Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions— Dorsey and Kroeber. 105 



from crying. "Well," said he, "you let me go into the tunnel while you 

 stay outside. I will fetch him out all right." So he went in, but came 

 out again, telling the women that he had seen him inside, but that he 

 looked very strong. Still he said he would go in and engage him this 

 time. So he went in, and the women heard him making a great deal 

 of fuss and howling. Finally he came out, with his face and hands 

 pretty well scratched up, and with his clothing torn. "Say, women," 

 said he, "he is a terrible man, but I am going to try again for your 

 sakes" But the women said no, that they had better go in themselves. 

 "All right." said One-Eyed-Sioux, "I shall watch him at the other end." 

 So the women went into the tunnel and looked for Nih"a"(;a". 



When they had gone, One-Eyed-Sioux gathered sticks of wood and 

 placed them by the hole and set them on fire. Then he heard one of 

 the women say plainly, "I guess there is a fire outside." "Oh ! The 

 fluttering birds have just passed," said One-Eyed-Sioux, "go on and 

 find him !" He now placed more sticks upon the fire, which made it 

 smoky inside of the tunnel. "I guess that there is a fire outside, l^e- 

 cause it is smoky in here," said one of the women. "Oh ! The smok- 

 ing birds have just passed by," said One-Eyed-Sioux, He was still 

 placing sticks of wood at the entrance of the tunnel. The smoke was 

 ]X)uring inside so thick that the women smothered to death. After the 

 women made no effort inside, he went in and found all dead. He 

 dragged them out and cooked them for himself. Then he said, "What 

 good luck I have, for I relish bear's meat. 



This man who appeared to the women with a plaster eye was the 

 same identical Nih'a'^^a'^. That is the reason why some of the people 

 have lost sight, and some have lost one eye, ethers have squint eyes, etc. 

 — D. 



Told by Cut-Nose. Cf. No. 49. For deception by plastering the eyes, cf. No. 43. 

 51. NlR'ANgA^* AND THE YoUNG MeN RACE FOR WiVES. 



There was a party of young men going on the war-path. One of 

 them carried the back side of a woman. While these men were walk- 

 ing, Nih'a"<;a" came along and joined the party. "Say, young man. 

 let me carry that, so you may rest yourselves," said Nih'a"ga°. "No, 

 \^ou might stumble and break it. We can't travel without it, for we 

 brought it with us to use," said one of the party. "We are always par- 

 ticular with it and it does not allow anybody else to carry it," said they. 

 "Yes! I shall be very careful and walk steadily," said Nih'a"ga". So 

 these young men gave him the burden, and he carried it. One day, 



