his head was covered with gold; also the horse he
sat upon was golden, and those who came against him were thrown off
their horses and only a few remained when the battle was over. Again,
when they returned to the attack, he destroyed them all. So the boy
was much thought of by the people.

THE MILKY WAY

_Cherokee_

Now the Indians had a corn mill, in which they pounded the corn into
meal. Several mornings when they came to the stone in which the corn
was pounded, they saw that some of the meal had been stolen. Therefore
they looked at the ground. They found the tracks of a dog.

The next night, the people watched, and when the dog came from the
north, they saw him begin to eat meal out of the stone bowl. Then they
sprang out and whipped him.

The dog ran howling back to the north, dropping the meal from his
mouth as he ran. Therefore he left behind a white trail where we now
see the Milky Way. But the Cherokees called it "Where-the-dog-ran."

COYOTE AND GRAY FOX

_Ponca_

Gray fox was very fat. Coyote said, "Younger brother, what has made
you fat?" "Elder brother," said the Gray Fox, "I lie down on the trail
in the way of those who carry crackers, and I pretend to be dead. When
they throw me in the wagon, I lie there, kicking the crackers out.
Then I leap out and start home eating. It is the crackers which make
me fat. Elder brother, I wish you would do likewise. Elder brother,
you have large feet, so I think will knock out a great many crackers."

Coyote went to the place and lay down in the trail. When the white man
came along, he threw Coyote into the wagon. The white man thought, "It
is not the first time he has acted in this way," so he tied the feet
of Coyote. Having put the Coyote in the wagon, the white man went to
his house. He threw Coyote out near an old outhouse. Then the white
man brought a knife, and cut the cords which bound Coyote's feet. He
acted as if Coyote was dead, so he threw him over his back and started
off for the house.

But Coyote managed to get loose and ran homeward. He went back to get
even with Gray Fox.

"Oh, younger brother," said Coyote, "you have made me suffer."

"You yourself are to blame," said Gray Fox. "Be silent and listen to
me. You brought the trouble on yourself as you lay down in the place
where the white man came with his load of goods."

"Oh, younger brother, you tell the truth," said Coyote. But Gray Fox
had tempted him.

ICTINIKE AND THE TURTLE

_Omaha_

Ictinike was journeying. When he came in sight at a bend of a stream,
Big Turtle was sitting there in a sheltered place warmed by the sun.
Ictinike drew himself back out of sight, crouching at intervals as he
retraced his steps, and ran down the hill to where Big Turtle was.

"Why! How is it that you continue to pay no attention to what is going
on? It has been said that yonder stream is to dry up so that all the
four-footed animals that frequent the water have kept close to the
deep water," said Ictinike.

Big Turtle said, "Why! I have been coming here regularly, but I have
not heard anything at all. I usually come and sit in this place when
the sun gets as high as it is at present."

"Hurry!" said Ictinike, "for some of the young men died very soon for
want of water. The young otters died, so did the young muskrats, the
young beavers, and the young raccoons."

"Come, let us go," said Big Turtle. So Ictinike departed with him. As
he accompanied him, Ictinike sought for a dry bone. Having found one
that would be good as a club, Ictinike said, "Friend, go on.
_Mingam._"

When he was alone, Ictinike seized the bone, and before long overtook
Big Turtle, walking along beside him.

"Friend," said he, "when a person walks, he stretches his neck often."

So Big Turtle began to stretch his neck very far, and he was walking
with his legs bent very much. As he was going thus, Ictinike gave him
a hard blow on the neck, knocking him senseless, and he did not stop
beating him until he had killed him.

"Ha, ha!" said Ictinike, as he carried Big Turtle away. "There are
some days when I act thus for myself."

He kindled a fire and began to roast Big Turtle. Then he became very
sleepy, and said, "Ho! I will sleep, but you, O, Ijaxe, must keep
awake. Big Turtle, when you are cooked, you must say, '_Puff!_'"

So he went to sleep. Now Coyote came along, very cautiously. He seized
Big Turtle, pulled one of the legs out of the fire, and sat there,
biting off the meat. When he had eaten all the meat on all the legs,
he pushed the bones back just as they had been before, arranged the
fire over them, and left after putting everything just as he had found
it.

