364 THE ORIGIN OF MEDICINE CEREMONIES OR POWER. 
Fox went to another man who had a ring and begged it of him. The 
man was about to go to the playground, and had the ring on his wrist. 
He took it off and gave it to Howling-Fox, who thanked him and went 
on to another lodge. The man in this lodge was seated by the fireplace. 
Howling-Fox told him what he wanted, and the man was glad and gave 
his ring willingly to Howling-Fox. He went home with the rings, and 
as he entered he told the women to brush out the lodge. Then he asked 
all the people to leave the lodge. When they had all gone out, Howling- 
Fox placed the rings west of the fireplace, then took his pipe and filled it 
with tobacco, which he lighted. He blew a few whiffs to the heavens, 
then to the ground, then he blew one whiff to each ring. As he dumped 
the ashes onto the fireplace he said: ‘‘My mothers, I did not know 
how you are made, but now I do, and I also know that you live. Help 
me, I am poor in spirit. JI hope that one of you is the one I am looking 
for.’’ Howling-Fox then took the rings and placed them under his 
pillow. He went out and told the people to enter the lodge. 
As the people went into the lodge, Howling-Fox went up on top of 
the lodge and sat down. He watched the men playing the game of 
sticks. Towards evening he saw all the men go home from the play- 
ground. Howling-Fox then went down from the lodge and entered it. 
He took the rings from his pillow and went out to the ground. He sat 
down on the north side and placed the rings in front of him. He filled 
his pipe and smoked. The sun had set and it was dark. Howling-Fox 
placed the rings on the north side of the grounds, near the place where 
he was sitting. He waited, and after a while he heard a rumbling noise. 
The sound seemed to come from under the ground. As it came nearer 
he could hear hoofs rattle. He stood up and went to the rings. The 
noise came closer and closer and at last Howling-Fox saw a dark 
form approaching. The form disappeared, and Howling-Fox heard a 
noise that he knew to be that of the Buffalo rolling upon the ground. 
When the Buffalo stood up, Howling-Fox saw that it had changed into 
a woman. The woman came to him and said: ‘‘I am here. I am glad 
that you have brought the rings. Let us now gotothem.’”’ They went 
to the rings. There were three of them. The middle one had a blue 
bead upon it instead of the white bead. The woman went up and said: 
“This is my daughter. She shall go back to my people and the bulls 
shall play with her. You have the string; now tie the ring.”” Howling- 
Fox did as he was told. The woman spoke again and said: ‘‘My son, 
from this day forth I shall look after you, and when you are in need of 
meat I will come and tell you where you can get it. I must now return 
to my people, for they are far away. My daughter will return with me. 
