The man never went to the lake any more, but was happy with his new wife, for she looked very much like the woman who had gone into the lake with the Elk.
FOOTNOTES:
[46] Told by Standing-Bull.
46. THE FOUR GIRLS AND THE MOUNTAIN-LION.[47]
There were four girls who went to gather wood. While they were gathering wood they heard a Mountain-Lion coming, who said, “I want you girls for my wives.” The girls ran to different wonderful beings for protection. Each wonderful being said, “I can not do anything for you, for the Mountain-Lion is more powerful than I.” At last the girls came to a place where there was a man whose name was “Hair-Cut-in-Notches.” (His hair was so notched that one could see through the notches by looking at the side of his head.) The girls ran to this man, and said: “A Mountain-Lion is after us! Save us!” Hair-Cut-in-Notches said, “What shall I get if I save you?” The girls said, “We will live with you as your wives if you will save us.” Hair-Cut-in-Notches said, “You will go into my lodge and stay there.” Then he sang about his head and hair, for his hair was his arrows. When the Mountain-Lion came up Hair-Cut-in-Notches would make a motion toward his head, then to his bow, then shoot at the Mountain-Lion. Finally the Mountain-Lion dropped down, for he had killed it. Hair-Cut-in-Notches went into the lodge, and said: “You will now come out. Go to your homes. I shall not keep you here, for I am not a human being, but I am glad to have saved you from being killed by that animal.” The four girls thanked the man and returned to their homes.
FOOTNOTES:
[47] Told by Little-Crow.
47. THE DEEDS OF YOUNG-EAGLE.[48]
Many years ago the Arikara separated into two bands, one band going south, the other going north. But still the young men visited from one camp to the other. In the north village the leading chief had a daughter who had grown up to be a beautiful young woman. In the other village the leading chief had a son who was handsome. The young man’s name was Young-Eagle. The young girl’s name was Yellow-Calf.
When the north village visited the south village the north people told the south people about the chief’s daughter, who was very pretty. When the south people visited the north village they told of the chief’s son, who was very handsome, but who had never looked upon women with favor, for he had always kept himself in the lodge, not even having been on the war-path. When he came out of his lodge everybody looked at him.