At length Ictinike awoke. He pushed into the ashes to find Big Turtle,
took hold of a leg, and pulled it out. Only that leg came out.
"Pshaw!" said he. Then he tried another leg, with a like result, and
still another, but only the bones appeared. When he had pulled out the
fourth leg, he was astonished. All at once he exclaimed, "Surprising!
I had already eaten the Turtle, but I had forgotten it."

ICTINIKE AND THE CREATORS

_Omaha_

Ictinike married and dwelt in a lodge. One day he said to his wife,
"Hand me that tobacco pouch. I must go visit your grandfather,
Beaver." So he departed.

As he was entering Beaver's lodge, Beaver said, "Ho, pass around to
one side." And they seated Ictinike on a pillow. Beaver's wife said,
"We have been without food. How can we give your grandfather anything
to eat?" Now Beaver had four young ones.

The youngest Beaver said, "Father, let me serve for food." So the
youngest Beaver served for food. Beaver's wife therefore gave some of
the meat to Ictinike, who ate it. But before letting him eat it,
Beaver said to him, "Be careful lest you break even a single bone by
biting! Do not break a bone!" Yet Ictinike broke one of the toe bones.

After the meal, Beaver gathered the bones, put them in a skin, and
plunged them beneath the water. In a moment the youngest Beaver came
up from the water, alive again.

When the father said, "Is all right?" the son said, "Father, he broke
one of my toes by biting." Therefore, from that time, every beaver has
had one little toe (the next to the little one), which has seemingly
been split by biting.

When Ictinike was about to go home, he pretended he had forgotten
about his tobacco pouch, which he left behind. So Beaver said to one
of the children, "Take that to him. Do not go near him, but throw it
to him when you are at a great distance from him, as he is always very
talkative."

Then the child took the tobacco pouch and started after Ictinike.
After getting in sight of the latter, Little Beaver was about to throw
the pouch, when standing at a great distance; but Ictinike called to
him, "Come closer! come closer!" When young Beaver took the pouch
closer, Ictinike said, "Tell your father that he is to visit me."

When young Beaver reached home, he said, "Oh, father, he said you were
to visit him."

Beaver replied, "As I feared that very thing, I said to you, 'Throw it
to him while standing at a great distance from him.'"

Then Beaver went to visit Ictinike. When he arrived there, Ictinike
wished to kill one of his own children, as Beaver had done, and was
making him cry by hitting him often. Beaver was unwilling for him to
act thus, so he said, "Let him alone! You are hurting him!" Then
Beaver went to the stream where he found a young beaver that he took
back to the lodge, and they ate it.

On another day, Ictinike said to his wife, "Hand me that tobacco
pouch. I must go call on your grandfather, Muskrat." So he departed.
As he was entering Muskrat's lodge, the host said, "Ho, pass around to
one side." And Ictinike was seated on a pillow.

Muskrat's wife said, "We have been without food. How can we give your
grandfather anything to eat?"

Muskrat said, "Fetch some water."

The woman brought the water. He told her to put it in the kettle and
hang the kettle over the fire. When the water was boiling very fast,
the husband upset the kettle, and instead of water, out came wild
rice! So Ictinike ate the wild rice.

When Ictinike departed he left his tobacco pouch, as before. Then
Muskrat called one of his children, and said, "Take that to him. Do
not go near him! Throw it to him when you are a great distance from
him, as he is always very talkative."

So the child took the tobacco pouch to return it to Ictinike. When he
was about to throw it to him, he said, "Come closer! Come closer!"
When the child took the pouch closer, Ictinike said, "Tell your
father he is to visit me."

When the young Muskrat reached home, he said, "Oh, father, he said
that you were to visit him." Muskrat replied, "As I feared that very
thing, I said to you, 'Throw it to him while standing at a great
distance from him.'"

