myths and legends of the sioux-第20节

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his　wife；　the　hunter　joined　a　war　party　and　never　returned；　as　he

was　killed　on　the　battlefield。



A　year　after　her　husband's　death　she　married　again。　　This　husband

was　also　killed　by　a　band　of　enemies　whom　the　warriors　were

pursuing　for　stealing　some　of　their　horses。　　The　third　husband　also

met　a　similar　fate　to　the　first。　　He　was　killed　on　the　field　of

battle。



She　was　still　a　handsome　woman　at　the　time　of　the　third　husband's

death；　but　never　again　married；　as　the　men　feared　her；　saying　she

was　holy；　and　that　any　one　who　married　her　would　be　sure　to　be

killed　by　the　enemy。



So　she　took　to　doctoring　the　sick　and　gained　the　reputation　of

being　the　most　skilled　doctor　in　the　nation。　　She　lived　to　a　ripe

old　age　and　when　she　felt　death　approaching　she　had　them　take　her

to　where　she　had　rested　once　before；　and　crawling　to　the　top　of　the

newly　erected　scaffold；　wrapped　her　blankets　and　robes　about　her；

covered　her　face　carefully；　and　fell　into　that　sleep　from　which

there　is　no　more　awakening。













THE　STORY　OF　THE　PET　CRANE



There　was　once　upon　a　time　a　man　who　did　not　care　to　live　with　his

tribe　in　a　crowded　village；　but　preferred　a　secluded　spot　in　the

deep　forest；　there　to　live　with　his　wife　and　family　of　five

children。　　The　oldest　of　the　children　（a　boy）　was　twelve　years　of

age；　and　being　the　son　of　a　distinguished　hunter；　soon　took　to

roaming　through　the　forest　in　search　of　small　game。



One　day　during　his　ramblings；　he　discovered　a　crane's　nest；　with

only　one　young　crane　occupying　it。　　No　doubt　some　fox　or　traveling

weasel　had　eaten　the　rest　of　the　crane's　brothers　and　sisters。　　The

boy　said　to　himself；　〃I　will　take　this　poor　little　crane　home　and

will　raise　him　as　a　pet　for　our　baby。　　If　I　leave　him　here　some

hungry　fox　will　be　sure　to　eat　the　poor　little　fellow。〃　　He　carried

the　young　crane　home　and　it　grew　to　be　nearly　as　tall　as　the　boy's

five…year…old　sister。



Being　brought　up　in　a　human　circle；　it　soon　grew　to　understand　all

the　family　said。　　Although　it　could　not　speak　it　took　part　in　all

the　games　played　by　the　children。　　The　father　of　the　family　was；　as

I　have　before　mentioned；　a　great　hunter。　　He　always　had　a

plentiful　supply　of　deer；　antelope；　buffalo　and　beaver　meats　on

hand；　but　there　came　a　change。　　The　game　migrated　to　some　other

locality；　where　no　deadly　shot　like　〃Kutesan〃　（Never　Miss）　would　be

around　to　annihilate　their　fast　decreasing　droves。　　The　hunter

started　out　early　one　morning　in　hopes　of　discovering　some　of　the

game　which　had　disappeared　as　suddenly　as　though　the　earth　had

swallowed　them。　　The　hunter　traveled　the　whole　day；　all　to　no

purpose。　　It　was　late　in　the　evening　when　he　staggered　into　camp。　

He　was　nearly　dead　with　fatigue。　　Hastily　swallowing　a　cup　of

cherry　bark　tea　（the　only　article　of　food　they　had　in　store）；　he　at

once　retired　and　was　soon　in　the　sweet　land　of　dreams。　　The

children　soon　joined　their　father　and　the　poor　woman　sat　thinking

how　they　could　save　their　dear　children　from　starvation。　　Suddenly

out　upon　the　night　air　rang　the　cry　of　a　crane。　　Instantly　the　pet

crane　awoke；　stepped　outside　and　answered　the　call。　　The　crane

which　had　given　the　cry　was　the　father　of　the　pet　crane；　and

learning　from　Mr。　Fox　of　the　starving　condition　of　his　son　and　his

friends；　he　flew　to　the　hunting　grounds　of　the　tribe；　and　as　there

had　been　a　good　kill　that　day；　the　crane　found　no　trouble　in

securing　a　great　quantity　of　fat。　　This　he　carried　to　the　tent　of

the　hunter　and；　hovering　over　the　tent　he　suddenly　let　the　fat　drop

to　the　earth　and　at　once　the　pet　crane　picked　it　up　and　carried　it

to　the　woman。



Wishing　to　surprise　the　family　on　their　awakening　in　the　morning

she　got　a　good　stick　for　a　light；　heaped　up　sticks　on　the　dying

embers；　and　started　up　a　rousing　fire　and　proceeded　to　melt　or　try

out　the　fat；　as　melted　fat　is　considered　a　favorite　dish。　　

Although　busily　occupied　she　kept　her　ears　open　for　any　strange

noises　coming　out　of　the　forest；　there　being　usually　some　enemies

lurking　around。　　She　held　her　pan　in　such　a　position　that　after　the

fat　started　to　melt　and　quite　a　lot　of　the　hot　grease　accumulated

in　the　pan；　she　could　plainly　see　the　tent　door　reflected　in　the

hot　grease；　as　though　she　used　a　mirror。



When　she　had　nearly　completed　her　task；　she　heard　a　noise　as　though

some　footsteps　were　approaching。　　Instantly　her　heart　began　to　beat

