Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 371 



me. When you start it, tell me that a fat steer buffalo is coming," said 

 the boy, holding the bow and arrows. "Here gees a fat steer !" said 

 she, starting the wheel toward him. Sure enough there came a real 

 steer running toward him. Standing inside the tipi across the fire, he 

 shot at it and killed it instantly. "There, grandmother, take the steer 

 and skin it secretly !" said he, taking out his arrow. "Thank you, dear 

 child, you are a lucky child! I am proud of you," said she, taking a 

 strong hold of the steer's body and beginning to skin it. "When you 

 get through, grandmother, hang the meat inside and see that nobody 

 comes in," said he, enjoying himself alone. 



Their tipi being quite lonely and old in appearance, it offered no 

 attraction to others. During the day she watched the door closely, 

 even stepped out to see if any one was coming. When she went out 

 she painted herself with dust or dirt to appear before the people as 

 though she had no means of support for her grandchild. She had good 

 meals with the boy every day, and kept storing away the dried meat. 

 The next morning came and both spent the day more happily than be- 

 fore. , 



"Grandmother, take this wheel and roll it toward me. When you 

 start it, tell me that a fat buffalo steer is coming," said the boy, holding 

 his bow and arrow in readiness. "Here goes a h'.g buffalo steer !" said 

 she. rolling it easily. Sure enough, there came a real one, running to- 

 ward him. Standing in position he shot and killed it instantly. "There, 

 grandmother, take it and skin it silently," said he, taking out his arrow. 

 "Grandmother, be careful to attract no one outside. Slice up the beef 

 quickly and hang it over the fire," said he. 



This boy was growing right along, but he was yet scabby, had a 

 dirty nose and his eyes were sore. In the evening, when the old woman 

 went out for recreation and the like, she painted herself again with dust, 

 fooling others. Of course the people didn't care for them, for they 

 were lonely and v^ry poor. They spent the night secretly and made no 

 fire inside. The next morning came and the boy told his. grandmother 

 that she must hurry with the beef. Before it was late in the day, she 

 had it all sliced. 



"Grandmother, take this wheel and roll it toward me; when you 

 are ready, tell me that it is a big fat bull coming," said the boy. "Here 

 goes the big fat bull!" said she, rolling the wheel toward him. Standing 

 at the usual place, he shot at it and killed it instantly. "There, grand- 

 mother, take it and skin it silently. Be -sure and attract no attention 

 outside," said the boy, taking out his arrow. "Thank you!" said the 

 old woman, sharpening her knife. She sat down and skinned the beef 



