478 A STUDY OF SIOUAN CULTS. 



what point of the compass it proceeds. All these things are regarded 

 as good or bad omens. If the undertakings of the Indians result, as 

 they occasionally do, in success, after hearing the barking of the little 

 wolf, this animal is honored by a grand feast after the retiun of the 

 party.' 



§244. That some of the Dakota reverenced the wolf is evident from 

 the fact that there is a society, called the Wolf Society, but known 

 among the white people as the Dog Society. That society has many 

 beautiful songs, according to Bushotter, and its membership is confined 

 to young men. All the wolf stories belong to this society. Three of 

 these stories follow this section. 



§245. The man who met the ghost woman after fleeing from the two 

 ghost men^ encountered a wolf, who pitied liim and showed him the way 

 to a camp, where he was received and adopted into the tribe. This man 

 always remembered the wolf as a kind animal, and when he killed any 

 game, he threw a portion outside of the camp, asan offering to the wolf. 



§240. There was once a bandsome young Teton, wliose wife's father 

 disliked him and plotted against him. He dug a pit within his lodge, 

 covering it with skins. Tlieu he invited his son-in-law to a feast. The 

 son-in-law met a wolf, whom he saluted, asking him the way to the vil- 

 lage. The young man was persuaded to recline on the skins, which gave 

 way, precipitating him into the pit. The father-in-law and his two single 

 daughters covered the skins with earth, and removed their tent else- 

 where on the morrow, when all the people started on a journey. After 

 some days, the wolf who had met the man went to the deserted camp-^ 

 ing place in search of food. On reacliiug the place where the accident 

 (?) had happened, he heard a human cry. So he dug away the earth, 

 removed the skins, and found the man, whom he recognized. The wolf 

 pitied him, and said, " As you did not kill me when we met, you shall 

 now be saved." So he howled, and very soon many wolves appeared. 

 They found a lariat, which they lowered into the pit, and by grasping 

 the other end with their teeth, they pulled the man up. He was very 

 grateful, promising never to harm a wolf. Just then a weeping woman 

 appeared, gazing in surprise at the man, as he was very thin, looking 

 like a ghost. She was his wife, and her heart was soon made glad when 

 he told her of liis rescue. 



§ 247. Once upon time a man found a wolf den, into which he dug to- 

 get the cubs. The mother came, barking, and she finally said to him, 

 '■Pity my children;" but he paid no attention to her. So she ran for 

 her husband, who soon appeared. Still the man persevered. Then the 

 wolf sang a beautiful song, " O man, pity my children, and I will in- 

 struct you in one of my arts." He ended with a howl, causing a fog. 

 When the wolf howled again the fog disappeared. Then the man 

 thought, " These animals have mysterious gifts," and he tore up his red 



' Smet, Western Missions and Missionaries, p. 140. 

 2 See Ghost Lore, 5280. 



