Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 401 



of his wife and child became like those of a buflfalo cow and calf, but he 

 was not discouraged. "I am bound to find my boy and his mother," 

 said Blue-Feather. So he took the animal's trail and when he reached a 

 big divide, in front of him, he saw herds of buflfalo grazing on the 

 broad prairie. This cow and calf had gone among the herd, as he saw 

 when he had reached the top of the divide. 



"Now, how can I tell my boy and his mother from the rest,' said he, 

 starting toward the herd. When he got to a certain distance from the 

 main herd his boy (calf) came running to' him. When the calf (boy) 

 met him, he told him that the main bull, being his grandfather, was 

 unmerciful to strangers, so his mother had instructed him to tell Blue- 

 Feather to cover his face, to keep him from being seen by this main 

 bull, and to lead him into the herd. So Blue-Feather had his head well 

 covered up and Calf-Boy led him on his way. Occasionally Blue- 

 Feather stepped on round objects, which would roll from him. These 

 objects were the skulls of the buffalo. They reached the main herd all 

 right. Then Calf-Boy went to his grandfather and told him that his 

 own father had come after him and that he was ready to go along with 

 him, but his grandfather told him that Blue-Feather should not get him 

 back unless he should be able to identify him from the rest of the herd 

 of calves. Calf-Boy then told his father this, and agreed to shake his 

 right ear and move his left foot when he should come around back of the 

 calves. So Blue-Feather was posted all right. Now the buffalo got up 

 and walked to and fro, until Blue-Feather could not' tell one calf from 

 another. The calves were alike in color and size. The buffalo sat 

 down and Blue-Feather began walking around and around to identify 

 his own boy. When he looked at the calves they would all shake their 

 right ears and move their left feet, which made it impossible for him to 

 tell his own boy. At the fourth time he went around, he came behind a 

 young calf who shook the right ear and moved the left foot. Blue- 

 Feather stopped. "This is Calf-Boy," said he to the buffalo. Then 

 Calf-Boy asked his grandfather if he could go along with his father. 

 "No. he can't take you with him unless he dances with us four nights 

 and four days," said the grandfather. So Calf-Boy went and told his 

 father about it. Blue-Feather said he would try to do it, in order 

 to get his boy back. "Say, grandfather, I will dance for my father, 

 for he has only two legs ; he can't stand it like the rest of us," said Calf- 

 Boy to the main bull. It was agreed. So the dance began, the buffalo 

 going around and around the main bull, who presided. When it was 

 over, the ground looked very rough, such ground as is found in wet 

 places. The dancing made the appearance. (The two circular pieces 



