320 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



try to show friendship, but the sister said, "I thought you used to vomit 

 at my husband ! What is the matter with you ? Go back to your good 

 husband ! Stay with him !" 



In the evening, and early, too, this old woman's pet told his wife 

 to go over to her father and tell him that he must get up early in the 

 morning for the chase of bufiPalo. The wife did what she was ordered 

 and the notice was announced by the father-in-law to the public. 



The old woman's pet had previously noticed that a bird was the 

 ^'scare crow" or follower of the buffalo herd which caused much fam- 

 ine among the good people. So he thought of a plan to catch this trou- 

 blesome bird, and during the night he set a trap. 



This old woman's pet was in the lead in the morning and came 

 suddenly to a big herd. The people had made the charge, and there 

 went up in the air In front of the people a white bird, calling to the ani- 

 mals as if to get away for their lives. Before the herd could hear its 

 cry it was suddenly taken down by a bowstring. Both its legs were 

 fastened in the string of the bow. It was the white crow, and it con- 

 tinued to caw and caw, trying to chase the animals away. While the 

 people were killing the buffalo, it was cawing all the more, but it was 

 a prisoner now. It was in a sense a murderer, because it starved the 

 people. 



The people skinned and dressed their buffalo nicely. All the people 

 in the camp-circle were again well provided with food and there was 

 merriment and constant crying of the old men relative to the young 

 man. Instead of being greedy, he went to his trap and brought this 

 white crow, that surrendered itself at once, to his own tipi. where he 

 kept it hobbled. 



One morning this old woman's pet, as he was then called, told his 

 grandmother to go over to the chief's tipi and tell him that the white 

 crow would be delivered, and for him to do what he thought was best 

 for all concerned. So this old woman, according to her' grandchild's 

 wish, went over to the chief's tipi. "Welcome ! Welcome ! Come in, 

 old woman ! What do you want us to do for you ?" said the men inside 

 the tipi, smoking a pipe. Said the old woman pitifully, as she entered : 

 ''Poor and meek am I. I came over to tell you that if it is your wish 

 the white crow will be delivered to you, and that you may give it 

 whatever punishment you may think best." "Well, that is good, but, 

 old woman, you may go back and tell your grandchild to do what he 

 thinks best," said the chief. "The old woman always carried the best 

 news," said the women who were inside and outside. So this woman 

 got out and went back to their tipi and informed her grandchild. 