Then Muskrat went to see Ictinike. And Ictinike said to his wife,
"Fetch water." The woman went after water. She filled the kettle and
hung it over the fire until it boiled. When Ictinike upset the kettle,
only water came out. Ictinike wished to do just as Muskrat had done,
but he was unable. Then Muskrat had the kettle refilled, and when the
water boiled he upset it, and an abundance of wild rice was there,
which he gave to Ictinike. Thereupon Muskrat departed, leaving plenty
of wild rice.

On another day, Ictinike said to his wife, "I am going to see your
grandfather, Kingfisher." When he arrived there, Kingfisher stepped on
a bough of a large white willow, bending it down so far that it was
horizontal; and he dived from it into the water. He came up with a
fish, which he gave to Ictinike to eat. And as Ictinike was starting
home, he left one of his gloves, pretending he had forgotten it. So
Kingfisher directed one of his boys to take the glove and restore it
to the owner. But he charged the boy not to go near him, as Ictinike
was very talkative and might detain him too long. Just as the boy was
about to throw the glove, Ictinike called, "Come closer! Come closer!"
So the boy carried the glove closer. And Ictinike said, "Tell your
father that he is to visit me."

The boy said to his father, when he reached home, "Oh, father, he said
you were to visit him." Kingfisher replied, "As I feared that very
thing, I said 'Throw it to him while you stand at a great distance
from him.'"

Then Kingfisher went to see Ictinike. When he arrived there, the host
climbed upon a bough of a large white willow, bending it until it was
horizontal. Then he leaped from it and plunged into the water. It was
with great difficulty that Kingfisher seized him and brought him to
land. Ictinike had swallowed more of the water than he liked. Then
Kingfisher plunged into the stream, brought up a fish, which he gave
to Ictinike. But Kingfisher departed without eating any portion of it.

[Notes: OMAHA ASSAULT ON A DAKOTA VILLAGE

(Indian drawing)

_The single tepee represents the Dakota village; the single horseman,
covered by a shield, and hanging behind his horse's neck in a
characteristic way, represents the attacking Omahas. Bullets are
flying, the direction indicated by the head._]

[Illustration: _Enlarged from a sketch in Report of the Bureau of
Ethnology_]

[Illustration: "KILLED TEN MEN AND THREE WOMEN"

An Indian drawing with striking similarity to Egyptian drawing.

_Enlarged from a sketch in Report of the Bureau of Ethnology_]

HOW BIG TURTLE WENT ON THE WARPATH

_Omaha_

The people dwelt in a very populous village. Big Turtle joined them.
And people dwelling at another village came regularly to war against
them. Having killed one person they went homeward. Big Turtle cooked
for the warpath. He caused two persons to go after guests. The
servants whom he sent after guests were Redbreasted Turtle and Gray
Squirrel. He made two round bunches of grass and placed them at the
bottom of the stick to which the kettle was fastened.

Now they were coming. They came in sight.

"Ho, warriors!" said Big Turtle. "Warriors, when men are injured, they
always take revenge. I cook this for the warpath. I cook sweet corn
and a buffalo paunch. You will go after Corn Crusher for me," saying
this to his servants. "Call to Comb, Awl, Pestle, Firebrand, and
Buffalo Bladder also," said Big Turtle.

The two men went to call them. They called to Corn Crusher. "Corn
Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl! Corn Crusher, be sure to
bring your bowl! Corn Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl! Corn
Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl!" Four times they called.

They called to Comb. "Comb, be sure to bring your bowl!" So they
called four times.

They called to Awl. "Awl, be sure to bring your bowl!" So they called
four times.

Then they called to Pestle. "Pestle, be sure to bring your bowl!" So
they called four times.

They called to Firebrand, too. "Firebrand, be sure to bring your
bowl!" So they called four times.

Then they called to Buffalo Bladder. "Buffalo Bladder, be sure to
bring your bowl!" So they called four times to him.

Then the criers reached home, having invited the guests.

"Oh, war chief," they said, "all heard it."

All those who were called arrived at the lodge of Big Turtle.

