May, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 7 



quickly ate as much as she could, while the old woman was carrying 

 the food into the lodge of the husband. Then the old woman said: 

 "Now, my girl, while my daughter and I are serving the food to the 

 guests, you take this food, this bridle, blanket, robe, etc., go straight 

 to the herd, catch the fastest pony and set out for your home." 



The Arapaho woman regretfully left the old Ute woman, who had 

 been very kind to her, went to the herd, selected the fastest horse, 

 bridled it, and making ready, started off in the direction she believed 

 was her home. She traveled all that night and the next day and night. 



Of course her disappearance was soon noted, and the first wife 

 informed her husband of the disappearance of the Arapaho woman. 

 Search was made for her that night, but only in the lodges of the 

 camp, for it was not suspected that she had escaped on horseback. 

 In the morning it was known that this had been her method of e'scape, 

 and they began to search for her. That day they found her trail, but 

 were not able to overtake her. 



In the mean time the Arapaho woman had hastened onward, but 

 in her excitement she ran into a white pioneer with a team and wagon. 

 The man was alone. He neither knew her trouble nor the cause of 

 her flight, but took pity on her and took care of her. Then they 

 turned loose the Ute horse so that if the Utes overtook them they 

 could not be recognized by the horse. The Arapaho woman then took 

 a place inside the wagon. In the mean time the Utes kept up the 

 search, but the pioneer and his companion plodded along toward the 

 country where it was believed the Arapaho were encamped. 



While still in the midst of great peril of being overtaken, so great 

 was her desire to regain her relations and friends, the Arapaho woman 

 made a vow, saying that since she was in great danger, her brother, 

 who was at home and dearly loved her, would erect the Offerings- 

 lodge, if she reached home in safety. 



The two continued on in the wagon and finally reached the 

 Arapaho camp. There she soon after married the white man, the 

 union being suggested by her brother, who thought that she should 

 thus show her great gratitude to the poor white man for having saved 

 her. This white man was Henry North, who died in 1879, ^^^ ^ho 

 left a son and two daughters. The performance of the ceremony was 

 undertaken by the woman's brother, who was glad to respect her vow. 



That the Offerings-lodge vow is ever made during a storm on 

 account of imminent danger from lightning, according to my inform- 

 ant, never occurs among the Arapaho, although such a vow is not 

 uncommon among other tribes. The vow is generally made to Man- 

 Above, Sun, Moon, and Thunderbird. When an individual has made 



