|
Long
ago, an old woman gave her boy a present that he might become a medicine
man.
They were camping through the plains with nothing to eat, but roots and
wild seeds. They were all hungry. The woman came to her son and said, "My
boy, I am hungry. Have not you anything?" Go home, and to-morrow you will
have plenty to eat," her boy replied.
The next day her son began to make a corral close by the river. He
gathered the men together and told them to drive in the antelope. They
drove them in and killed them. After butchering, they carried the meat
home with them. The next day he gathered the people again. They drove
antelope into the corral and killed great numbers of them. They brought
home the meat with them. The next day he gathered the men again. They
drove in antelope and killed very many. They carried the meat home. The
antelope ran in by themselves. If they whistled, they came running in as
far as one could see. They killed a great many and carried home much meat
which lay in a great pile. That evening, the old woman came to her boy and
said, "That is enough, my wrists ache." Then the boy quit. They cut the
meat into slices to dry and tanned the hides.
The old woman came to her son and asked
that he return her gift. "I have already given it to the supernatural
one," he told her. Then she cursed him. He left her and came to his own
country. He came to a place called "sticks swim around". There are tent
poles sticking out of the water there. He lives on the bottom of the lake.
The people all came after him but when they came back to their own country
they could not find him. Then they commenced to follow his tracks. They
saw where the tipi poles had been dragged into the water. They looked all
around but could not find him.
Two years after, a large band of them went out on the plains to war.
They traveled all night and all the next day. When it was evening they
built a fire and smoked the pipe. They heard someone talking to them.
"You must be my own people," the voice said.
"Yes,
we are your own people," they replied. Then he dropped nearby them a big
buffalo
with its head just turned back and tied. "I started to carry this, but my
breath gave out. For that reason, my people make smoke for me. I will
smoke with you," he said. Then they filled the pipe for him and smoked
with him. "Where are you going?" he asked. "Here, after the enemy that we
may bring back horses," they replied. "Their camp is very close, but they
are not aware of your approach," he said, "you can go to them in the day
time. About noon, you will surround the horses. I want you to bring me the
horse that is all black without a white spot."
|
|