"Ho! Oh, war chiefs! Corn Crusher, Comb, Awl, Pestle, Firebrand, and
Buffalo Bladder, though those people have been injured they do not
seem to stir. Let us go on the warpath for them," said Big Turtle.
"Let us go in four nights."

He commanded Corn Crusher to cook. "O war chief, Corn Crusher, you
will cook. And you, O Comb, will cook on the night after that. And
you, O Awl, will cook, and complete the number."

That many war chiefs, four, cooked. They were war chiefs. The rest
were servants.

The people of the village said, "Why! Of the persons who have been
called, who is cooking for the warpath?"

And one said, "Why! Big Turtle cooked. Pshaw! Has he gathered all
those who cannot move well enough, those who cannot move fast enough?
Pshaw! If the foe find them out, they will destroy them. When a war
chief has sense, he will carry on war."

Corn Crusher cooked. He cooked turnips, and he cooked a buffalo paunch
with them, just as Big Turtle had cooked one with sweet corn. Awl
cooked wild rice. Comb cooked other things.

Big Turtle said, "Time enough has passed. Let us go at night."

So they departed. Big Turtle made leggings with large flaps. He tied
short garters around them. He rubbed earth on his face and he reddened
it. He wore grass around his head. He put white feathers on top of his
head. He took his gourd rattle thus. He rattled it. He sang the song
of the war chief:

"Big Turtle is coming back from touching the foe, it is said, you
say. He is coming back from touching."

He walked, stepping very lively in the dance. He walked around them.
As they went, it was day.

At length a young Buffalo Bull came. "Warriors, wait for him," said
Big Turtle.

He said to Buffalo Bull, "While I walk on a journey, I am in a great
hurry. Speak rapidly. Why are you walking?"

"Yes, war chief, it is so. As they have told of you while you have
been walking, I thought that I would walk there with you, and I have
sought you," said Buffalo Bull.

"Do so," said Big Turtle. "I wish to see your movements."

Buffalo Bull rolled himself back and forth. He arose suddenly. He
thrust repeatedly at the ground with his horns. He pierced the ground
and threw pieces away suddenly. He stood with his tail in the air and
its tip bent downward. An ash tree stood there. He rushed on it.
Pushing against it, he sent it flying through the air to a great
distance.

"O war chief, I think I will do that, if they speak of vexing me," he
said.

"Look at the persons with whom I am traveling. There are none who are
faint-hearted in the least degree. You are not at all like them. You
have disappointed me. Come, begone," said Big Turtle.

Again Big Turtle sang the song. "Big Turtle is coming back from
touching the foe, it is said, you say. He is coming back from
touching," said he.

Again they departed. "Warriors, pass on!" said he.

There before them lay a stream, which was not small. They crossed it.
Firebrand was ahead, walking with a great effort. At length, because
he was weary, he plunged into the water and was extinguished.

"O war chief, I am not going beyond here with you," he said.

"Remain here for a while," said Big Turtle.

Having reached the other side, they departed. At length a Puma came.

"Warriors, wait for him. I suspect what he will say. Stand in a row,"
said he. "Speak quickly," he said, addressing Puma.

"Yes, O war chief," said Puma. "It was told of you regularly, saying
you walked on a journey. And there I wish to walk, so I have sought
you."

"Yes?" said Big Turtle. "Let me see your ways."

Puma made his hair bristle up all over his body. He bent his tail
backward and upward. He went leaping to the bottom of a small hill.
Having caught by the throat a fawn, about two years old, he came
back, making it cry out as he held it in his teeth.

"I think I will do that, O war chief, if anything threatens to vex
me," he said.

"Do something else," said Big Turtle.

"No, O war chief; that is all," said Puma.

"You have disappointed me," said Big Turtle. "Look at these persons
with whom I am. Where is one who is imperfect? You are very inferior.
Come, depart. You have disappointed me."

They departed. At length when they reached the foot of a hill, Black
Bear came.

"O war chief, again one has come," said the warriors.

