Traditions of the Arikara

There were four girls who went to gather wood. While they were gathering wood they heard a Mountain-Lion coming, who said, “I want you girls for my wives.” The girls ran to different wonderful beings for protection. Each wonderful being said, “I can not do anything for you, for the Mountain-Lion is more powerful than I.” At last the girls came to a place where there was a man whose name was “Hair-Cut-in-Notches.” (His hair was so notched that one could see through the notches by looking at the side of his head.) The girls ran to this man, and said: “A Mountain-Lion is after us! Save us!” Hair-Cut-in-Notches said, “What shall I get if I save you?” The girls said, “We will live with you as your wives if you will save us.” Hair-Cut-in-Notches said, “You will go into my lodge and stay there.” Then he sang about his head and hair, for his hair was his arrows. When the Mountain-Lion came up Hair-Cut-in-Notches would make a motion toward his head, then to his bow, then shoot at the Mountain-Lion. Finally the Mountain-Lion dropped down, for he had killed it. Hair-Cut-in-Notches went into the lodge, and said: “You will now come out. Go to your homes. I shall not keep you here, for I am not a human being, but I am glad to have saved you from being killed by that animal.” The four girls thanked the man and returned to their homes.