Blackfeet Indian Stories eBook

George Bird Grinnell
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 157 pages of information about Blackfeet Indian Stories.

Blackfeet Indian Stories eBook

George Bird Grinnell
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 157 pages of information about Blackfeet Indian Stories.

“Ah,” said the young man, “then your travels are ended.  You need go no farther.  Close by here is our piskun.  Many buffalo have been run in, and our parfleches are filled with dried meat.  Wait a little; I will go and bring you some,” and he went out.

As soon as he had gone they began to talk about this strange person.  They were afraid of him and did not know what to do.  The children began to cry, and the women tried to quiet them.  Presently the young man came back, bringing some meat.

“There is food,” said he, as he put it down by the woman.  “Now to-morrow move your camp over to our lodges.  Do not fear anything.  No matter what strange things you may see, do not fear.  All will be your friends.  Yet about one thing I must warn you.  In this you should be careful.  If you should find an arrow lying about anywhere, in the piskun or outside, do not touch it, neither you nor your wives nor your children.”  When he had said this he went out.

The father took his pipe and filled it, and smoked and prayed to all the powers, saying, “Hear now, Sun; listen, Above People; listen, Underwater People; now you have taken pity; now you have given us food.  We are going to those mysterious ones who walk through water with dry moccasins.  Protect us among these to-be-feared people.  Let us live.  Man, woman, and child, give us long life.”

Now from the fire again arose the smell of roasting meat.  The children ate and played.  Those who so long had been silent now talked and laughed.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sun had risen, they took down their lodge and packed their dogs and started for the camp of the stranger.  When they had come to where they could see it, they found it a wonderful place.  There around the piskun, and stretching far up and down the valley, were pitched the lodges of the meat eaters.  They could not see them all, but near by they saw the lodges of the Bear band, the Fox band, and the Raven band.  The father of the young man who had visited them and given them meat was the chief of the Wolf band, and by that band they pitched their lodge.  Truly that was a happy place.  Food was plenty.  All day long people were shouting out for feasts, and everywhere was heard the sound of drumming and singing and dancing.

The newly come people went to the piskun for meat, and there one of the children saw an arrow lying on the ground.  It was a beautiful arrow, the stone point long, slender, and sharp, the shaft round and straight.  The boy remembered what had been said and he looked around fearfully, but everywhere the people were busy.  No one was looking.  He picked up the arrow and put it under his robe.

Then there rose a terrible sound.  All the animals howled and growled and rushed toward him, but the chief Wolf got to him first, and holding up his hand said, “Wait.  He is young and not yet of good sense.  We will let him go this time.”  They did nothing to him.

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Project Gutenberg
Blackfeet Indian Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.