Jeb., 1904. Traditions of the Osage — Dorsey. 27 



One time, when he was out mourning, a rain and thunderstorm 

 came up, and Lightning struck all around the tree he was sitting 

 under. He went back home and saw his baby, but stayed out of 

 his sight. Again he went out, and it rained and thundered, and he 

 went up by a big tree and Lightning struck a tree near by him. 

 The Lightning left him a club, and said, "Man, I came here to tell 

 you about your wife for whom you are mourning. You do not 

 know where she is, or how she came to be missing. That old wo- 

 man drowned her in the big water. The old woman broke the 

 rope and the girl is drowned in the big water. This club you must 

 keep in a safe place. I was sent here to you, and I will help you 

 get your wife back, and you must not be afraid of the big water. 

 Go ahead and try to get her, and the fourth day you will get her 

 all right." 



The man went to the big water, and he saw his wife out in the 

 water, and she said, "I cannot get to you. I am tied here with 

 chains. I am going to come up four times.'' The next time she 

 came out half way. She said, "Bring me the baby, and I will let 

 her nurse." So the man took the baby to her mother and let her 

 nurse. The woman said, "They are pulling me, and I must go. 

 But the next time you must get me." So she came out the third 

 time up to her knees. The man took the baby to her and let it 

 nurse again. The woman said, "I have got to go back. They are 

 pulling me by the chains. I must go, but the next time will be the 

 last. I want you to try your best to get me." The man said, "I 

 am going to get you, without doubt." The woman came out the 

 fourth time, and the man hit the chain with the club and it seemed 

 as though lightning struck it, and broke it. He got his wife. 



So they went home, and the old woman said, "My daughter, 

 you have got home." But the woman said not a word. Then the 

 man heated an arrow red-hot and put it through the old woman's 

 ears. So they killed the woman. 



23. — The Woman who married a Buffalo. 



Once there was a pretty girl. The Indians tried to buy her for 

 their boys, but her parents refused to sell her. A man was talking 

 to this girl. While she was going after water, the man waited for 

 her at the creek. He talked with her and told her he would like to 

 marry her. She told the man that her father had refused good 

 young men, but she would run off with him the next time she came 

 . for water. So the man said he would be there, waiting for her. 



