DAKOTA MYTHS. 103 
Then Blood-Clot Boy said, ‘ Now, father, say this: ‘Oh that my son might have 
good clothes.’” So he said it, and it was so. Then he said again, “Say this: ‘Oh 
that my son might have an otter-skin quiver filled with arrows.” ‘This he said also, 
and it was so. Then Blood-Clot Boy pulled a hair out of Lis head and placed it on 
the door, and, shooting it with an arrow, split it. And then he said, “‘ Father, why 
dowt you give me something to eat?” But the Badger answered, ‘Alas! my son, 
what do you mean? We are all starving to death. I was very rich in food, but Gray 
Bear came and took it all from me and drove me out, and now we are starving and 
will die.” 
Then Blood-Clot Boy said, ‘‘ Father, I know these things, and therefore I grew. 
Now, father, do just as I tell you to do.” To this the Badger said * Yes.” Then 
Blood-Clot Boy continued: ‘In the morning when Gray Bear comes out and calls you, 
you will not go; but the second time he calls then go with him, for I shall then have 
hidden myself.” So very early in the morning Gray Bear stood without and called: 
“Stinking-eared Badger, take your arrow and come, your surround is full.” He did 
not go; but when he called the second time he took his arrow and went with him. 
And when they had scared the buffalo, and all had started home on one line, Badger 
shot his arrow through them all, and dressed the fattest one. 
Then Gray Bear said, “Dress it quickly.” And when the Badger had finished 
dressing and was about to start home with it, Gray Bear said, “‘ Badger with the 
stinking ears, get away, you will trample in my blood.” To this Badger paid no 
attention but continued to prepare to carry. Then Gray Bear came and fell upon 
him and threw him down in the blood. He arose and went to take up his pack, but 
again he threw him down in the blood. Then the Badger burst into tears. 
But chen Blood-Clot Boy appeared, and said, “* Why do you treat my father so?” 
To which Gray Bear replied, ‘My son, this I said, ‘My brother, take home meat to 
your children without delay.” But Blood-Clot Boy said, ‘No, I saw you throw my 
father down.” Saying that he pulled out an arrow, and as Gray Bear fled, he hit 
him in the little finger and killed him. 
Then Badger said, “Do not kill Gray Bear’s youngest child, the smooth-bellied 
boy, for he it was who brought us leg bones and so kept us alive until this time.” 
Blood-Clot Boy then went towards home and called to Gray Bear’s wife, “Come out 
and help Gray Bear.” So she took her packing strap and said as she approached 
him, ‘‘How many herds were there?” Blood-Clot Boy said, ‘One herd.” “ When 
there are only that many he has never counted it anything,” she said. And as she 
came near she asked again, ‘‘How many herds are there?” Blood Clot Boy again 
replied, “I have told you there was one,” and he took out an arrow. She said, ‘I 
apprehended this before,” and fled; but he shot her in the little finger and killed her. 
Then he went into Gray Bear’s lodge and all bowed their heads. Blood-Clot Boy said, 
“Which one of you brought food to my father?” And ali but one with one voice 
said, “It was I, it was I.” Then he said, “You who said ‘I, I,’ shall you live?” And 
Blood-Clot Boy took his bow and killed all but the one who said nothing. And him 
he brought into Badger’s lodge where he brought water and took up the ashes. 
Then the Badger became very rich again. Blood-Clot Boy was discontented and 
said, “Father I want to take a journey; I want to go tu the people that you know 
live near by.” And the Badger answered, ‘My son, there is a people living just 
here, to them you will go. But an old man will come to meet you with the intent of 
