Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 225 



no one inside and stole a big" piece of fat meat. I did it because my 

 master would not give me anything to eat. I got a severe whipping- 

 for it," said the mother dog. "Say, young boy, when you get back 

 to your father, tell him that I want to be free from this cruel master," 

 said the mother dog. 



In those 'days, dogs were used as servants to carry burdens and 

 pack the tipis from place to place; therefore they were valuable. So 

 the errand boy ran back to his father and said : ''She says that her 

 master never gives her anything to eat, that there was no one in the 

 tipi, and being very hungry, she tfien stole a big piece of fat meat. 

 Being suspected of the misdemeanor, she got a severe whipping for it. 

 Then she said that she was getting tired of her cruel masters^and de- 

 sired to be liberated." "Well, in view of the facts just stated, the 

 desire meets my approval. Let me see — I think there is a big river 

 which has plenty of water and timber across the river and over that 

 divide. We can all go and live happy the rest of our days. So you 

 may run back and tell her to think of a plan to get away at night," said 

 the father. So the errand boy ran back to the mother dog and said to 

 her secretly, "My father thinks that your idea is a good one ; that there 

 is a big river over the divide that has plenty of water and timber, where 

 we can all live the rest of our days. And in order to make a success 

 of this, he wants you to think of a plan of getting out from here at 

 night," said the errand boy. "Well, I am so glad to know that he ap- 

 proves of it. After the people have gone to sleep, you all come over 

 with your father and carry these puppies of mine, and I shall bear 

 some burden myself, too," said the mother dog. So this errand boy ran 

 back and told his father, saying, "She said that we must all go over to 

 her shelter and carry away those little ones and that she will bear the 

 balance," said the errand boy. "Well, get ready, boys, and let us go," 

 said the father, starting ofif. 



So they walked over to her shelter and carried off the little ones 

 under their arms, and the mother dog followed them. After getting out 

 from the camp-circle, they stopped and stood all together, facing the 

 camp. This man then straightened and advanced a little and with a 

 loud voice howled (cried) with a long continuous cry. In a short time 

 there came dogs with their young ones to this man and his children 

 C seven boys) standing^with a mother dog and young ones. While the 

 people were fast asleep this man and seven boys witH all the dogs^ 

 started ofif, crossed the river, and went over the divide to a big river 

 in perfect safety. 



In the morning one old man cried out, saying, "All you people^ 



