388 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



love you.'' The boy's wife was already carrying off the meat of the 

 buffalo which he had killed ; so he tcld his sister-in-law : "Carry this 

 blood." Then, though she bloodied and dirtied her robe, she carried it. 

 The boy's wife tore a hole in her sister's robe in order to spoil her ap- 

 pearance, but she said: "Never mind, I love him; I will be his wife 

 yet." The boy's father-in-law was very much pleased that his son-in- 

 law was able to invite the societies of the lodges (dances) to a feast, 

 and said : "I did not think it of you, my son-in-law." Then the boy 

 heard that his father was inquiring for him everywhere. He went to 

 him, followed by the whole tribe of which he was now chief. His 

 father was delighted to see him again. — K. 



144. — Blue-Bird, Buffalo-Woman, and Elk-Woman.* 



There was a river, and near it a camp. It was winter. A young 

 man, "Blue-bird, was wandering from camp to camp over the prairie. 

 He came to a large camp in the north. Most people were thought to 

 live here. There he found a young woman ; she was yellow and had 

 short yellow hair. Instead of traveling on, he took her back to his 

 parents' tent, and brought her in. She was Elk-woman. He said to 

 her : 'T have brought you home. You will be provided with food, but 

 I am constantly traveling. I am going now, but I will return. I hope 

 you will be contented." Then he went southward in the opposite di- 

 rection, where the prairies were broad, and one could see far off. As he 

 traveled, he came to a spring that flowed out of the side of a hill, and 

 spread over the ground. There were bunches of soft grass, and moss, 

 and boggy places. He was thirsty and went towards the spring to 

 drink ; then a little wa}^ off he saw a buffalo cow. He thought : "Now, 

 what shall I do, drink, or take her ?" He let his thirst go et cum ea in 

 palude retenta copulavit. Then he went on, and finally came to a camp. 

 He looked about for relatives or friends ; he went arounji outside the 

 camp-circle, but saw none. Finally he went to an old woman. She 

 said : '^Oh, is that you, my grandson. Blue-bird ? I am glad to see you 

 come. Come inside !" "Yes, I am Blue-bird," he said. She asked him : 

 "How long did it take you to come here?" He said : "Two days ; but 

 it is very far." Next morning his wife the buffalo cow, and a calf, 

 arrived at the same camp, having followed him. Boys who were playing 

 saw people arriving who were strangers. They asked them: "Who 

 are you, and where do you come from, and where are you going?" 

 "I have brought this boy, my son, with me. He is looking for his father, 



'Told by informant H. 



