Mav, 1903. The Arapaho Sun Dance — Dorsey. 193 



breath, and cried with a loud voice, "Hea — ! Hea — ! Hea — ! Come, 

 all of you! Come over and make an attempt to search for earth!" 

 and he returned to his original place. 



Then the man said, "Let there be, at short distance from me, 

 seven cottonwood trees of medium height and size!" at the same time 

 taking a deep breath, and looking off over the water. After he had 

 thus commanded, there were seven cottonwood trees standing upright, 

 being healthy in appearance. 



He then returned to his original place, when there came forth 

 birds of every kind with songs of praises, and reptiles of every kind, 

 at the same time enjoying themselves in being assembled. They 

 lighted on the tops of the trees, chirping and fluttering in the 

 branches. The reptiles, of course, swam to the gathering, and they, 

 too, uttered their voices of gratitude. 



"Now listen to me attentively and think of it seriously," said he, 

 moving a little and with a great deal of dignity. "Since you have 

 come from different quarters of the horizon, it is probable that some 

 of you might know where the land is located. I am unable to locate it, 

 nor have 1 any idea of the land. So please, I do wish all of you would 

 inform me of any piece of land that you may know of, so I can be 

 satisfied," said he, looking up toward the trees and around him. 



"Say, I think I know exactly where it is, for I have heard abgut 

 it," said the turtle. "Keep quiet," said he, slightly touching him at 

 the knee. 



The birds were chirping on the branches relative to the question 

 and the reptiles were in solemn thought and occasionally made sharp 

 noises among them. 



Finally, there came an answer from the turtle, that he had heard 

 of it beneath the deep waters. The others of greater faculty did not 

 have any idea of the land being under the waters, so they were greatly 

 astonished at the turtle's answer. All expressed their full gratitude 

 to the turtle. 



"Now listen to me! Who can dive in the water and search for 

 the bottom of it? I am sure that some of you are able to accomplish 

 the task, for you have the strength," said he, looking around the 

 interesting crowd. "Say! I will dive first and try to find the bot- 

 tom," said a little fowl (a bird with long, slender bill, rather short 

 body, long, thin legs, with feathers white from neck to stomach. ) 

 "Oh, pshaw! I can beat him in diving," said another water-fowl. 

 "Say, partner, be quiet, let him do it himself; they selected him to 

 do the task," said another water-fowl, wiggling briskly. So the 

 first little water-fowl advanced for orders. The owner of the Flat- 



