Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber, 245 



• The big owl ran around the stake-pin robe, counted the quills on 

 the designs, and then reached the eagle-design robe, which was some- 

 what complicated. 



"Look at him, will you? When he overtakes us I shall kill him. 

 He is slackening his speed now," said the mother. "Yes, but mother, 

 he is carrying that stone club (the club used for beating dried meat 

 with)," said the boy, with rolling eyes. 



"Well, my dear grandchild's mother must be a wonder. She is a 

 good one," said Big Owl, leaving the eagle-design robe and starting off 

 for the chase. At this time Big Owl was sometimes running and again 

 walking. 



"Come on ! Run with all your might ! Come here and find out 

 whether you can return alive or not," said the mother. Reaching a 

 level piece of ground she spread the image or shadow robe, which was 

 very complicated. "Come on! Run faster!" said the mother to Little 

 Owl. 



"My daughter, I will get you if I can overtake you," said Big Owl. 

 after counting the quills on the eagle-design robe. He was very much 

 weakened and somewhat dizzy. 



"Well, dear child, it is no use to run ourselves to death, let us walk 

 along slowly," said the mother, looking back to see him. Sure enough, 

 Big Owl occupied more time on the image or shadow robe than the pre- 

 vious articles. For a long time he walked around, stopping to rest, 

 then going on. After finishing with the robe, he took a deep breath 

 and started off in the direction of the mother and the boy. Every now 

 and then he would stumble and fall down. ' The foam was coming out 

 at the corners of his mouth. "Come on! Run faster! He is up again 

 and he is to try again ! He is getting nearer to us," said the mother, 

 smilingly. 



Before Big Owl had gained on them, she then spread the one-hun- 

 dredth robe just a short distance in the timber. The mother and the 

 boy then went under the bushes to watch him. With the foam in his 

 mouth, eyes prominent and panting hard, he reached the one-hundredth 

 robe. He stood for a short time, then began to walk around and 

 around, until he got to staggering and fell down, exhausted from the 

 long chase. Big Owl fell down after he had counted half of the robe. 



The mother and the boy arose from the ambush and went to hinj. 

 Being so helpless from fatigue, he said to the mother, "You have 

 conquered me at last ; take this stone club and strike the center of my 

 forehead. Then take your boy back," said Big Owl. "You do not need 



