164 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



The young men were in good humor to cheer up the sick one. As 

 soon as they arrived and took off their burdens, they would go into the 

 woods and gather more firewood, and all assisted in slicing the balance 

 of fresh beef. "Oh, I am so sorry for you, dear brother, but 1 cannot 

 see the way to help you. You will have to put more faith in yourself 

 and stand the pain, until -the foot gets well," said the leader. None 

 of the other men would say much to him, for they sympathized with 

 him. "Oh, my foot pains me awfully, and I think it is going to burst," 

 said the sick young man, moving the foot with both hands. After all 

 had eaten supper of fresh beef, the sick one obtained a good piece of 

 liver, enriched by tallow, and they rested on their respective beds, telling 

 their adventures during the day. 



In the morning the leader outlined the day's hunt, so as to get 

 back soon. After eating their breakfast, this leader said to the sick 

 young man, who was still chewing his food and occasionally glancing 

 at his comrades : "Now to-day, we may be absent longer than usual, 

 for there are herds of buffalo beyond that hazy divide. Since we are 

 located in a warm place, we aim to get more beef and hides while you 

 are still uncomfortable. When you get well, we shall continue our ex- 

 pedition. If your foot gets worse, rest yourself easy on the bed, but 

 if it gets better attend to the rest of the hides and the beef, too. Above 

 all, be good to yourself, while we go out after more subsistence," said 

 the leader. "All right, I shall try and stand the pain, although it is very 

 severe. In the mean time I shall try to prepare those hides and fix 

 a fresh beef in condition to-day," said he, groaning a little. The party 

 of young men then started off toward the location of the buffalo. 



Shortly after the young men had gone, this young man felt of his 

 swollen foot and found it quite soft. At this time it was not very pain- 

 ful, but itched much. So this sick young man took a thorn and pierced 

 the abscess and there came out a little girl fully formed. "Don't cry, 

 dear, for I am going to take care of you," said this young man. He 

 took the softest tanned buckskin hide and other stuff and wrapped 

 her up neatly and cozily. "Now, dear child, I want you to be a good 

 girl and obedient to me. Don't fret or cry for anything. You have 

 good comfort — and see these things !" said he, holding his daughter in 

 his arms ajid pointing to what they had. "They belong to us." In the 

 evening he placed her under a cover, with rare meat to suck. 



Finally the young men returned, . each bringing a heavy load this 

 lime. "Well, friend, how are you getting along? Is the foot swollen 

 yet? Does it hurt you yet?" said the leader, as he placed his load in 

 the shelter-tipi. "It is getting better now, the abscess is gradually dis- 



