THE GIRL AND THE ELK. 153 
people to the dead, so that they could come and be with them. The 
dry willows were used because the dead people wanted their living 
relatives in the world to become sick—as, for example, with consump- 
tion—and to dry up like the dry willows. When one of these dancers 
had to leave this place and go up to their village in the west, another 
man of his age would go out and take his place, and so on around. They 
wanted me to go into the lodge, but the man behind me said, “Do 
not go into the lodge.” Every time they got to a certain part of the 
songs they would take the willow sticks, then move them towards them- 
selves. Then the man that was watching me said, “Come, you must 
not stay here; you must be going to your country.” 
Now I woke up, but I remember the story well. 
64. THE COYOTE WHO SPOKE TO THE EAGLE HUNTERS.* 
One time there was a prominent warrior who made up his mind 
that he would take a company of boys up into the hills to catch eagles. 
He led them out into the hills, and there he had many holes dug for 
the young men. They dug a big cave in the bank of the Missouri 
River, and this they made their permanent home. 
One night, while they were sitting around in a circle telling 
Coyote stories, telling things a little bit in excess of what the Coyote 
had done, they were startled by the bark of a Coyote just outside of 
their den. Presently the Coyote walked into their den and said: “You 
people tell things about me that are not true, but then, it is all right.” 
He jumped out of the den and went off. All the young men, and even 
the leader, were scattered, on account of this Coyote’s coming into the 
den. They left their den and returned to their village. They thought 
that it was a bad sign for the Coyote to talk, but the other people - 
thought that it was wrong for them to be scared. They thought that 
' the Coyote had brought a good message to them, and they should have 
stayed and should have caught many eagles. 
65. THE GIRL AND THE ELK.* 
One time the Arikara went hunting on the Missouri River. They 
made their camp in the timber. Every evening the men used to go 
across the river and kill Elk. One evening, after the men had come 
home from their hunt, they heard the Elk whistling across the river. 
*Told by Many-Fox. 
