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grandmother； who was very destitute； and consequently could not
dress the boy in fine raiment。 So poorly was the boy dressed that
the boys who had good clothes always tormented him and would not
play in his company。
Chaske did not look at the clothes of any boy whom he chose as a
friend； but mingled with all boys regardless of how they were clad；
and would study their dispositions。 The well dressed he found were
vain and conceited。 The fairly well dressed he found
selfish and spiteful。 The poorly clad he found to be generous and
truthful； and from all of them he chose 〃Hake〃 for his 〃Koda〃
（friend）。 As Chaske was the son of the leading war chief he was
very much sought after by the rest of the boys； each one trying to
gain the honor of being chosen for the friend and companion of the
great chief's son； but； as I have before said； Chaske carefully
studied them all and finally chose the orphan Hake。
It was a lucky day for Hake when he was chosen for the friend and
companion of Chaske。 The orphan boy was taken to the lodge of his
friend's parents and dressed up in fine clothes and moccasins。
（When the Indians' sons claim any one as their friend； the friend
thus chosen is adopted into the family as their own son）。
Chaske and Hake were inseparable。 Where one was seen the other was
not far distant。 They played； hunted； trapped； ate and slept
together。 They would spend most of the long summer days hunting in
the forests。
Time went on and these two fast friends grew up to be fine
specimens of their tribe。 When they became the age to select a
sweetheart they would go together and make love to a girl。 Each
helping the other to win the affection of the one of his choice。
Chaske loved a girl who was the daughter of an old medicine man。
She was very much courted by the other young men of the tribe； and
many a horse loaded with robes and fine porcupine work was tied at
the medicine man's tepee in offering for the hand of his daughter；
but the horses； laden as when tied there； were turned loose；
signifying that the offer was not accepted。
The girl's choice was Chaske's friend Hake。 Although he had never
made love to her for himself； he had always used honeyed words to
her and was always loud in his praises for his friend Chaske。 One
night the two friends had been to see the girl； and
on their return Chaske was very quiet； having nothing to say and
seemingly in deep study。 Always of a bright； jolly and amiable
disposition； his silence and moody spell grieved his friend very
much； and he finally spoke to Chaske； saying： 〃Koda； what has come
over you？ You who were always so jolly and full of fun？ Your
silence makes me grieve for you and I do not know what you are
feeling so downhearted about。 Has the girl said anything to you
to make you feel thus？〃
〃Wait； friend；〃 said Chaske； 〃until morning； and then I will know
how to answer your inquiry。 Don't ask me anything more tonight； as
my heart is having a great battle with my brain。〃
Hake bothered his friend no more that night； but he could not
sleep。 He kept wondering what 〃Pretty Feather〃 （the girl whom his
friend loved） could have said to Chaske to bring such a change over
him。 Hake never suspected that he himself was the cause of his
friend's sorrow； for never did he have a thought that it was
himself that Pretty Feather loved。
The next morning after they had eaten breakfast； Chaske proposed
that they should go out on the prairies； and see if they would have
the good luck to kill an antelope。 Hake went out and got the band
of horses； of which there were over a hundred。 They
selected the fleetest two in the herd； and taking their bows and
arrows； mounted and rode away towards the south。
Hake was overjoyed to note the change in his friend。 His oldtime
jollity had returned。 They rode out about five miles； and scaring
up a drove of antelope they started in hot pursuit； and as their
horses were very fleet of foot soon caught up to the drove；
and each singling out his choice quickly dispatched him with an
arrow。 They could easily have killed more of the antelope； but did
not want to kill them just for sport； but for food； and knowing
that they had now all that their horses could pack home； they
dismounted and proceeded to dress their kill。
After each had finished packing the kill on his horse； Chaske said：
〃Let us sit down and have a smoke before we start back。 Besides；
I have something to tell you which I can tell better sitting still
than I can riding along。〃 Hake came and sat down opposite his
friend； and while they smoked Chaske said：
〃My friend； we have been together for the last twenty years and I
have yet the first time to deceive you in any way； and I know I can
truthfully say the same of you。 Never have I known you to deceive
me nor tell me an untruth。 I have no brothers or sisters。 The
only brother's love I know is yours。 The only sister's love I will
know will be Pretty Feather's； for brother； last night she told me
she loved none but you and would marry you and you only。 So；
brother； I am going to take my antelope to my sister…in…law's tent
and deposit it at her door。 Then she will know that her wish will
be fulfilled。 I thought at first that you had been playing traitor
to me and had been making love to her for yourself； but when she
explained it all to me and begged me to intercede for her to you；
I then knew that I had judged you wrongfully； and that； together
with my lost love； made me so quiet and sorrowful last night。 So
now； brother； take the flower of the nation for your wife； and I
will be content to continue through life a lonely
bachelor； as never again can I give any woman the place which
Pretty Feather had in my heart。〃
Their pipes being smoked out they mounted their ponies and Chaske
started up in a clear； deep voice the beautiful love song of Pretty
Feather and his friend Hake。
Such is the love between two friends； who claim to be as brothers
among the Indians。 Chaske gave up his love of a beautiful woman
for a man who was in fact no relation to him。
Hake said； 〃I will do as you say； my friend； but before I can marry
the medicine man's daughter； I will have to go on the warpath and
do some brave deed； and will start in ten days。〃 They rode towards
home； planning which direction they would travel； and as it was to
be their first experience on the warpath； they would seek advice
from the old warriors of the tribe。
On their arrival at the village Hake took his kill to their own
tent； while Chaske took his to the tent of the Medicine Man； and
deposited it at the door and rode off towards home。
The mother of Pretty Feather did not know whether to take the
offering or not； but Pretty Feather； seeing by this offering that
her most cherished wish was to be granted； told her mother to take
the meat and cook it and invite the old women of the camp to a
feast in honor of the son…in…law who was soon to keep them
furnished with plenty of meat。 Hake and his friend sought out all
of the old warriors and gained all the information they desired。
Every evening Hake visited his intended wife and many happy
evenings they spent together。
The morning of the tenth day the two friends left the village and
turned their faces toward the west where the camps of the enemy are
more numerous than in any other direction。 They were not mounted
and therefore traveled slowly； so it took about ten days of walking
before they saw any signs of the enemy。 The old warriors had told
them of a thickly wooded creek within the enemies' bounds。 The old
men said； 〃That creek looks the ideal place to camp； but don't camp
there by any means； because there is a ghost who haunts that creek；
and any one who camps there is disturbed all through the night； and
besides they never return； because the ghost is Wakan （holy）； and
the enemies conquer the travelers every time。〃
The friends had extra moccasins with them and one extra blanket； as
it was late in the fall and the nights were very cold。
They broke camp early one morning and walked all day。 Along
towards evening； the clouds which had been threatening all day；
hurriedly opened their doors and down came the snowflakes thick and
fast。 Just before it started snowing the friends had noticed a
dark line about two miles in advance of them。 Chaske spoke to his
friend and said： 〃If this storm continues we will be obliged to
stay overnight at Ghost Creek； as I noticed it not far ahead of us；
just before the storm set in。〃 〃I noticed it also；〃 said Hake。
〃We might as well entertain a ghost all night as to lie out on
these open prairies and freeze to death。〃 So they decided to run
the risk and stay in the sheltering woods of Ghost Creek。 When
they got to the creek it seemed as if they had stepped inside a big
tepee； so thick was the brush and timber that