Oct., 1903. . Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 271 



to seven real boys, playing outside. "All right, let us all go there. It 

 must be fine to play on the sand-bar," said the sweet tiny voices. So 

 the party of boys went down to the river at a good distance from the 

 water trail and that whole forenoon they amused themselves. The 

 women would see the young boys at play, but paid but little attention 

 to them. Just before noon this little boy said, "Well, it is getting 

 toward noon. We must be getting back to the shelter." Reaching the 

 place he told them to enter. After the boys were seated inside, they 

 were all changed to seven young puppies, round, fat and very clean. 

 "If my own sister still objects to my longing for food from my mother, 

 then I shall tell mother to fix up a big meal. I will then come after you 

 all," said the little boy. 



''Mother, give me a big bowl of dinner, I have been playing so 

 hard that I soon got very hungry." "Oh, pshaw, I think that you 

 didn't throw away those puppies. I suspect that you are taking care 

 of them, feeding them right along. When you get there, I want you 

 to take them and drown them. Be sure and do this ! You hear ?" said 

 the sister, angrily. "Yes, I think that you are so cruel as to abuse my 

 little nephews. I want ycu to know that I have taken great pains in 

 looking after them," said the little boy to his sister. "Taking care of 

 those ugly creatures ! Well, I do declare ! Go and drown them, for I 

 don't want them for children!" said she, scornfully. "Say, my dear 

 daughter, don't talk that way to your little brother. I think you ought 

 to respect him by this time, for he is growing fast," said the mother. 



After the little boy had eaten his dinner he went cut again to the 

 place without fear. In a short time this little boy fetched all the little 

 ones into their tipi by file. "Mother, look at my nephews ! Aren't they 

 pretty and plump? I wish you would cook a big feast for them," said 

 the little boy. 



At the other camp below the people had heard that a woman, who 

 objected to living with a man, had given birth to young puppies. This 

 was known at the time the young man had reached the camp and en- 

 tered his parents' tipi. "Oh, pshaw ! I wish you would take them at 

 once," said the sister. "Well, I will take them out to the river and we 

 shall have games on the sand-bar. If their father comes after them I 

 shall have to let them go," said the little boy, faintl}-. "Come on, 

 nephews, let us go back and go to playing on the sand-bar," said the 

 little boy. 



When they got up from their seats there were seven bright looking 

 youths. Reaching the sand-bar the party had a fine time, when there 

 came up a neatly dressed young man from below the river. "I am so 



