86 TRADITIONS OF THE ARIKARA. 
live, but you gave no heed to my warning. Now you will die.” Pretty- 
Voice threw himself on the ground and sprang on his feet in the form 
of a full grown Elk, with antlers like branches of a cottonwood tree. 
The Bear made a rush and the Elk threw his head down and struck 
the Bear, picking him up from the earth. The Bear’s claws lacked 
a little of hitting the Elk’s head. ‘The women stopped wailing when 
they saw that Pretty-Voice was their savior. “My friend,’ said the 
Bear, “you are true to your faith, and I will admit that you have 
overcome me and I will say that the women are yours and I beg 
to be free; but I know that I am going to die.” Pretty-Voice pulled 
up his head with a quick jerk and set the Bear free. After throwing 
himself on the ground as before, he sprang up a man. He picked up 
his clothing and started on. 
When he arrived at the village the news of his capture of the 
women spread. There was great rejoicing and the young women were 
taken to their homes. Pretty-Voice won great honor. He lived among 
his people, being received in their homes with great respect. He was 
not yet a warrior, but knew he would have no difficulty in getting a 
wife. 
As he had received all the powers of an Elk, he thought he would 
use them. One night he painted himself according to the instructions 
the Elk had given him. Ille, dum summo tumulo terreno stat, pulchram 
puellam vidit quam habere volebat. Itaque tibia magica canebat, et 
brevi tempore puellam habebat. Hoc faciebat dum puellas pulcherrimas 
omnes, quae eum vicum incolebant, habuisset. Deinde matrones illicere 
incepit. This caused bad feeling among the majority of the men, but 
a few paid no attention to his doings, thinking that nothing could be 
done to stop him. The Indians held a large council, and in this council 
they, including his three brothers, planned and agreed to make an at- 
tack and kill him. One day he prepared to practice his power. He 
stood on an earth-lodge. The people began to flock into the lodge he 
was standing on, with their robes around them to hide their weapons. 
Pretty-Voice knew what was coming and gave no heed to them, trust- 
ing in his power. All at once the men rushed out and began to shoot 
at him. A few who favored Pretty-Voice called out that they were 
foolish, as Pretty-Voice had caused no one bodily pain. The shooting 
went on and on, but Pretty-Voice stood still. Once in a while he shook 
his robe and threw off the bullets and arrows. At last the men gave 
up, seeing that nothing could harm the young man. 
One day the village was attacked by a large party of Sioux. The 
inhabitants were being defeated on every side. Pretty-Voice was tardy 
