Part 12

My father went with me to the hill. We sat and looked on them when they attacked the buffaloes. And notwithstanding my father talked to me, I continued there without talking to him. At length one man was coming directly toward the tents in pursuit of a buffalo bull. And the buffalo bull was savage. He attacked the man now and then.

"Come! Go thither," said my father. I tied a lariat on a large red mare that was very tall. And taking a very light gun which my father had, I went over there. When I arrived the buffalo bull was standing motionless. The man said he was very glad that I had come. The buffalo bull was savage. The man shot suddenly at him with a bow and wounded him on the back. And then he attacked us. The horse on which I was seated leaped very far four times, and had gone off, throwing me suddenly. When the buffalo bull had come very close, he wheeled around and departed. So I failed to shoot at him before he went. I reached home just as my mother was scolding my father about me. When the horse reached home with the bridle sticking to it, she knew that I had been thrown. My father said nothing at all, but sat laughing. Addressing me, he said, "Did you kill the buffalo bull?" And I did not speak.

FOOTNOTE:

The author, Frank La Fleche, an Omaha Indian, was about twelve years old when this occurred.

BIRD OMENS

Sioux

When whippoorwills sing together at night, "Hohin, hohin," one says in reply, "No." If the birds stop talking at once, then the person will die soon. But if the birds continue talking, then the man will live a long time.

The gray screech owl foretells cold weather. When the night is to be very cold, then the owl cries out; it sounds just as if a person's teeth chattered. When the owl cries out, all people wrap themselves in their thickest robes; and they put plenty of wood on the fires.

The Ski-bi-bi-la is a small gray bird, with a black head, and spotted on the breast. It lives in the woods, and it answers a person who calls to it. When this bird says, "Has it returned?" people are glad. They know that spring is near. When a boy hears the bird ask this question, he runs to his mother; she tells him he must answer, "No; it has not yet returned."

When the people first hear the cry of the nighthawk in the spring, they begin to talk of hunting buffalo. This is because when the hawk returns, the buffaloes have become fat again and the birds bring the news.

THE BIRD CHIEF

Omaha

All the birds were called together. To them was said, "Whichever one of you can fly farthest into the sky shall be chief."

All the birds flew to a great height. But Wren got under the thick feathers of Eagle and sat there as Eagle flew. When all the birds became wing-tired, they flew down again; but Eagle flew still higher. When Eagle had gone as far as he could, Wren flew still higher.

When all the birds reached the ground, Eagle alone returned, after a great while. Behold! Wren only was absent. So they awaited him. At last he returned. Eagle had too highly been thinking of himself, being sure of being made chief; and behold! Wren was made chief.

SONG OF THE BIRDS

Pawnee

All around the birds in flocks are flying. Dipping, rising, circling, see them coming. See, many birds are flocking here, All about us now together coming.

Yonder see the birds in flocks, come flying; Dipping, rising, circling, see them gather. Loud is the sound their winging makes. Rushing, come they on the trees alighting.

From the flock an eagle now comes flying; Dipping, rising, circling, comes she hither. Loud screams the eagle, flying swift, As an eagle flies, her nestlings seeking.

It is Kawas coming, Kawas flying; Dipping, rising, circling, she advances. See! Nearer she comes, nearer comes. Now, alighted, she her nest is making.

Yonder people like the birds are flocking; See them circling, this side, that side coming. Loud is the sound their moving makes, As together come they, onward come they.

FOOTNOTE:

Rendition by Alice C. Fletcher.

SONG OF KAWAS, THE EAGLE

Pawnee

O'er the prairie flits in ever widening circles the shadow of a bird about me as I walk; Upward turn my eyes, Kawas looks upon me, she turns with flapping wings and far away she flies.

Round about a tree in ever widening circles an eagle flies, alert watching o'er his nest; Loudly whistles he, a challenge sending far, o'er the country wide it echoes, there defying foes.