THE COYOTE AND HIS MAGIC SHIELD AND ARROWS. 43 
instructed by the Swallow, and threw it up on the pole,and there it hung. 
The Swallow then told the Coyote to go out into the timber and cut 
four of the finest dogwood sticks he could find, from which to make 
arrows and a bow. The Coyote went out in the timber and cut the 
sticks, and when he brought them in they were prepared for him. When 
they were completed the Swallow instructed the Coyote how to handle 
his shield, bow, and arrows. Said he: “You see for yourself that your 
shield and bow and arrows have lives in them, the same as you have. 
The way to keep the shield, whether at home or away from home is to 
hang it ona pole. You must not forget this. In the morning you will 
see a Buffalo standing outside. You must then do as I tell you. Do 
not allow the sun to get too high before you put up the shield. As soon 
as the sun rises put it up.” The Coyote said: ‘I can do that all right. 
I am too old to forget a simple thing.” Said the Swallow: “In using 
the bow and arrows out hunting, all you have to do is to go a little 
way from home and shoot one arrow in one direction, another in another 
direction, the next in another way and the fourth in still another way, 
then remain where you are until they all come.back to you. When 
they are coming back the arrows will talk to one another, telling what 
kind of a buffalo they have killed, and the buffalo will be brought to you 
instead of your having to go after them. The arrows will remain in 
whatever place they land on the buffalo. It is your place to take them 
off and clean them. Then you can butcher the buffalo and your family 
can have all the meat they want.’ After the shield, bow, and arrows 
were given to the Coyote he went to the nearest flowing water and looked 
for the deepest place. When he had found it the Swallow took hold 
of him and threw him into the water. When he came out of the water 
the Swallow said: “You are now just like me.” The Coyote, just to 
prove it, spat, and his spittle was blue. The Coyote was satisfied and 
both of them went back to the Swallow’s tipi, and the Coyote was per- 
mitted to go to his home. 
On his arrival his wife and children did not know him. He told his 
family that he was the same old man, but that he had got powers from 
the Swallow. ‘The Coyote asked his wife to cut him a pole to hang his 
shield on. The Coyote’s wife did as she was told to do and the Coyote 
hung up his shield. He then called his wife, and said: “You need never 
_go hungry any more, for I now have powers to kill what game we 
want.” ‘The old woman said to him, “Whatever powers you have, do 
as you are told and make no mistake.” “Oh, no,” said the Coyote, 
“you need not worry about my making a mistake; I am too old to do 
anything like that.’ ‘That night the Coyote waited patiently for 
