Oct., T903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 67 



•but the stone continued rolling, making a dust in the path. He ran 

 up a very high hill, almost inaccessible, but the stone rolled over the 

 rocks, crushing them, and with its whizzing terrified Nih a"<;a'* till he 

 cried. "Would that I might come to a ditch in which I might con- 

 ceal myself, that the stone might roll over me," said he. But the stone 

 came rolling closer and closer. Again he said. "I wish there was a 

 ditch ahead of me !" Arid sure enough ! he soon came to a ravine large 

 enough to admit him lengthwise. Placing himself in it, he remained 

 quiet. Then the stone slackened its speed and slowly riolled into this 

 small ravine and rested on top of him. Said he, "My friend, my 

 partner, I did not know that you would do this. You are hurting me. 

 Oh ! You are just fooling me ! I know you will get off by and by. 

 You are not doing this for sure, for I love you, partner, and thought 

 much of you," but the stone became heavier all the time^ and was 

 about to squeeze the breath out of him. To every bird and animal that 

 came along Nih a°(;a° appealed to remove the stone from his back, but 

 without avail, until finally there came a Hawk, small. in size but swift 

 in flight, flying about above him, which he addressed: "Oh, partner! 

 I have heard about ycur greatness, and I myself know that you are 

 the only one who can accomplish anything ; so will you kindly remove 

 this sitone from me." So the Hawk flew up in the air screaming, in 

 order to rush at the stone. It came down with such force as to break 

 off a small piece of the stone, whereupon Nih'a'^ga'^ said, "Thank you, 

 partner ! Try it again ! You will soon break the stone in pieces !" 

 So the Hawk flew into the air again, higher than before, and made 

 another rush at the stone, breaking off a larger piece than before, 

 whereupon Nih'a"(;a° was much pleased, and said, "I have thought of 

 you many times, and wished to see you very much, but somehow I have 

 failed to meet you. You will be the one, supreme over all living 

 creatures, if you succeed in breaking in pieces this stone." The Hawk 

 then flew still higher than before, and, thinking to break the stone in 

 pieces, rushed at it with such force that he himself was dashed to 

 pieces. Nih'a"ga*' became discouraged at this, and not knowing whence 

 help might dome, watched for others to come to his assistance. 



While he was thus breathing heavily there came a Bull-Bat, care- 

 lessly flying above him, singing and occasionally making sharp blows, 

 to which he was attracted, and which he addressed : "Say, partner, 

 will you do me a favor? I am about exhausted from the stone that 

 is on top of me. They have tried to break it to pieces, piecemeal, but 

 have failed. You are a good bird. I have heard about your wonderful 

 power. I am sure you would not hesitate in the slightest," said Nih'a^ga" 



