358 Field Columbian Museum--Anthropology, Vol. V. 



said the husband, dropping it on the ground. Recognizing the voice 

 again, she went oyt carefully and it was her own husband. She then 

 took the fresh beef (antelope) inside, and congratulated her husband 

 for his luck. "Well, dear wife, I want you to be neat with the robe. 

 Please fold it nicely and lay it aside, before your hands are dirty." said 

 he. "Oh, excuse me ! I was so glad to hear your voice that I rushed 

 for the door, forgetting to lay the robe aside," said she, folding the 

 buffalo robe and placing it behind their bed. "I was so uneasy about 

 you, for it is unusually late for you," said she, placing the pot over the 

 fire. ' Well, wife, I wanted to kill a fat one to-day, therefore I would 

 not look at small game until I got that animal," said he, while his wife 

 placed sliced meat into the kettle to boil. The husband lay down on 

 the bed and crossed his legs and told his wife about his trip in the 

 woods and mountains. The wife, too, said that she was anxious to 

 finish the robe, so that she could do another kind of work. The meat 

 was done and both ate their supper, thankful that they were being 

 blessed and protected so far. The wife, being quite expert at slicing 

 the meat, soon finished half the beef and hung it on a pole inside. After 

 chatting and pleasing signs from the wife, they retired for the night. 

 The husband told a tale to his wife, which was to her a lesson of 

 humanity. 



The next morning the husband went out before breakfast to spy for 

 game near their camp surroundings, while his dear wife (so heavy) 

 started the fire and sliced up some tenderloin meat and put it in the 

 kettle to boil. The husband returned ; told his wife that the day was 

 beautiful, for the birds and animals in the woods and mountains made 

 melody. ''Yes, I hope that you will be lucky to-day, and kill enough 

 to complete your shirt and leggings," said she, taking out the meat 

 from the pot. "Well, it is my aim to get ourselves well supplied with 

 buckskin and buffalo hides, and to store qantities of good dry beef in 

 your parfleches," said he, as he swallowed the piece of meat. 



After they had eaten their breakfast, both of course painted their 

 faces for the day's protection, prepared themselves with utensils for the 

 day's work, etc. "My dear wife, I cant help but repeat the same cau- 

 tion, for I do love you. I want you to be careful to-day, and if you 

 should hear any strange voice calling for your attention and it is near 

 our tipi, don't give your attention to it. It is my duty to warn you 

 against any kind of danger," said he, taking his bow-case and quiver of 

 arrows. The wife, knowing that her husband meant what he said, de- 

 cided to be just with him, and said nothing, showing him a disposition 

 of obedience. 



