i6o Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



82. — Foot-Stuck-Child/ 



Several men lived alone. For many years they lived away from 

 people. There were no women with them. They had a tent and abun- 

 dance of meat. There were many buffalo near them, and they lived 

 contentedly. Once the grass was wet and one of the men on going out 

 took off his moccasins. When he returned he had a splinter (or thorn) 

 in his heel. His heel swelled and became very sore. He was unable 

 to walk. His whole leg swelled. He remained in the tent constantly. 

 The other three men went out to hunt. Finally his leg burst open. 

 Then a girl child came out. The four men were very glad ; they called 

 her Hasixtaciisa" (Foot-stuck-child). In a short time she was grown 

 and beautiful. The chief bull of the buffalo came, making love to her; 

 but the men told the girl not to have anything to do with him, for they 

 did not want their daughter to be taken away. The bull went back to 

 the herd, very angry. Then he came to the tent and tore everything to 

 pieces. The men shot at him but could not wound him. He took the 

 girl away with him. They cried, but were unable to rescue her. He 

 kept the girl in the middle of the herd and watched her all the time. 

 The buffalo were all about her. The mole came and said to the men : 

 'T will bring you the girl." Then they were glad. Finally the, bull 

 went to sleep. The mole dug under ground below the herd^ making a 

 hole large enough for a person to pass through. He dug a hole under 

 the girl so that she sank down. Then he said to her : "You must come 

 with me; your fathers are grieving for you.'" She went with him 

 through the passage to where the men were. Then they all fled. 

 The bull awoke and found the girl gone ; he smelled all over ; he could 

 not find her tracks. Finally he caught her scent at the hole and knew 

 that she had gone in there. The buffalo now followed the hole and 

 pursued the people. They gained on them. When they nearly caught 

 them, the people came to a tree. The tree said : "Go around me four 

 times, and then climb up into me." Then they went around it four 

 times and climbed up. Then all the bulls with sharp horns charged, 

 and knocked pieces out of the tree. After a while only a little wood 

 was left. Then the bull himself went olT to a distance, charged against 

 the tree, and knocked a large piece from it. Twice more he charged 

 against it, each time breaking off a larger piece. Then he went far off 

 to charge the fourth time and throw the tree over. He came, struck 

 the tree, and broke his neck. Now the people were safe. Then the girl 

 took a ball in her hand; she threw it, and, as it struck the ground, it 



» ' Informant B. 



