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The chief then called all of the people together and before them
all took a hundred willows and broke them one at a time over
Unktomi's back。 Then he turned him loose。 Unktomi； being so
ashamed； ran off into the woods and hid in the deepest and darkest
corner he could find。 This is why Unktomis （spiders） are always
found in dark corners； and anyone who is deceitful or untruthful is
called a descendant of the Unktomi tribe。
STORY OF PRETTY FEATHERED FOREHEAD
There was once a baby boy who came into the world with a small
cluster of different colored feathers grown fast to his forehead。
From this he derived his name； 〃Pretty Feathered Forehead。〃 He was
a very pleasant boy as well as handsome； and he had the respect of
the whole tribe。 When he had grown up to be a young man； he never；
like other young men； made love to any of the tribe's beauties。
Although they were madly in love with him； he never noticed any of
them。 There were many handsome girls in the different camps； but
he passed them by。
One day he said： 〃Father； I am going on a visit to the Buffalo
nation。〃 The father gave his consent； and away went the son。 The
father and mother suspected the object of their son's visit to the
Buffalo nation； and forthwith commenced preparing a fine reception
for their intended daughter…in…law。 The mother sewed together ten
buffalo hides and painted the brave deeds of her husband on them。
This she made into a commodious tent； and had work bags and fine
robes and blankets put inside。 This was to be the tent of their
son and daughter…in…law。 In a few weeks the son returned； bringing
with him a beautiful Buffalo girl。 The parents of the boy gave a
big feast in honor of the occasion； and the son and his wife lived
very happily together。
In the course of time a son came to the young couple； and the
father was very proud of his boy。 When the boy became a year old；
the father said to his wife： 〃I am going for a visit to the Elk
nation。〃 The mother was very sad； as she knew her husband was
going after another wife。 He returned； bringing with him a very
beautiful elk girl。 When the Buffalo woman saw the elk girl she
was very downcast and sad； but the husband said： 〃Don't be sad； she
will do all the heavy work for you。〃
They lived quite happily together for a long time。 The Elk girl
also became the mother of a fine boy。 The two boys had grown up
large enough to play around。 One day the Elk woman was tanning
hides outside and the two boys were playing around near their
mothers； when all at once the buffalo boy ran across the robe；
leaving his tracks on the white robe which his step…mother had
nearly completed。 This provoked the elk woman and she gave vent to
her feelings by scolding the boy： 〃You clumsy flat mouth； why
couldn't you run around my work； instead of across it？〃 The
buffalo cow standing in the door； heard every word that the elk
woman had said； and when she heard her son called flat mouth it
made her very angry； although she did not say a word to any one。
She hurriedly gathered some of her belongings and； calling her son；
she started off in a westerly direction。
The husband being absent on a hunting expedition did not return
until late in the afternoon。 Upon his return his oldest boy always
ran out to meet him； but this time as the boy did not put in an
appearance； the father feared that something had happened to the
boy。 So hurriedly going to his tent he looked around； but failing
to see the boy or his mother； he asked his elk wife； where the boy
and his mother were。 The elk wife answered： 〃She took her boy on
her back and started off in that direction；〃 （pointing towards the
west）。 〃How long has she been gone？〃 〃Since early morning。〃 The
husband hurriedly caught a fresh horse and； without eating
anything； rode off in the direction taken by his buffalo wife and
boy。 Near dark he ascended a high hill and noticed a small tent
down in the valley。 It was a long distance down to the tent； so it
was very late when he arrived there。 He tethered his horse and
went into the tent and found the boy and his mother fast asleep。
Upon lying down beside them the boy awoke； and upon seeing his
father； motioned to him to go outside with him。
On going outside the boy told his father that it would be useless
for him to try and coax his mother to return； as she was too highly
insulted by the elk wife to ever return。 Then the boy told about
what the elk wife had said and that she had called him flat mouth。
〃My mother is determined to return to her people； but if you want
to follow us you may； and perhaps； after she has visited with her
relatives a little while； you may induce her to return with you。
In the morning we are going to start very early； and as the country
we will travel through is very hard soil； I will stamp my feet hard
so as to leave my tracks imprinted in the softest places； then you
will be able to follow the direction we will take。〃
The two went into the tent and were soon fast asleep。 The father；
being very much fatigued； slept very soundly； and when he awoke the
sun was beating down upon him。 The mother and boy were nowhere to
be seen。 The tent had been taken down from over him so carefully
that he had not been awakened。 Getting his horse； he mounted and
rode after the two who had left him sleeping。 He had no trouble in
following the trail； as the boy had stamped his feet hard and left
his little tracks in the soft places。
That evening he spied the little tent again and on getting to it
found them both asleep。 The boy awoke and motioned for his father
to go outside。 He again told his father that the next day's travel
would be the hardest of all。 〃We will cross a great plain；
but before we get there we will cross a sandy hollow。 When you get
to the hollow； look at my tracks； they will be deep into the sand；
and in each track you will see little pools of water。 Drink as
much as you can； as this is the only chance you will get to have a
drink； there being no water from there to the big ridge； and it
will be dark by the time you get to the ridge。 The relations of my
mother live at that ridge and I will come and talk to you once
more； before I leave you to join my mother's people。〃
Next morning； as before； he awoke to find himself alone。 They had
left him and proceeded on their journey。 He mounted again and when
he arrived at the sandy hollow； sure enough； there； deep in the
sand； were the tracks of his son filled to the top with water。 He
drank and drank until he had drained the last one。 Then he arose
and continued on the trail； and near sundown he came in sight of
their little tent away up on the side of the ridge。 His horse
suddenly staggered and fell forward dead； having died of thirst。
From there he proceeded on foot。 When he got to where the tent
stood he entered； only to find it empty。 〃I guess my son intends
to come here and have his last talk with me；〃 thought the father。
He had eaten nothing for three days； and was nearly famished。 He
lay down； but the pangs of hunger kept sleep away。 He heard
footsteps outside and lay in readiness； thinking it might be an
enemy。 Slowly opening the covering of the door； his son looked in
and seeing his father lying awake； drew back and ran off up the
ridge； but soon returned bringing a small parcel with him。 When he
entered he gave the parcel to his father and said： 〃Eat； father； I
stole this food for you； so I could not get very much。〃 The father
soon ate what his son had brought。 When he had finished； the son
said： 〃Tomorrow morning the relatives of my mother will come over
here and take you down to the village。 My mother has three sisters
who have their work bags made identically the same as mother's。
Were they to mix them up they could not each pick out her own
without looking inside so as to identify them by what they have in
them。 You will be asked to pick out mother's work bag； and if you
fail they will trample you to death。 Next they will tell you to
pick out my mother from among her sisters； and you will be unable
to distinguish her from the other three； and if you fail they will
bury you alive。 The last they will try you on； in case you meet
the first and second tests successfully； will be to require you to
pick me out from my three cousins； who are as much like me as my
reflection in the water。 The bags you can tell by a little pebble
I will place on my mother's。 You can pick my mother out by a small
piece of grass which I will put in her hair；
and you can pick me out from my cousins； for when we commence to
dance； I will shake my head； flop my ears and switch my tail。 You
must choose quickly； as they will be very angry at your success；
and if you lose any time they will make the excuse that you did not
know； that they may have an excuse to trample you to