78 TRADITIONS OF THE ARIKARA. 
souri River bottom. ‘This river they followed up until they came to 
some lakes close to the river. Here they wandered until they came to 
drift wood, and there was a good large sized log among the drift. 
Here they made a big fire. The large log was among the burning. The 
boys noticed drops of grease falling from the log. The wild boy noticed 
and reached up to the log and he found that the log was a serpent. 
The foolish boy then took his knife out and cut a chunk of meat and 
ate it. He tried to get the other boy to eat some of the meat, but the 
boy would not eat it. 
The boys now went on, arid in the night lay down. The next morn- 
ing the boy who ate the serpent woke and saw that his feet had turned 
red, blue, and white. The wild boy was glad to see the colors upon his 
feet. The next night, the boy’s legs became colored. Another night 
passed, and the boy’s body was colored. The next morning the boy’s 
_ legs were joined together and were like a serpent. Tihe other boy talked 
to the part-serpent boy, and said, “I will stay with you.” ‘The serpent 
boy then said: “My brother, carry me to the Wonderful (Missouri) 
River and put me in the water. I am now wonderful. You must come 
down to the river, so that I can speak to you, and I will give you 
powers.” The fourth morning the boy was a Serpent. The other boy 
packed the Serpent boy to the river and turned him loose in the river. 
The boy went home. Antelope-Carrier was informed of the Ser- 
pent and learned that it was wonderful. Antelope-Carrier came and 
told all the birds to hunt up and down the river, so that they might find 
the Serpent. The Serpent knew that Antelope-Carrier was coming, 
and became scared. The Serpent had his brother dig a hole in the sand 
for it. He went into the hole and was all hidden but the head, which 
was covered with willows. Antelope-Carrier with all his birds hunted 
the Serpent. At last he saw the place where he thought the Serpent 
was. While examining the place the Serpent used its power and carried 
Antelope-Carrier into the water and into its den. There Antelope- 
Carrier was put into the sweat-lodge and was made to vomit up all his 
powers which he possessed except the lightning in his eyes. “Now,” 
said the Serpent, “your powers are all gone. You are no longer won- 
derful. Go now to our people and live with them.” Antelope-Carrier 
went home. He had to wear something over his eyes all that time, for 
they were like lightning. He lived with the people, but never showed 
to them any powers that he had possessed. The Serpent remained in 
the river and would sometimes swim around in the waters. It gave its 
powers to the people and gave them songs and the Medicine-men’s 
ceremony. - 
