320 THE ORIGIN OF MEDICINE CEREMONIES OR POWER. 
stayed around where he could see the girl. After they had found the 
pole and given it to the men on horseback to carry, a command was 
given for the people who were on foot to race to the village. Proud-Boy 
ran near the girl until she went ahead of him. He lost sight of her, but 
he kept on, and when he reached the village he saw the girl sitting by the 
priests; and he at once knew that she had won the race. Some said the 
girl had not won fairly, for they had seen some one carrying her on horse- 
back. Because there was some doubt, the people agreed to go after 
another, so that the race might be run again. When the girl’s father 
found out that the race was to be run again, he went to the priests and 
asked that the race be put off until the next day. The priests agreed to 
this. The girl was sent home. Her father took a small calf robe and 
painted the inside red. ‘‘This,”’ he said, “‘my daughter, you shall wear 
to-morrow in the race.” 
The next day acrier went through the village to tell the people to get 
ready torun. The girl had on only her black skirt and black moccasins, 
and the calf robe over her shoulders. She looked beautiful, the boy 
thought. They went near the timber; then a command was given for 
the people to run. They ran. People on horseback rode on either side 
of the procession. Proud-Boy ran as fast as he could. He did not try 
to get near the girl, for he wanted to run his best. Finally he began to 
give out. Then he saw to his right something red, waving or floating in 
the air. Proud-Boy looked, and it was the girl. The red calf robe was 
tied about her shoulders and with her left hand she held her skirt. The 
boy held his breath, for he saw that the girl was passing everybody, even 
some men whom Proud-Boy knew to be good runners.. Proud-Boy ran 
on with all of his strength, and as he ran he watched the red robe. When 
Proud-Boy saw that the girl passed everybody and was in the lead, he 
gave a war whoop and fell exhausted. When he arose he said: ‘‘Now 
I know that she beat them all. This day I call upon the heavens to 
help me make her my wife. I shall go upon the war-path, capture 
ponies, kill the enemy, and take a scalp; then I can claim her. I shall 
give many ponies for her, and the head priest shall lead me to her lodge. 
My father thinks I am still young, but I feel that Iam now aman.” All 
this the boy said as he walked to the place where the priests were seated. 
He saw the girl seated in front of the priests. The priests were satisfied; 
for as one of the priests arose and anointed her body with the holy 
ointment, they all sang. As the pole was being raised and put into the 
hole, and as they were shouting and crying to the gods, Proud-Boy, 
although not yet a warrior, stood among them and shouted. His cry 
was really a petition to the gods to favor him and to help him to win 