"I suspect what he will say, warriors. Wait for him. Stand in a row,"
said Big Turtle. "Ho," he said, addressing Black Bear. "Come, speak
quickly. What is your business? When I walk on a journey, I am in a
great hurry," said Big Turtle.

"Yes, O warrior, it is so. It was told of you regularly that you
walked on a journey. And as I desired to walk there, I have sought you
diligently," said Black Bear.

"Ho! Do something," said Big Turtle. "You may have thought how you
would do it. I wish to see your ways."

Black Bear pierced the ground with his claws, and threw lumps of
earth to a great distance. And there stood an oak tree which had been
blackened by fire. He attacked it. Having hugged it, he threw it with
force to a great distance.

"O war chief, if anything vexes me, I think I will do that," said
Black Bear.

Big Turtle said, "Ho! warrior, you have disappointed me. These persons
with whom I am--look at them. There is none who is faint-hearted in
the least degree. You have disappointed me. Come, depart. Thus do I
regularly send off the inferior ones."

They went into a dense undergrowth. At length Buffalo Bladder was torn
open, making the sound, "_Qu´e._" "Alas! I am not going beyond with
you," said he.

"Ho, warrior. I will come back very soon. Remain here for a while,"
said Big Turtle.

Again they departed. As they went, they reached a bad path. Very high
logs were lying across it. Redbreasted Turtle failed to step over
them.

"Ho, O war chief," he said. "I am not going beyond here with you."

"Ho, warrior. I will come again very soon. Remain here for a while,"
said Big Turtle.

Again they departed. As they went, behold, a Big Wolf came.

"O war chief, again one has come," said they.

"I suspect what he will say, warriors. Wait for him. Stand in a row,"
said Big Turtle.

"Ho," he said, addressing Wolf, "Come, speak quickly, whatever may be
your business. When I walk on a journey, I am in a very great hurry."

"Yes, O war chief. It is so. It was told of you regularly, saying that
you walked on a journey; and as I desired to walk there, I have sought
you," said Wolf.

"Ho! Show me what you can do," said Big Turtle. "You may have been
thinking about it. I wish to see your ways."

Wolf decorated himself. He reddened his nose; he reddened all his
feet. He tied eagle feathers to his back.

"Well, do so. Do so. I wish to see your ways," said Big Turtle.

Wolf turned himself round and round. He went to the attack by the wood
on a small creek. He killed a deer. He brought it back, holding it
with his teeth.

"O war chief, I think I will do that, if anything vexes me," said
Wolf.

"You have disappointed me," said Big Turtle. "See these people with
whom I travel. There is none who is faint-hearted in the least
degree. Come, depart. Thus do I regularly send off the inferior ones.

"Warrior Gray Squirrel, go as a scout," said Big Turtle. Gray Squirrel
went as a scout. At length he was coming back, blowing a horn.

"Ho, war chief, he is coming back to you," they said. Big Turtle went
there. "Ho, warrior. Act very honestly. Tell me just how it is," said
Big Turtle.

"Yes, O war chief, it is just so. I have been there without their
finding me out at all," said he.

"Let us sit at the very boundary of their camp," said Big Turtle. He
spoke of going. "Warriors, I will look around to see how things are,
and how many persons there may be there," he said.

He came back. "Warriors, let us go in that direction. This far is a
good place for sitting," he said. So they moved forward. Then he said,
"O war chief Corn Crusher, go to the end lodge of the village before
us, and sit on the outside."

Corn Crusher did so. A woman came out of the lodge. When she saw him,
she said, "Oh! Heretofore have I desired mush. I have found for myself
an excellent corn crusher." But when she pounded on the corn with it,
she hurt her hand. Then she threw it out. "Bad Corn Crusher!" she
said.

He came back to Big Turtle, who was near. "He whom you call 'Corn
Crusher' has come back," he said, "having killed one right at the
lodge."

Big Turtle said, "O war chief Comb, make an attempt. Sit in the door
of the lodge where Corn Crusher sat."

