188 TALES OF READY-TO-GIVE. 
tered by people who did not take the bones home. They took only 
the meat and left most of the buffalo on the prairie.’’ On the fourth 
night the boy went to the place, and there were many skeletons of buffalo. 
He began to cry. He went from one to another set of bones and con- 
tinued to cry. After a while he came to a set of bones where there was a 
bull skull. Its horns were not smooth and were loose, and it seemed 
very old. The boy stood at the head and cried. Then he sang a song: 
My father, my father, 
The reason I am crying, 
The gambler has requested 
That I play sticks with him, 
And I have no sticks. 
Give me sticks, father, 
Give me a ring, mother. 
The old bull said: ‘‘My grandchild, I am very sorry for you and 
we will try to help you. These are my children lying around here. We 
have made up our minds to help you. I myself can not do it, for I am old 
and can not stand the game, but there are some young bulls who will help 
you, for we want to get rid of the gambler. Nowgo. Thespirits of the 
buffalo have all returned.’”’ The boy continued to go around from one 
set of bones to another, crying as he went. At last he came to the skull 
of a bull whose horns were sharp and turned in at the tops. Here he 
stopped and cried and cried. At last the skull spoke and said: ‘‘My 
son, what are you crying for?’’ The boy then sang, saying in his song: 
‘“‘T am crying, for I am about to play sticks with the gambler, and I have 
no sticks. Pity me! Help me! Give me sticks and a ring, so that I 
can beat this gambler. We are to put up our lives.”” The young bull 
said: ‘Very well, my son. We shall help you. I am the strongest bull. 
I can fight a long time and never get tired. Now watch.” The boy 
watched, and buffalo came from different directions. They made a 
bellowing noise and all ran and stopped where these bones were; then 
they stamped and fought. At last these buffalo dispersed and he heard 
one say; “‘There he goes!’’ The boy looked and the buffalo disappeared, 
and there where the buffalo were he saw a stick. A voice came from 
the stick and said: ‘‘I will be one to beat the gambler. Take me and 
see that the point is burnt black.” 
Now the boy went farther, and he came to a skull of a young bull, 
whose horns were yet straight. The boy then stood and cried. The head 
moved and said: ‘‘My son, I will help you. I am young and easily 
give out. I will be the white stick, and the man shall choose me and use 
me. I will be the fine-looking stick; also very light. I will not try to 
go after the ring, for I never had intercourse with any female. Now 
