33. THE RABBIT-BOY.
Young man who has not been on war-path mourns on graveyard hill. Remains there several days in storm. Jack-Rabbit crawls under his robe. Eagle comes and asks for Rabbit. Rabbit promises him powers if he will save him. Eagle promises him scalps if he will turn Rabbit loose. Boy refuses and Eagle flies away. Rabbit says he will make young man great warrior and gives him war-club, rabbit-skin, and medicine paints. Boy returns home. He follows war-party and acts as scout. Goes and brings ponies from enemy’s village. Attack is made on enemy’s camp. Rabbit-Boy kills old man and goes through village and escapes. Sees pretty girl who watches him. Soon after they go again to village. Boy kills man and again sees girl. Girl gives Arikara woman captive moccasins, beaded bracelets, and beaded armlet to take to young man. Woman gives him things and young man at once starts for enemy’s camp. He goes to girl’s tipi, puts in his hand, and she recognizes him by bracelet. He sleeps with girl and father finds them in bed together. Father sends for warriors, who prepare to kill young man. He is saved by new-comer, who is glad he has married one of their girls, as he will now lead their people. They go on war-path to young man’s country. He kills captive woman and gives her scalp to chief. This happens several times and young man never kills members of his own tribe. The two tribes make peace.