Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorseyand Kroeber. 79 



walked up to within a short distance and stopped, looking up to the 

 nest. The young eagles were peeping out from the nest, opening their 

 mouths. 



Nib a"ga" came to this man, and said to him, 'Well, partner, climb 

 up the peak with that stick ; it is not so high as you think it is. Those 

 young eagles are fine specimens, being very young; they are just right 

 for the children to play with. Go and get them down for your chil- 

 dren !" So this man laid his weapon down and took off the heavy cloth- 

 ing and left them below. He then ascended the hill. ' I shall wait for 

 you, partner; your clothing will not be molested," said Niha^qa". So 

 this man went up the peak with the stick, trying to push the young 

 eagles out of the nest. The way to the nest was like a stairway, for 

 the stones lay so evenly and regularly. 



As he was climbing the peak, Nih'a^^a" commanded secretly that 

 the peak increase its height. He said to the peak, "Let the peak 

 stretch its height!"' The peak did stretch. This man was still climbing 

 the peak, and Nih'a'^^a'^ was still saying to the peak to stretch its 

 height. He gave this command several times, until the peak was inac- 

 cessible. 



This man was very tired, and looked down, and to his surprise, 

 he saw things below were very small. He got frightened and wanted 

 to get down, but the sides of the peak were smooth, therefore he gave 

 up and ventured to stay to see what would result. 



Nih'a"(;a° took the weapon and clothing and went off toward the 

 man's tipi. When Nih'a'^^a^ had reached the tipi, he told the 

 wife that her husband had climbed up the peak to get the 

 young eagles for his children but the peak had increased its 

 height until he was up in the air. "He said to me, after he could not 

 come down, 'You may go to my wife and take her as your own, and 

 be sure and take care of the children,' " said Nih'a"<;a°. Of course the 

 woman consented and took him as her husband, since the other man 

 had been gone for some time. 



Time went on with the family. This Nih'a°<;a° was constantly 

 bringing beef for his tipi. He was very kind in the beginning, but later 

 on he would scold the children without any cause or reason ; also his 

 new wife. "Can't you children behave yourselves ! I wish I had never 

 taken your mother, for I can't stand your foolishness here. You ought 

 to be with your father, up on that peak, starving,'" said N'h'a^^a". The 

 wife and children felt sorry for the abuse and ridicule, and were obliged 

 to do everything for Nih'a"ga". This woman thought much of her 

 children, but her husband hated them and abused them, because they 



