76. THE WOMAN WHO BEFRIENDED THE WARRIORS.
Two boys on war-path find earth-lodge where old woman lives. She feeds them and tells them where to go. They kill enemy. This occurs several times, but once there are so many young men in party old woman is ashamed. Next time war-party goes old woman has disappeared. Two boys hunt for her and find her inside of cliff in Bad Lands. Great company of men go there, but she again disappears. Party of warriors come to big lake and hear woman singing scalp-dance songs. Warriors scared, but leader says she is rejoicing, and they go and take enemy’s scalps. This occurs again, but next time instead of singing and dancing, woman mourns. Warriors go on and are beaten by enemy. She is found to be same old woman that lived in Bad Lands. People give her blankets, tobacco, and other things.
77. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS.
Arikara go to hills to catch eagles. Young man prepares and baits hole and then gets into it, leaving weapons outside. Sioux find hole and tell man to crawl out. He takes them where other men are. They make Arikara stand around fireplace while man cooks meat for them. He holds piece of buffalo tallow over fire and whirls it around and burns Sioux with grease. They are scared and man, though weak through torturing, walks away. Sioux stay in tipi all night. Man goes home and tells people. They go after Sioux and return with three scalps.
78. THE ATTACK UPON THE EAGLE HUNTERS.
Young men go eagle hunting and while in cave Sioux come. Sioux ask for eagle feathers, which leader goes out of cave to give them. They attack Arikara, whose leader kills several Sioux, and others retreat. Hunters at night return to village with scalps.
79. THE MOURNING LOVER.
Man called “Rolling-Log” courts Arikara woman, who says she will marry him if he will bring her enough sinew to last her a whole year. He goes south with hunters and gets twenty-four sinews. He returns home and goes to see girl, but finds she is dead. He feels so bad he goes among hills and does not return to Arikara camp.
80. CONTEST BETWEEN THE BEAR AND THE BULL SOCIETIES.
During medicine ceremonies Bear family is on north and Buffalo family on south inside lodge. Buffalo Society has two buffalo scalps with horns. These are worn by two Buffalo men who play with people of village. Young man of Bear family tells leader he wants to challenge Buffalo to fight. Leader finally consents and sends pipe to leader of Buffalo Society as challenge. He objects, but finally consents and sends for Buffalo man. Men are prepared by medicines of their respective societies for fight. Societies meet and fight takes place. Buffalo hooks Bear, who is killed. Bear lodge announces that Bear killed for all time, but they do not get mad, as it was his own fault.
81. HOW WHITE-BEAR CAME TO BELONG TO THE BEAR SOCIETY.
When White-Bear’s mother is pregnant his father puts on bear robe and tries to catch people to cut them open and get piece of liver. So his son has spirit of Bear. In nursing boy’s mouth shows froth and he makes noise like young bear. In Bear dances boy wears robe of bear hide. When three years old, White-Bear falls on knife, cutting belly so that intestines come out. Father restores them to place and bandages child. In few days child is much better and bear robe is put on its back. Child cannot straighten out and makes noise like cat. As he grows up he acts like Bear. In Bear ceremonies sleight-of-hand ceremonies are performed by him. In medicine-lodge he has visions of bear. When no more Bear dances he does not show ways of bear.
82. THE TALE OF A MEMBER OF THE BEAR SOCIETY.
Boy stays in medicine-men’s lodge and learns mysteries of Bear Society. Father gives him stuffed bear skin. In Bear dance little bear dances and imitates boy. When worn out little bear is placed in ravine. Some years ago great hunter asks young man to go hunting. At night pony snorts furiously and Scalped-Man is seen. After killing deer they start for home. They see bear, which stands up like man. Bear embraces young one. After being shot bear goes into brush, where it is found sitting, dead. Young one also killed and both are skinned. Man gives large hide to friend and keeps little bear’s hide. He wears it in Bear dances. Afterwards it is sold, in his absence, to white man.