Comb did so. He was very handsome. Then a woman came out of the lodge.
She found Comb. "Heretofore I have been without a comb. I have found a
good comb for myself," she said. Very soon she combed her hair with
it. Comb pulled out all the hair on one side by the roots.

She said, "A very bad comb, but I thought it was good." She threw him
away at the door. Then he went back. He went back with the hair he had
pulled out.

"He whom you call 'Comb,'" he said, "has come back, having snatched
all the hair from one at the lodge."

"Good!" said Turtle. "O war chief, when we reach home, we shall cause
the women to dance."

Then Big Turtle said, "O war chief Awl, make an attempt. Go sit in the
door of the lodge where war chief Comb sat."

Awl was very handsome. He was very good to look at. He sat in the door
of the lodge. A woman passing out, found him. "Oh! I have found a good
awl for myself," she said. "Heretofore I have had no awl. It makes me
thankful." She went back to the lodge with him. She spoke of sewing
her moccasins with him. "I will sew my moccasins with it," she said.
She sewed them. She pierced her fingers with him. She missed in
pushing him, sending him with force. There was much blood from her
fingers. She threw him away at the door. "The awl is indeed bad. I
have indeed hurt myself. I have wounded myself badly." She threw him
far out from the door, sending him homeward.

"He whom you have called 'Awl,' O war chief," he reported, returning
to Big Turtle. "I stabbed one right at the lodge; I killed her." He
returned with his spear very bloody.

"O war chief," said the others to Big Turtle. "Awl is coming back,
telling his own name. He has killed one."

Big Turtle said, "Ho! O war chief. You make me thankful. Since it is
you, I will blacken my face. The village shall be joyful. Ho! O
Pestle, make an attempt. You will lie in the door of the lodge where
Awl lay."

Now Pestle was very handsome. Then he arrived there. He lay where he
was commanded to lie. A woman went out and found Pestle. "Oh! I have
found a very good pestle for myself. I had no pestle heretofore," she
said.

She took him back to the lodge. She took some corn. She filled the
mortar and pounded the corn. She beat it fine. She thrust Pestle
beyond, right on her knee. She missed the mark in pushing, sending him
with force, and so she struck him on her knee.

"_Oh!_ A very bad pestle," she said. She threw him outside, sending
him homeward suddenly.

"You have been used to saying 'Pestle.' He is coming, having stabbed
one right at the lodge. He has killed one," said Pestle, returning. He
reached Big Turtle again. "O war chief, I have killed one."

"You make me thankful," said Big Turtle. "Ho! warrior Gray Squirrel,
make an attempt."

"O war chief, how can I do anything?" said Gray Squirrel. Now the
lodges were placed among the trees.

"You will pass along the trees above the smoke holes of the lodges. If
they find you, they will shoot at you. Do your best. Do your best to
evade the blows or arrows. If one goes aside, rush on him," said Big
Turtle.

At length a boy found Gray Squirrel. "This moving one is a gray
squirrel," he said. They went in a great uproar. They shot at him.
They even hit him with sticks. One boy stood aside. Gray Squirrel
attacked him and bit him. They said, "Wonderful! Heretofore the gray
squirrel has been very easy to approach, but we have failed. He has
bitten us; we have done nothing to him," they said.

"He whom you used to call 'Gray Squirrel' is coming back, having
killed one right among them," he called. He told it to Big Turtle.

"Ho! real warrior, act very honestly," said Big Turtle.

"O war chief, it is just so. I have killed one," said he.

"Ho! warrior, you make me thankful," said Big Turtle.

"Ho! warriors," said Big Turtle again. "I, even I, will make a trial.
I shall not come back for some time. Beware lest you go homeward.
Beware lest you leave me and go homeward."

He arrived there. Some ashes had been poured out. They were
extinguished. At length Big Turtle pushed his way through. He went
within. He sat within, with his eyes sticking out, looking around. A
woman approached when it was morning. She stood very close to where
Big Turtle sat.

"You will tread on my shield," he said. The woman looked around. "From
what place does he speak?" she thought; therefore she looked around.
Again he said to her, "You will tread on my shield. Stand further
away." And the woman found him.

