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that it was only the great medicine of the Chief that kept him
alive until he could hop about and find his own food。 The Chief
spent most of his time in his lodge teaching the young crow to
understand and talk the language of the tribe。 After the crow had
mastered this； the Chief then taught him the languages of the
neighboring tribes。 When the crow had mastered these different
languages the chief would send him on long journeys to ascertain
the location of the camps of the different enemies。
When the crow would find a large Indian camp he would alight and
hop about； pretending to be picking up scraps； but really keeping
his ears open for anything he might hear。 He would hang around all
day； and at night when they would all gather in the large council
tent （which always stood in the center of the village） to determine
upon their next raid； and plan for a horse stealing trip； Mr。 Crow
was always nearby to hear all their plans discussed。 He would then
fly away to his master （the Chief） and
tell him all that he had learned。
The Chief would then send a band of his warriors to lie in ambush
for the raiding party； and； as the enemy would not suspect anything
they would go blindly into the pitfall of death thus set for them。
Thus the crow was the scout of this chief； whose
reputation as a Wakan （Holy man） soon reached all of the different
tribes。 The Chief's warriors would intercept； ambush and
annihilate every war party headed for his camp。
So； finally learning that they could not make war on this chief's
people unbeknown to them； they gave up making war on this
particular band。 When meat was running low in the camp this chief
would send the crow out to look for buffalo。 When he discovered
a herd he would return and report to his master； then the chief
would order out the hunters and they would return laden with meat。
Thus the crow kept the camp all the time informed of everything
that would be of benefit to them。
One day the crow disappeared； over which there was great grief
among the tribe。 A week had passed away； when Mr。 Crow reappeared。
There was great rejoicing upon his return； but the crow was
downcast and would not speak； but sat with a drooping head perched
at the top of the chief's tepee； and refused all food that was
offered to him。
In vain did the chief try to get the crow to tell him the cause of
his silence and seeming grief。 The crow would not speak until the
chief said： 〃Well； I will take a few of my warriors and go out and
try to ascertain what has happened to cause you to act
as you do。〃
Upon hearing this； the crow said： 〃Don't go。 I dreaded to tell you
what I know to be a fact； as I have heard it from some great
medicine men。 I was traveling over the mountains west of here；
when I spied three old men sitting at the top of the highest
peak。 I very cautiously dropped down behind a rock and listened to
their talk。 I heard your name mentioned by one of them； then your
brother's name was mentioned。 Then the third； who was the oldest；
said： 'in three days from today the lightning will kill those two
brothers whom all the nations fear。'〃
Upon hearing what the crow stated the tribe became grief stricken。
On the morning of the third day the chief ordered a nice tepee
placed upon the highest point； far enough away from the village； so
that the peals of thunder would not alarm the babies of
the camp。
A great feast was given； and after the feasting was over there came
in six young maidens leading the war horses of the two brothers。
The horses were painted and decorated as if for a charge on the
enemy。 One maiden walked ahead of the chief's horse bearing in her
hands the bow and arrows of the great warrior。 Next came two
maidens； one on either side of the prancing war steed； each holding
a rein。 Behind the chief's horse came the fourth maiden。 Like the
first； she bore in her hands the bow and arrows of the chief's
brother。 Then the fifth and sixth maidens each holding a rein；
walked on either side of the prancing horse of the chief's brother。
They advanced and circled the large gathering and finally
stopped directly in front of the two brothers； who immediately
arose and taking their bows and arrows vaulted lightly upon their
war steeds； and singing their death song； galloped off amid a great
cry of grief from the people who loved them most dearly。
Heading straight for the tepee that had been placed upon the
highest point； adjacent to the village； they soon arrived at their
destination and； dismounting from their horses； turned； waved their
hands to their band； and disappeared within the tepee。 Scarcely
had they entered the lodge when the rumblings of distant thunder
could be heard。 Nearer； and nearer； came the sound； until at last
the storm overspread the locality in all its fury。 Flash upon
flash of lightning burst forth from the heavens。 Deafening peals
of thunder followed each flash。 Finally； one flash brighter than
any of the others； one peal more deafening than those preceding it；
and the storm had passed。
Sadly the warriors gathered together； mounted their horses and
slowly rode to the tepee on the high point。 Arriving there they
looked inside the lodge and saw the two brothers lying cold and
still in death； each holding the lariat of his favorite war horse。
The horses also lay dead side by side in front of the tent。 （From
this came the custom of killing the favorite horse of a dead
warrior at the burial of the owner）。
As the Indians sadly left the hill to return home； they heard a
noise at the top of the tepee； and looking up they saw the crow
sitting on one of the splintered tepee poles。 He was crying most
pitifully； and as they rode off he flew up high in the air and his
pitiful 〃caw〃 became fainter and fainter till at last they heard it
no more。 And from that day； the story goes； no crow ever goes near
the village of that band of Indians。
THE 〃WASNA〃 （PEMMICAN） MAN AND THE
UNKTOMI （SPIDER）
Once upon a time there appeared from out of a large belt of timber
a man attired in the fat of the buffalo。 On his head he wore the
honeycomb part of the stomach。 To this was attached small pieces
of fat。 The fat which covered the stomach he wore as a
cloak。 The large intestines he wore as leggings； and the kidney
fat as his moccasins。
As he appeared he had the misfortune to meet 〃Unktomi〃 （spider）
with his hundreds of starving children。 Upon seeing the fat；
Unktomi and his large family at once attacked the man； who； in
order to save his life； started to run away； but so closely did
Unktomi and his family pursue him that in order to make better time
and also get a little better start； he threw off his head covering；
which the Unktomi family hastily devoured； and were again closing
in upon him。 He then threw off his cloak and they devoured that；
and were close upon him again； when he threw off his leggings。
These were hastily eaten up； and； as they drew near to a lake； the
man threw off the kidney fat； and； running to the edge of the lake；
dived down into the water and kept beneath the surface； swimming to
the opposite shore。 After the Unktomi family had eaten the kidney
fat they came to the water's edge； and the grease was floating on
the surface of the water which they lapped up； until there was not
a grease spot left floating on the surface。
The small morsels had only sharpened their appetites； and as they
saw the man sitting on the opposite shore； Unktomi and his family
proceeded around the lake and came upon two men sitting on
the shore。 Unktomi saw that the other man was 〃Wakapapi〃 （pounded
beef）。 The family surrounded the two and Unktomi ordered them to
fight。 Fearing Unktomi and his large family； they at once
commenced to fight and Pounded Meat was soon killed。 The hungry
family at once fell to eating him。 So busy were they that none
noticed the fat man sneak off and disappear。
When they had finished the pounded beef man they looked around to
fall upon the fat man； but nowhere could he be seen。 Unktomi said；
〃I will track him and when I find him； I will return for you； so
stay here and await my return。〃
He followed the fat man's tracks until farther east on the shore of
the lake he found the fat man in the act of skinning a deer； which
he had killed。 （He had held on to his bow and arrows when he
jumped into the lake）。 〃My；〃 said Unktomi； 〃this will make a fine
meal for my hungry children。 I will go after them； so hurry and
cut the meat up into small pieces so they each can have a piece。〃
〃All right； go ahead and get your family；〃 said Fat Man。 During
Unktomi's absence； the fat man hurriedly cut the meat up into small
pieces and carried them up into a tree that stood near to the
shore。 When he had carried it all up he threw sand and
dirt upon the blood； and so left no