THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA., 19 
ple.” The Kingfisher flew and shot through the side of the bank, and 
the bank fell. The Kingfisher flew around to where the company of 
people were, and shot through the other bank, and this bank also fell, 
so that the two banks, meeting, formed a pathway. Some of the peo- 
ple who saw these banks torn up, turned to Mother-Corn, and said, 
“Mother-Corn, we want to stay here in the banks, as Worms.” So 
Mother-Corn allowed some of the people to remain in the banks as 
Worms. The people started, and when they got across this crevice 
they started on their journey. 
Again they met another obstacle—thick timber—and Mother- 
Corn called on the gods, and said, “Hurry! Help!” So the gods sent 
the wonderful Owl to the people. This wonderful Owl flew and lighted 
by Mother-Corn, and said, “Mother, I will be the one to make a path- 
way.” The Owl flew through the timber, and there was a pathway. 
The people went through the timber, and some of them liked the tim- 
ber, and they turned to Mother-Corn, and said, “Mother, we want to 
stay with the wonderful Owl.” So some of the people turned into ani- 
mals and birds, and they stayed in the timber. 
Again the people started to journey, and they came to another 
difficulty. This time they came to a lake, whose banks were mountains, 
but they managed to get down to the lake. Then the people said, 
“Mother-Corn, what shall we do, for the lake is in the way?” Mother- 
Corn called upon the gods, and said, “Hurry! Help!” The gods sent 
a Loon. The Loon came down and stood by the people, and said, 
“Mother-Corn, I will help to make a pathway for your people.” The 
Loon flew down to the lake, and flew through the waters, and the waters 
opened, leaving the bottom of the lake dry so that the people could 
cross; some drank from the lake, turned into fish, and remained be- 
hind. When they had crossed the lake, some of the people said, “Mother- 
Corn, we want to stay with the wonderful bird, the Loon.” Mother- 
Corn gave her consent. Some of them turned into Loons, and they 
stayed behind. The obstacles were overcome. 
It was now time for Mother-Corn to smoke to the gods. The 
smoke was ready. Animals and birds were sent out to find offerings. 
When the pipe was made the animals and the birds went out to 
find the offering. ‘The Prairie-chicken found a wild-cat and killed it. 
The Prairie-chicken brought the wild-cat to the people and laid it down 
outside of the camp. ‘The Prairie-chicken then went to Mother-Corn, 
and said, “Mother, I have killed for the offering.” Mother-Corn, said, 
“What kind of an animal is it that you have killed?” ‘The Prairie- 
chicken said, “It is an animal that is speckled.” Mother-Corn said, 
