PRAIRIE POCKET- GOPHERS 



were sacred medicine given by the Great Spirit, 

 the Sun ; but the gophers were selfish and 

 jealous of Red-face, as they called the good, wise, 

 aged Bright-Moon. They said, c the roots 

 grow around our home and not yours, Red-face, 

 and we will do as we please with them/ Bright- 

 Moon left with a sad heart. When the sun 

 was long hidden behind the great hills in the 

 west the two gophers called all their kind to- 

 gether and destroyed all the roots they could 

 find. When Bright-Moon returned and found 

 what the selfish gophers had done he was very 

 angry. When the gophers saw his great anger 

 they trembled and showed their teeth and bit at 

 the ones who had tempted them to commit this 

 destruction. Then Bright-Moon rose before 

 them and called to the Great Spirit, the Sun, to 

 revenge his wrong. The sun poured out great 

 streaks of fire that dazzled the eyes of the 

 gophers and made them grow weak and small. 

 Then he commanded them to seek the ground 

 and live in solitude and darkness. From that 

 day on the gophers have been solitary, vicious 

 underground dwellers, shunning light and com- 

 panionship." 



[221] 



