SO THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE WICHITA. 
went direct to where she had found them before, but could not find them 
this time. So she went all around and failed to find them. She then 
went straight home. She was now sure that they had deserted, and she 
cried all that day. | 
The next day, when the brothers returned home, they heard some- 
thing unusual and stopped to listen to learn what it was. One of the 
men said: “It is our sister crying.” They then entered the lodge and 
asked what was the trouble. She told them that the woman had de- 
serted with the child. The oldest of the seven brothers then said: “I 
have always known, sister, that you were fooled, but never mind, we 
will get that child, so stop crying and let us have something to eat.” 
The woman began to cook food for her brothers. After eating supper 
all went to bed. The next morning, after breakfast, the oldest man 
asked his sister to bring in a pot of water. They then all stood in a 
group and poured the water on the fire, and as the smoke went up they 
went up too. When they had got up high they saw the Coyote woman 
and the boy, so they went after them. As they got so near that they 
were only one hill apart they got on their feet again, still running after 
the two. They soon overtook them, and the oldest brother said to the 
Coyote woman: “Before you go any further let us have our child.” 
The child was taken away from the Coyote woman, and the brothers, 
their sister, and the child now went up into the sky and became the 
Stars known as the “Seven” (Kiowhits), the Dipper. The sister also 
became a Star, but she did not stay with her brothers. The oldest 
brother had the child with him. 
Sometimes when we see the Seven Stars we notice the first one 
having a small star beside it; sometimes it is with the next one, and so 
on, just as it used to be when the child was first born. 
After the brothers, sister, and child had ascended into the sky the 
Coyote woman jumped, and said: “I will be there again and take my 
child.”’” But by this time the Coyote woman noticed that she was a 
coyote, having a long tail and a different shape from what he used to 
be. Now he thought of his old home and that he had better return 
there. So he went on and on until he got there. When he came to 
the place the only thing he could see was hair and bones, the remains 
of his family. Then he went off on the prairie and cried as the 
coyotes cry. So whenever a coyote howls or cries it means that he is 
still howling or crying for his wife and children. 