"Oh!" she said.

"Stand still. I send you with a message," said Big Turtle. "Go home
and say, 'Big Turtle says he has come to war. He says he has come
desiring the chief's daughter, whose body has been placed on the bough
of a tree.'"

The people came. All the people said, "Break in his skull suddenly."
He said, "How is it possible for you to break in my skull suddenly? If
you let your weapons slip off suddenly from me each time, you will
break your legs with the blows."

They said, "When the water is hot, it will be good to put him in it."

"Fie!" said Big Turtle. "When the water is hot and I scatter it with
kicking, many of you will be scalded to death."

"He tells what is probably true," they said.

"And if it be so, it is good to burn him," said the people.

"For shame! If I scatter the fire by kicking, I will cause all the
land to blaze. Beware lest many of your children, too, die from the
fire," he said.

"He tells what is probably true," they said.

A child begged for water. "O mother, some water," it said. Big Turtle
said, "_Oh!_" He tempted them with reference to water.

"Cause the child to ask for water," said one.

"What do you mean by that?" said others.

"When the child said, 'O mother, some water,' this one, Big Turtle,
said '_Oh!_'" answered one.

"Wonderful!" they said. "He is fearing the sight of water." They took
him to the water, holding him by the tail. Notwithstanding Big Turtle
clung to the ground with his forelegs, they held his tail, and reached
the water with him. They threw him forcibly right into the water. He
walked the water for a while, crying a little, and pretended he did
not know how to swim. He said, "_Wi! wi! wi!_"

"Wonderful! Throw him out into the middle of the stream," they said.
Again they sent him headlong. He was wandering around. At length he
sank. They said, "He is dead," and went homeward. "You should have
done that to him at first," said the people.

When the people went homeward, some boys stood there. Big Turtle
approached, floating. He came peeping. Some boys stood looking at the
place where the deed was done.

Big Turtle said, "When Big Turtle came in the past to war on you, you
said that you killed him. Look here at me."

The boys went homeward to tell it. "You said that you killed Big
Turtle, but as this one behind us showed his body, he laughed at us.
Big Turtle is he who is alive."

"Ho! We attack him," said the people. They attacked him. They arrived
there.

"In what place?" said they.

"In this place," said the boys.

"Where is Otter? Where is Grass Snake? Let those two seek him," said
they.

Big Turtle sat under the mud at the bottom of the water. Only the tip
of his nose and his eyes were sticking out. Snake and Otter sought him
beneath the water. They passed very near to him, and stepped regularly
over his head. When Otter was about to pass the second time, Big
Turtle bit him in the stomach.

"Ho! elder brother, you give me pain," said Otter. Big Turtle said,
"Why do you seek me?"

"I did not seek you. As I desired food, we have met each other," said
Otter.

"No, you wished to join those who desire to kill me, so you sought
me," said Big Turtle.

"O elder brother! O elder brother! O elder brother! I pray to you. I
have not sought you," he said.

"I will by no means let you go from my mouth," said Big Turtle.

"Ho! elder brother! How long before you will open your mouth and let
me go?" said Otter.

"When the Thunder God has come back, I will let you go."

"Halloo!" shouted Otter to the people. "He will let me go when the
Thunder God comes back. Halloo! He bites me between the legs. Halloo!"
said he.

"He says that he is bitten," said the people. "He says that he is
bitten between the legs. Hit tent skins for him."

They made the tent skins resound by hitting them.

"Ho! elder brother, the Thunder God has come back," said Otter.

"They hit the tent skins," said the Big Turtle.

The people said, "It is good to fell trees." They began felling trees
here and there. The trees said, "_Qwi! qwi!_" as they fell.

"Ho! elder brother, the Thunder God has come back," said Otter.

"They are felling trees," said Big Turtle.

At length the Thunder God roared, very far away.

"Ho! elder brother, he has come back," said he. Big Turtle let him go.
Otter was very thin. He went homeward. He reached home very lean.

"Let the two birds drink the stream dry," said the people. "Bring the
Pelicans here."

