Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

41. THE BOY WHO CARRIED A SCALPED-MAN INTO CAMP.[42]

In olden times the Arikara went on the war-path. They came to a lake where they made their camp. In the night the enemy attacked them, and ran them into the lake, killing all the warriors and taking their scalps.

Another party of brave warriors started out from the same village, and went on the war-path. As they journeyed towards the east they came near to the lake. There they made their camp. Among these last warriors was a very poor young man who had joined them. In the night the leader asked the young men to go after some water; but all the young men refused. The poor boy took up the vessels and went down to the lake. As he tried to dip the vessel into the water, some one spoke close by him, and said, “Go a little beyond and dip up water.” The young man waded into the water, and as he was about to dip the water, again some one else spoke to him, and said: “Go beyond. Go further into the lake and get your water.” The young man went on into the lake, and just as he was about to take up the water, again some one else spoke to him, and said, “Do not dip up the water there, but go further into the lake to dip it.” The young man turned around, and said, “Who are you that speaks to me?” The man said: “I am the leader who took the young men out on the war-path. We ran into this lake and were killed, and we were all scalped. All around the edge of the lake the water is colored with our blood, and that is why I am telling you to go further into the lake to dip your water.” About this time the moon appeared. The night was windy and cloudy, so that every once in a while the clouds passed over the moon and hid it. The boy looked around, and he saw sitting near him a man whose head was all bloody, and whose hands and feet had been cut off. He had been stabbed in several places.

So the boy dipped his water, and said to the Scalped-Man: “I want to carry you upon my back to where we are camped, for the people will not believe me when I tell them that you were killed.” The Scalped-Man said, “Very well.” So the poor boy sat down and put the dead man upon his back. The poor boy carried the dead man to where the other men were. The poor boy placed the Scalped-Man outside of the tipi. He went into the tipi with the water.

After they had drunk the water, the poor boy told the story. He said that all the other warriors had been killed; that every one of them was scalped and was lying in the lake; that he had waded waist-deep into the water to get clean water. Some of the boys made fun of the poor boy and said that he had imagined all this. But the poor boy said, “If you do not believe me I am going to get one of them and bring him in here, and you will see that all I have said is true.” They said, “All right.” They did not believe the poor boy would go. But he did go out, and dragged the Scalped-Man to the entrance of the tipi. Old and young men crawled out and ran away. The poor boy laughed at them for being afraid of a dead man. The leader was the only one who stayed. The Scalped-Man told the leader not to be afraid; that they would give them success, so that they might take revenge on the people who had killed them. So the men came into the tipi, but not till the poor boy had taken the dead man out. Then they all wanted to go home at once. They left the tipi and went on. The next day they found a hunter, an enemy. They lay low, and when he was within reach of them they shot him and killed him. Now the other young men wanted to go home, but the poor boy said, “Let us go on.” They kept on. Each day they killed one or two of the enemy. When they had killed a number equal to the number in the lake the boy was satisfied. Then they returned home. The chiefs heard of the poor boy’s bravery. They sent for him through their council, and they made of him a brave. So the poor boy became a brave man, and executed the orders of the chiefs.

FOOTNOTES:

[42] Told by Standing-Bull.

42. THE GIRL WHO WAS BLEST BY THE BUFFALO AND CORN.[43]

In one of the lodges in a village there stood a mother, and in her arms was a baby girl. It was about to rain and the mother wanted to bring in her corn and other things to keep them dry, but she did not know where to put the baby. In her excitement she forgot that there was a bed, and she laid the baby up on the buffalo skull at the altar, then went about her duties. The buffalo skull was thankful, because he thought the baby was given to him. He cried out, saying, “Hi ni, hi ni—you have pleased me, you have pleased me, giving me the baby.” But Mother-Corn, who stood over the buffalo skull, told him that the baby girl had not been given to him, but had been placed there for the buffalo skull and herself to watch while the mother was busy. The buffalo skull and Mother-Corn blessed and poured their mercy on the baby girl. After a while the mother came in and took the baby. The child grew, and showed some signs of having power from some of the gods. She would eat no corn, squash, or anything, except chicken or duck. The girl grew to womanhood, and all the people respected and honored her.