III. LEAPING ROCK IN THE PIPESTONE VALLEY
ear the Falls of Winniwissi is a great rock; it is as tall as two braves. The water manitous have cut the sides of this rock; it is smooth on the top; it is smooth on the sides; it is like a piece of ice in the Big Sea Water.
It is small on the top. A brave, if he lay down on it and put out his hands, would put his hands on nothing. It is small; it is a high rock.
When they gathered in the Pipestone Valley the chiefs stood by this rock. It is in the Valley of Peace. The young braves stood by this rock. The chiefs tried the young braves here, for this was Leaping Rock. It stood above all the other rocks.
The chiefs called the young braves of their tribes. The young braves came. The chiefs said: “Leap from this trail in the valley to the top of Leaping Rock. Then you are brave; then you are strong.”
It was a leap as high as two braves are long. It was a leap like an arrow shot into the sky; like an [[92]]arrow which falls and breaks on the rocks the young braves fell sometimes.
Sometimes the young brave was strong; he would stand on the slippery rock like an eagle resting on the mountain. It was well. He was then a great brave. The chief of his tribe gave him the feather of an eagle to wear, for only a strong brave may wear a feather in his scalp lock.
A Dakota maiden had two lovers. She told them to go to Leaping Rock. They went; one came back. The other the chiefs buried where he fell as he slid from Leaping Rock. The maiden took the one who came back; but she was missed one day, and they found her at the foot of Leaping Rock with eagle feathers for the Pawnee’s grave.
“He was brave but no one mourns for him. He shall have two eagle feathers,” she said.
“It is right,” said the Dakotas. [[93]]
