130 THE DEATH SONG. 



mountain, fails not to bestow upon it his tribute of veneration, or quench 

 his thirst from the creek that bears her name." 



A place on White river — where the stream pours its full force against 

 the base of a lofty peak, and the powerful attrition of its waters has formed 

 a rocky precipice of several hundred feet in height — is known as " The 

 Death Song." The singularity of this name led me to enquire the reasons 

 which prompted its bestowment. Ever ready to answer questions of this 

 nature, the old chief related the following story : 



" Once, on a time, tiie Oglallas and Burnt-thighs held their encampmen 

 upon the river, opposite to the high point of which my son enquires. While 

 there, a dog-soldier* of the Burnt-thighs received the offer of six horses from 

 an Oglalla brave, for his only daughter — a sweet flower — such an one as 

 oft pierces the warrior's heart with her charms, when the arrows of ene- 

 mies fall harmless at his feet. The offer was quickly accepted — for the 

 dog-soldier was poor. 



'• When Chisciiille (for that was the name of the fair one) heard she 

 was to become the wife of the Oglalla, she cried for grief, — and so obstinate 

 was her resistance, the marriage was deferred for several days on that 

 account. 



"But, why did Chischille grieve? She had looked upon a handsome 

 warrior of her own village, and she loved him. She forgot her duty, as a 

 daughter, to love only at her father's bidding. Her heart had been playing 

 truant and had lost itself in the labyrinths of girlish fancy. Bitter were 

 the fruits of that presumption. 



" Chischille, in the interval, contrived to meet the one of her choice, and 

 the two fled towards a distant village, there to live in the undisturbed en- 

 joyment of their youthful loves. 



" But, alas, for them ! They were pursued, and overtaken. The life of 

 the young warrior atoned for his temerity, — while Chischille was cruelly 

 beaten and brought back to her father's lodge. 



" The Oglalla had already paid the purchase price, and, ere the morrow's 

 sunset, was to receive his fair prize at the hand of the dog-soldier. 



" Ciiischille, arising with the dawn, fresh-plaited her hair, and arraying 

 herself in her proudest attire, left the lodge. No one thought strange at 

 seeing her thus gaily dressed for her wedding day, and, as she tripped 

 along, many a warrior's heart beat high and loud at the thought that a 

 creature so lovely was to become the bride of another. 



" Directing her course to the river, she crossed it and ascended the high 

 peak upon tlie o])posite side. There, seating herself upon the utmost verge 

 of the precipice, she gazed calmly from its dizzy height. ' 



" In her lofty station, with her raven locks streaming in the winds, and 

 the matchless beauty of lier person so enchantingly exposed to view, she 

 seemed more like a being of the Spirit-Land than aught human. The 

 sweetest prairie-flower was ne'er half so lovely. 



" Her strange attitude arrested the eyes of all. 



" 'Why sits she there ? — slie will fall and be dashed to pieces !' was the 

 general cry. ' But listen — she sings !' 



* This is the title of those selected to superintend the civil affairs of a village. 



