Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 233 



tery," said the mother to her husband. After the mother unwrapped 

 the child it began to stretch itself and work its limbs all day long. 

 Of course he would go to sleep at intervals. 



At this time the parents both slept during the day, in order to find 

 out the strange, disposition oT the child. Night came and the mother 

 wrapped the baby rather tightly and placed it in the center of the bed 

 to sleep. When all the people had gone to sleep and all the lights in 

 the camp were out, the parents pretended to go to sleep, lying on each 

 side of their child. Late in the night this young baby. Raw-Gums, 

 woke up and fretted and cried loudly, but these parents both snored. 

 Raw-Gums, believing they were both sound asleep, went his way, 

 slowly leaving his cradle. At times he would look to see if they were 

 really sound asleep. Raw-Gums then took his pieced buffalo robe and 

 went out toward a chief's tipi. This chief was the only surviving ruler 

 of the tribe, and there was much lamentation among the people on 

 account of the recent losses. 



Shortly after Raw-Gums had gone, the parents peeped through 

 the breastpin holes of their tipi and watched their child. "Just look 

 at him, will you? He is such a mysterious being, and we have got to 

 do something to prevent him from doing his wrong deeds," said the 

 wife, with deep breath. "Well, yes, we shall plan to get rid of him 

 soon, before he kills any more," said the husband. Raw-Gums walked 

 briskly to the chief's tipi and entered it. At this time of night there 

 was a deep calm in the camp; even the dogs were sound asleep. 



The parents watched the child closely until he came out, car- 

 rying the chief in his arms toward the river. "Say, look at him, with 

 that big man in his arms !" said the wife. "Yes, I think he is a dread- 

 ful being ; watch him closely, to see what he will do with the man," 

 said the husband. 



Raw-Gums ate this chief's flesh and left only the bones. How 

 Raw-Gums killed the chiefs was a mystery. The parents saw him 

 climbing the cottonwood snag, which had square edges at the top, and 

 drop the remnant of the chief into the body of the snag. This snag 

 was hollow from top to bottom. After they had se^n wliat their child 

 was doing at that time of night, they both went to sleep. About twi- 

 light Raw-Gums went back t6 the tipi and entered. Walking slowly 

 toward the bed, and breathing easily, he managed to get back to his 

 own cradle without disturbing the parents ; but they both heard him 

 entering the tipi, and lay awake. 



After the parents had noticed the child's deed with the, chief, they 

 were so afraid that they slept in bed watching the child for fear of 