When they came, the people said, "Drink the stream dry. A person came
here to war and we killed him, but he is alive. He laughs heartily at
us."

The birds drank the stream dry. There was only a very small quantity
left in which Big Turtle sat.

Big Turtle called, "Ho! warrior Gray Squirrel, be coming hither,
wherever you may be moving. They have almost killed me."

Gray Squirrel was coming back, crying loud. He was coming back to
attack them. He attacked the two birds. He tore open their water
pouches by biting. He bit holes in them. At length all the water
returned to its former place. At the creek and the lake it was as
before; they were filled with water.

"Sew up their pouches for them," said the people. So they sewed up the
water pouches of the Pelicans. They finished sewing them.

"Come, drink it dry again. Do your best. Beware lest we fail," said
the people. They drank the stream dry again. Again very little of the
water was left.

"Ho! warrior Gray Squirrel, wherever you may be moving. They have
nearly killed me. Be coming hither again," said Big Turtle. He came
back again. He bit and tore the throats in many places. It made their
throats very bad. He made them bad to be sewed at all. It was
difficult to sew them.

"Yet we shall fail," said the people. "Gray Squirrel is abominable! I
think Gray Squirrel is the only one with Big Turtle. I think he is the
only one siding with them. Therefore we have failed to hurt them,"
said the people.

They ceased. When it was night, Big Turtle went back. He reached his
comrades again.

"Ho! Warriors, when men get the better of their enemies in a fight,
they usually go homeward. I suspect that your sisters are tired of
waiting to dance!"

They went homeward. He walked around them, rattling his gourd.

"Warriors, I said that I would do thus, and so it is," he said. He
burnt the grass.

He burnt the grass so that they might think he was coming home after
killing the foe. At length they arrived at the village. They tied
scalps to a stick. Then those in the village said, "Yonder come those
who went to war!" The returning warriors raced around and around as
victorious warriors do. People said, "There they are coming home,
having killed the people of the enemy."

An old man shouted: "Corn Crusher says that he killed one. _Halloo!_
He says he killed her right at the lodge. _Halloo!_ Comb says he
killed one right at the lodge. _Halloo!_ Awl says he killed one right
at the lodge. _Halloo!_, Gray Squirrel says that he killed three
right in the midst of the people. _Halloo!_ It is said they held the
war chief, Big Turtle, right among them, in a great uproar. _Halloo!_
It is said they failed to injure him. _Halloo!_"

Big Turtle walked very proudly, carrying his shield. He went homeward
to enter the lodge. He sat there telling them about himself. As people
wished to hear it, they continued arriving there.

"Why did they fail, when they were so near you? If you sat very near
them, how is it that you are alive?" asked the people.

"I pretended to be afraid of water, so I am alive," he said.

"If so, then those over there have no eyes. How is it that they did
not find you when you were alive?"

"I sat in the ashes, therefore I am alive. I have come home, having
killed people. Why did you doubt me? As you did not take vengeance on
the people who used to kill you, I went to war on them myself. I
killed them. How can you doubt me? I will tell no more about myself,"
said Big Turtle. "I have ceased."

THE END

Transcriber's Note

Minor punctuation errors have been corrected without note. Hyphenation
has been made consistent, where there was a definite majority of one
form, again without note. The following amendments have also been made:

  Table of contents--Fallen-Star amended to The Fallen Star, with
  reference to the main story title.

  Page 80--name of nation (Cherokee) added to title, with reference
  to table of contents.

  Page 148--omitted word 'an' added--"Rabbit said he brought an
  important message."

  Page 195--omitted word 'said,' added--"... has come back," he said,
  "having killed one ..."

Some illustrations have been shifted to the beginning or end of tales
where previously they were in the middle. The short advert and
frontispiece illustration have been moved to follow the title page.
Some illustrations had a tissue paper sheet with an italicised note;
these have been moved to precede the illustration they refer to where
necessary. They are marked as [Notes: ...].

End of Project Gutenberg's Myths and Legends of the Great Plains, by Unknown