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 differently colored arrows. He wanders from home, and while asleep two Thunderbirds 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. Lightning throws it back, but it again crawls up. Monster opens its mouth to swallow 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 serpent. 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.