a　tattoo　on　her　ribs；　but　she　sat　perfectly　quiet；　calling　all　her

self…control　into　play　to　keep　from　making　an　outcry。　　This　smart

woman　had　already　studied　out　a　way　in　which　to　best　this　enemy；　in

case　an　enemy　it　should　be。　The　footsteps；　or　noise；　continued　to

advance；　until　at　last　the　woman　saw　reflected　in　the　pan　of　grease

a　hand　slowly　protruding　through　the　tent　door；　and　the　finger

pointed；　as　if　counting；　to　the　sleeping　father；　then　to　each　one

of　the　sleeping　children；　then　to　her　who　sat　at　the　fire。　　Little

did　Mr。　Enemy　suppose　that　the　brave　woman　who　sat　so　composed　at

her　fire；　was　watching　every　motion　he　was　making。　　The　hand　slowly

withdrew；　and　as　the　footsteps　slowly　died　away；　there　rang　out　on

the　still　night　air　the　deep　fierce　howl　of　the　prairie　wolf。　

（This　imitation　of　a　prairie　wolf　is　the　signal　to　the　war　party

that　an　enemy　has　been　discovered　by　the　scout　whom　they　have　sent

out　in　advance）。　　At　once　she　aroused　her　husband　and　children。　

Annoyed　at　being　so　unceremoniously　disturbed　from　his　deep　sleep；

the　husband　crossly　asked　why　she　had　awakened　him　so　roughly。　　The

wife　explained　what　she　had　seen　and　heard。　　She　at　once　pinned　an

old　blanket　around　the　crane's　shoulders　and　an　old　piece　of

buffalo　hide　on　his　head　for　a　hat　or　head　covering。　　Heaping　piles

of　wood　onto　the　fire　she　instructed　him　to　run　around　outside　of

the　hut　until　the　family　returned；　as　they　were　going　to　see　if

they　could　find　some　roots　to　mix　up　with　the　fat。　　Hurriedly　she

tied　her　blanket　around　her　middle；　put　her　baby　inside　of　it；　and

then　grabbed　her　three　year　old　son　and　packed　him　on　her　back。　

The　father　also　hurriedly　packed　the　next　two　and　the　older　boy

took　care　of　himself。



Immediately　upon　leaving　the　tent　they　took　three　different

directions；　to　meet　again　on　the　high　hill　west　of　their　home。　　The

reflection　from　the　fire　in　the　tent　disclosed　to　them　the　poor　pet

crane　running　around　the　tent。　　It　looked　exactly　like　a　child　with

its　blanket　and　hat　on。



Suddenly　there　rang　out　a　score　of　shots　and　war　whoops　of　the

dreaded　Crow　Indians。　　Finding　the　tent　deserted　they　disgustedly

filed　off　and　were　swallowed　up　in　the　darkness　of　the　deep　forest。



The　next　morning　the　family　returned　to　see　what　had　become　of

their　pet　crane。　　There；　riddled　to　pieces；　lay　the　poor　bird　who

had　given　up　his　life　to　save　his　dear　friends。













WHITE　PLUME



There　once　lived　a　young　couple　who　were　very　happy。　　The　young　man

was　noted　throughout　the　whole　nation　for　his　accuracy　with　the　bow

and　arrow；　and　was　given　the　title　of　〃Dead　Shot；〃　or　〃He　who　never

misses　his　mark；〃　and　the　young　woman；　noted　for　her　beauty；　was

named　Beautiful　Dove。



One　day　a　stork　paid　this　happy　couple　a　visit　and　left　them　a　fine

big　boy。　　The　boy　cried　〃Ina；　ina〃　（mother；　mother）。　　〃Listen　to

our　son；〃　said　the　mother；　〃he　can　speak；　and　hasn't　he　a　sweet

voice？〃　　〃Yes；〃　said　the　father；　〃it　will　not　be　long　before　he

will　be　able　to　walk。〃　　He　set　to　work　making　some　arrows；　and　a

fine　hickory　bow　for　his　son。　　One　of　the　arrows　he　painted　red；

one　blue；　and　another　yellow。　　The　rest　he　left　the　natural　color

of　the　wood。　　When　he　had　completed　them；　the　mother

placed　them　in　a　fine　quiver；　all　worked　in　porcupine　quills；　and

hung　them　up　over　where　the　boy　slept　in　his　fine　hammock　of

painted　moose　hide。



At　times　when　the　mother　would　be　nursing　her　son；　she　would　look

up　at　the　bow　and　arrows　and　talk　to　her　baby；　saying：　〃My　son；

hurry　up　and　grow　fast　so　you　can　use　your　bow　and　arrows。　　You

will　grow　up　to　be　as　fine　a　marksman　as　your　father。〃　　The　baby

would　coo　and　stretch　his　little　arms　up　towards　the　bright　colored

quiver　as　though　he　understood　every　word　his　mother　had　uttered。　

Time　passed　and　the　boy　grew　up　to　a　good　size；　when　one　day　his

father　said：　〃Wife；　give　our　son　the　bow　and　arrows　so　that　he　may

learn　how　to　use　them。〃　　The　father　taught　his　son　how　to　string

and　unstring　the　bow；　and　also　how　to　attach　the　arrow　to　the

string。　　The　red；　blue　and　yellow　arrows；　he　told　the　boy；　were　to

be　used　only　whenever　there　was　any　extra　good　shooting　to　be　done；

so　the　boy　never　used　these　three　until　he　became　a　master　of

the　art。　　Then　he　would　practice　on　eagles　and　hawks；　and　never　an

eagle　or　hawk　continued　his　flight　when　the　boy　shot　one　of　the

arrows　after　him。



One　day　the　boy　came　running　into　the　tent；　exclaiming：　〃Mother；

mo