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arrows after him。
One day the boy came running into the tent； exclaiming： 〃Mother；
mother； I have shot and killed the most beautiful bird I ever saw。〃
〃Bring it in； my son； and let me look at it。〃 He brought the bird
and upon examining it she pronounced it a different type of bird
from any she had ever seen。 Its feathers were of variegated colors
and on its head was a topknot of pure white feathers。 The father；
returning； asked the boy with which arrow he had killed the bird。
〃With the red one；〃 answered the
boy。 〃I was so anxious to secure the pretty bird that； although I
know I could have killed it with one of my common arrows； I wanted
to be certain； so I used the red one。〃 〃That is right； my son；〃
said the father。 〃When you have the least doubt of your aim；
always use one of the painted arrows； and you will never miss your
mark。〃
The parents decided to give a big feast in honor of their son
killing the strange； beautiful bird。 So a great many elderly women
were called to the tent of Pretty Dove to assist her in making
ready for the big feast。 For ten days these women cooked and
pounded beef and cherries； and got ready the choicest dishes known
to the Indians。 Of buffalo； beaver； deer； antelope； moose； bear；
quail； grouse； duck of all kinds； geese and plover meats there was
an abundance。 Fish of all kinds； and every kind of wild fruit were
cooked； and when all was in readiness； the heralds went through the
different villages； crying out： 〃Ho…po； ho…po〃 （now all； now all）；
Dead Shot and his wife； Beautiful Dove； invite all of you； young
and old； to their tepee to partake of a great feast； given by them
in honor of a great bird which their son has killed； and also to
select for their son some good name which he will bear through
life。 So all bring your cups and wooden dishes along with your
horn spoons； as there will be plenty to eat。 Come； all you council
men and chiefs； as they have also a great tent erected for you in
which you hold your council。〃
Thus crying； the heralds made the circle of the village。 The
guests soon arrived。 In front of the tent was a pole stuck in the
ground and painted red； and at the top of the pole was fastened the
bird of variegated colors； its wings stretched out to their full
length and the beautiful white waving so beautifully from its
topknot； it was the center of attraction。 Half way up the pole was
tied the bow and arrow of the young marksman。 Long streamers of
fine bead and porcupine work waved from the pole and presented a
very striking appearance。 The bird was faced towards the setting
sun。 The great chief and medicine men pronounced the bird 〃Wakan〃
（something holy）。
When the people had finished eating they all fell in line and
marched in single file beneath the bird； in order to get a close
view of it。 By the time this vast crowd had fully viewed the
wonderful bird； the sun was just setting clear in the west； when
directly over the rays of the sun appeared a cloud in the shape of
a bird of variegated colors。 The councilmen were called out to
look at the cloud； and the head medicine man said that it was a
sign that the boy would grow up to be a great chief and hunter； and
would have a great many friends and followers。
This ended the feast； but before dispersing； the chief and
councilmen bestowed upon the boy the title of White Plume。
One day a stranger came to the village； who was very thin and
nearly starved。 So weak was he that he could not speak； but made
signs for something to eat。 Luckily the stranger came to Dead
Shot's tent； and as there was always a plentiful supply in his
lodge； the stranger soon had a good meal served him。 After he had
eaten and rested he told his story。
〃I came from a very great distance；〃 said he。 〃The nations where
I came from are in a starving condition。 No place can they find
any buffalo； deer nor antelope。 A witch or evil spirit in the
shape of a white buffalo has driven all the large game out of the
country。 Every day this white buffalo comes circling the village；
and any one caught outside of their tent is carried away on its
horns。 In vain have the best marksmen of the tribe tried to shoot
it。 Their arrows fly wide off the mark； and they have given up
trying to kill it as it bears a charmed life。 Another evil spirit
in the form of a red eagle has driven all the birds of the air out
of our country。 Every day this eagle circles above the village；
and so powerful is it that anyone being caught outside of his tent
is descended upon and his skull split open to the brain by the
sharp breastbone of the Eagle。 Many a marksman has tried his skill
on this bird； all to no purpose。
〃Another evil spirit in the form of a white rabbit has driven out
all the animals which inhabit the ground； and destroyed the fields
of corn and turnips； so the nation is starving； as the arrows of
the marksmen have also failed to touch the white rabbit。 Any one
who can kill these three witches will receive as his reward； the
choice of two of the most beautiful maidens of our nation。 The
younger one is the handsomer of the two and has also the sweetest
disposition。 Many young； and even old men； hearing of this （our
chief's） offer； have traveled many miles to try their arrows on the
witches； but all to no purpose。 Our chief； hearing of your great
marksmanship； sent me to try and secure your services to have you
come and rid us of these three witches。〃
Thus spoke the stranger to the hunter。 The hunter gazed long and
thoughtfully into the dying embers of the camp fire。 Then slowly
his eyes raised and looked lovingly on his wife who sat opposite to
him。 Gazing on her beautiful features for a full minute he slowly
dropped his gaze back to the dying embers and thus answered his
visitor：
〃My friend； I feel very much honored by your chief having sent such
a great distance for me； and also for the kind offer of his lovely
daughter in marriage； if I should succeed； but I must reject the
great offer； as I can spare none of my affections to any other
woman than to my queen whom you see sitting there。〃
White Plume had been listening to the conversation and when his
father had finished speaking； said： 〃Father； I am a child no more。
I have arrived at manhood。 I am not so good a marksman as you； but
I will go to this suffering tribe and try to rid them of their
three enemies。 If this man will rest for a few days and return to
his village and inform them of my coming； I will travel along
slowly on his trail and arrive at the village a day or two after he
reaches there。〃
〃Very well； my son；〃 said the father； 〃I am sure you will succeed；
as you fear nothing； and as to your marksmanship； it is far
superior to mine； as your sight is much clearer and aim quicker
than mine。〃
The man rested a few days and one morning started off； after having
instructed White Plume as to the trail。 White Plume got together
what he would need on the trip and was ready for an early start the
next morning。 That night Dead Shot and his wife sat up
away into the night instructing their son how to travel and warning
him as to the different kinds of people he must avoid in order to
keep out of trouble。 〃Above all；〃 said the father； 〃keep a good
look out for Unktomi （spider）； he is the most tricky of all； and
will get you into trouble if you associate with him。〃
White Plume left early； his father accompanying him for several
miles。 On parting； the father's last words were： 〃Look out for
Unktomi； my son； he is deceitful and treacherous。〃 〃I'll look out
for him； father；〃 so saying he disappeared over a hill。 On
the way he tried his skill on several hawks and eagles and he did
not need to use his painted arrows to kill them； but so skillful
was he with the bow and arrows that he could bring down anything
that flew with his common arrows。 He was drawing near to the end
of his destination when he had a large tract of timber to pass
through。 When he had nearly gotten through the timber he saw an
old man sitting on a log； looking wistfully up into a big tree；
where sat a number of prairie chickens。
〃Hello； grandfather； why are you sitting there looking so
downhearted？〃 asked White Plume。 〃I am nearly starved； and was
just wishing some one would shoot one of those chickens for me； so
I could make a good meal on it；〃 said the old man。 〃I will shoot
one for you；〃 said the young man。 He strung his bow； placed an
arrow on the string； simply seemed to raise the arrow in the
direction of the chicken （taking no aim）。 Twang went out the bow；
zip went the arrow and a chicken fell off the limb； only to get
caught on another in its descent。 〃There is your chicken；
grandfather。〃 〃Oh； my grandson； I am too weak to climb up and get
it。 Can't you climb up and get it for me？〃 The young man； pitying
the old fellow； proceeded to cli