402 Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. V. 



of earth which are used in the Sun-dance ceremony have a shght re- 

 lation to these rough places where the buffalo danced.) 



When this was done, Calf-Boy went to his grandfather, the main 

 bull, and told him that he was ready to go back with his father. "No, 

 he cannot take you home, for we are to have a race," said the grand- 

 father. "Well, if that is the case, can I run for my father, since he has 

 only two legs?" said Calf-Boy. "Well, yes. You can do that, if you 

 wish," said the rest of the buft'alo. All the bulls, steers, cows and 

 calves were getting ready for a big race. Blue-Feather tied his head- 

 dress of blue eagle breath-feather to Calf-Boy's tail. The main bull 

 now said to all, "Now all of you that are to run in this race will start 

 from here and go to that big high hill and return." Main-Bull, with the 

 assistance of minor bulls, sang four songs, and at the close of the 

 fourth one, started the race. Calf-Boy was in the lead. His appearance 

 was very surprising to Main-Bull, for he barely touched the ground 

 while running. The swift running was caused by the attachment of 

 the blue eagle breath-feather to Calf-Boy's tail. Calf-Boy reached the 

 turning point and came down in safety, but the rest of the buffalo when 

 running, after the turning for the home stretch, all tumbled down the 

 hill. Some were killed by the fall, others badly crippled in their backs, 

 necks, and legs, but Calf-Boy got back, the winner of the race. Blue- 

 Feather untied the headdress from Calf-Boy and placed it back on his 

 own head. 



"Now, grandfather, my father and I want to go, since we have ac- 

 complished the deed and won the race. We have come up to your re- 

 quirements of this day and think you ought to let us go," said Calf- 

 Boy. "Well, no. You can't go yet, for there will be myths, tales and 

 stories for four days and four nights, and your father will have to sit 

 and listen to the very last. If he can keep awake for that time he may 

 take you home," said the grandfather, Main-Bull. So all the oldest 

 bulls, steers and cows gathered together in the center spot, while the 

 rest of the buffalo sat- down on all sides to listen. Calf-Boy was very 

 much scared this time, but he made up his mind to sit close to his father, 

 and got a stick. So the telling of tales began by different ones. The 

 bulls, steers and cows told of what they knew. When one was through, 

 the story was taken up by another, as if they were pieces of strings tied 

 one after another. This was done in order to give information to the 

 younger element, but more particularly for the benefit of Blue-Feather, 

 Blue-Feather kept awake for the first part of the contest, but during the 

 second day and night, Calf-Boy had to poke him with the stick. Just 



