Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 53 



gifted power, but you must do this very seldom. Be sure and remember 

 what I direct you," said Beaver. So this man showed him how to stand 

 the row of arrows at the foot of the bank, then sHd down against them, 

 when they parted at once. He then gave him the bow case and quiver 

 of arrows and left him. 



Nih'a"ga° packed the present and started down the river, feeHng 

 proud ; the other man took a different course, but came back again and 

 went down the river just far enough behind to watch Nih'a°<;a°. 

 Nih'a"9a° came to a nice steep bank and dropped his burden (the bow 

 case and quiver), and took a bundle of his arrows, which he staked in 

 the ground in a row just as Beaver had done. He sat down and sHd 

 against the arrows. "Let the arrows part in the center!" said Nih'a°<;a'*. 

 They parted, and so he went through all right. 



Nih'a'^ga" gathered up his arrows and put them back in the quiver 

 and started on his way again. Beaver saw what he did and started that 

 way too, just keeping an even distance behind him. Nih'a'*<;a° came to 

 a nice bank and stopped. He deposited his bow case and quiver and 

 taking a bundle of his arrows, he staked them in the ground, and slid 

 down against them. "May you (arrows) part!" said he, and they 

 parted as directed, thus making a way through them. "That will do," 

 said Nih'a"ga°, taking up his arrows again. Beaver saw what he had 

 done, and dodged away just far enough to watch him. 



Nih'a'^ga'* started again; so did Beaver. As he walked along, he 

 came to a pretty bank and rested a little while. Of course he had to take 

 his bow case and quiver and lay them down on the ground. He took 

 his bundle of arrows and staked them in the ground as before. "Now 

 I want you (arrows) to part when I slide down," said Nih'a^ga'^. The 

 arrows did part. "Oh ! this is a good trick !" said Nih'a^ga"^. Beaver 

 saw him plainly and laughed at him from the distance. 



Nih'a'^ga'* started off, feeling very proud of his gifted power from 

 Beaver, who, himself, started off again, keeping on the side, at an even 

 distance. Nih'a'^ga" said to himself, "Oh ! I do wish that I didn't have 

 to limit myself in doing this, for I like to do it often." He again came 

 to a good steep bank, which was very smooth. "Well, this bank looks 

 good, I can't leave it without sliding down," said Nih'a^qa''. So he took 

 a bundle of arrows and staked them in the ground as before. "May 

 you (arrows) part," said Nih'a"ga'', sliding down against them unhurt. 

 "This is good, and I wish that I could do it many times," said he, start- 

 ing off. Beaver saw what he did and watched him closely this time. 



Nih'a"(;a'' walked down to a good long steep bank and dropped his 

 bow case and quiver. "Now I want you arrows to part when I slide 



