ABSTRACTS. 187 
21. THE BOY WHO BEFRIENDED THE THUNDERBIRDS, AND THE 
SERPENT. 
Boy gifted with powers by four-world-quarter gods kills so many antelope 
he is called Antelope-Carrier. Wood-Rats have given him bow and four differ- 
ently colored arrows. He wanders from home, and while asleep two Thunder- 
birds carry him up high mountain. He finds nest with four young Thunderbirds. 
Mother Thunderbird comes and tells him of serpent with two heads that lives 
in lake and eats her young. She promises him lightning and control of all birds 
if he will help to kill monster. He promises and Thunderbird, after telling him 
when serpent would come out of lake, flies away. Fog rises from lake one day 
and boy sees monster with two heads crawling out of lake. Storm comes from 
west and Thunderbirds return, making lightning, which strikes serpent. Light- 
ning throws it back, but it again crawls up. Monster opens its mouth to swal- 
low boy. He shoots black arrow into its mouth. Monster falls and bursts open. 
Other head comes and boy shoots red arrow into its mouth and head broken in 
pieces. Thunderbirds come with all kinds of birds, which feast upon serpent. 
They give boy power as objects which he swallows. Boy chief of all birds and 
kills all bad animals. Two boys, joined together with rawhide, go to shoot birds. 
One shoots at white object, like mushroom, moving up and down and strong 
wind carries them far away to an island. They go west and come to lodge of 
old woman. She makes cakes, four for the great serpent, who will carry them 
across by water. Serpent comes and carries them across, stopping each day 
when hungry. They give it cake and soft-shell turtle (lice) from its head. Wild 
boy jumps before they come to land and is swallowed by serpent. Other boy 
asks serpent to open its mouth wide and he drags swallowed boy out. Boys 
travel to Missouri River bottom. They put log of wood on fire and it is ser- 
pent. Foolish boy eats chunk of meat and he gradually turns to serpent. Other 
boy takes him to Missouri River and turns him loose there. Antelope-Carrier 
hears of serpent and hunts him with all his birds. Serpent uses his power and 
carries him into his den. Antelope-Carrier is made to vomit up all his power, 
except lightning in his eyes. Serpent remains in river and gives its powers to 
people, and songs and medicine-men’s ceremony. 
22. THE BOY WHO TURNED INTO A SNAKE. 
Idiot boy and son of chief go on war-path. They have to return through 
want of food, and come to water-serpent. It is so big they can not get around 
it, and idiot proposes to burn it. Serpent burns in two. Idiot eats of serpent 
meat and his body gradually becomes colored red and blue. By fourth day his 
legs are grown together and become snake’s tail. Other boy carries him to lake, 
where fishes object to him, and finally they come to the Missouri River. He 
rests in middle of river and people by giving him presents cross over without 
danger of drowning. 
23. THE BOY WHO RECEIVED THE MOUSE POWER. 
Young man stays behind when people go hunting. He goes through village 
and hears crying. He goes to lodge and sees woman wrapped in buffalo robe, 
who tells him people have taken her children. She says they are in sacred 
