Oct., 1903. Arapaho Traditions — Dorsey and Kroeber. 411 



his boy. "Grandfather, I want to make this proposition for my dear 

 father. Since he has but two legs, I will run for him," said the boy. 

 "Well, it will be all right with me if your father is willing," said Lone- 

 Bull. "Say, father, you remain here, and I will run for you," said the 

 boy, prancing around. So the father tied an eagle breath-feather to 

 the boy's tail, and he fell in line with the rest. 



After the singing of four songs, the whole herd of buflFalo started 

 to a distant hill, to make a circuit. To the surprise of all, bulls, 

 steers and others, this bey was in the lead in the start and return. So 

 the boy won the race for his father. The father then returned to the 

 camp-circle. 



"Well, we shall have to have another plan to challenge him," said 

 Lone-Bull to the others. So he sent for the boy and said to him, 

 "You may go to your father and tell him that there will be dancing, 

 for four days and nights and if he can dance continuously without 

 sleeping, he will win the day for good," said Lone-Bull. So the boy 

 ran to his father and recited what Lone-Bull had proposed. "All 

 right, I shall try and dance to the finish with them," said he, starting 

 off to the place. The boy ran back to his relatives. 



So Lone-Bull called forth the buffalo herd for the dance. After 

 the buffalo had placed themselves in proper places according to age 

 and rank the dancing began. Before the dance began, the father of 

 the boy had fastened four small turtles' to Calf-Boy's feet, just like 

 shoes, — for Calf- Boy had obtained permission to dance in place of his 

 father. The ceremony was in full blast for three days and nights, 

 and the animals were sinking into the ground about shoulder deep, 

 but Calf-Boy was dancing on solid ground at this time, while the ani- 

 mals were getting very tired. On the morning of the third day, most 

 of the animals had fallen asleep in standing position in the sunken 

 holes. By evening, the dance was over and the buflFalo had dis- 

 persed. Calf-Boy did not sink in the ground, therefore it was a 

 victory for the father. 



Then said Lone-Bull, still sitting on the ground, while the others 

 were gradually being dispersed, "This day belongs to your father. 

 You may go over and inform him that hereafter we shall be harm- 

 less to his fellow-men ; that our flesh shall be his subsistence here- 

 after; we shall roam on broad prairies, among the hills and moun- 

 tains ; that we shall protect ourselves by hearing and by smell of his 

 approach to kill us, and run away. But wherever we may go, either 

 at night or by day, we will carry our heads downward, and if there 

 should be any murderer in the party after us, we shall be out of his 



