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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 death。〃
The boy then left； after admonishing his father to remember all
that he had told him。 Early next morning the father heard a great
rumbling noise； and going outside； he saw the whole hillside
covered with buffalo。 When he appeared they set up a loud
bellowing and circled around him。 One old bull came up and giving
a loud snort； passed on by； looking back every few steps。 The man；
thinking he was to follow this one； did so； and the whole herd；
forming a half circle around him； escorted him down the west side
of the range out on to a large plain； where there stood a lone
tree。 To this tree the old bull led him and stopped when he
reached the tree。 A large rock at the foot of the tree served as
a seat for the man。 As soon as he was seated there came four
female buffaloes； each bearing a large work box。 They set the
boxes down in a row in front of the man； and the herd crowded
around closer in order to get a good view。 The old bull came to
the front and stood close to the bags； which had been taken out of
the four boxes。
The man stood up； and looking at the bags； noticed a small pebble
resting on the one next to the left end。 Stepping over he pulled
the bag towards him and secretly pushed the little pebble off the
bag； so that no one would notice it。 When they saw that he had
selected the right one； they set up a terrific bellow。
Then came the four sisters and stood in a line before the man。
Glancing along from the one on the right to the last one on the
left； he stepped forward and placed his hand on the one next to the
right。 Thanks to his boy； if he hadn't put that little stem of
grass on his mother's hair； the father could never have picked out
his wife； as the four looked as much alike as four peas。 Next came
the four boy calves； and as they advanced they commenced dancing；
and his son was shaking his head and flopping his ears and
switching his tail。 The father was going to pick out his boy； when
a fainting spell took him； and as he sank to the ground the old
bull sprang forward on top of him； and instantly they rushed upon
him and he was soon trampled to a jelly。 The herd then moved to
other parts。
The elk wife concluded that something had happened to her husband
and determined upon going in search of him。 As she was very fleet
of foot it did not take her long to arrive at the lone tree。 She
noticed the blood splashed on the base of the tree； and small
pieces of flesh stamped into the earth。 Looking closer； she
noticed something white in the dust。 Stooping and picking it out
of the dust； she drew forth the cluster of different colored
feathers which had been fastened to her husband's forehead。 She at
once took the cluster of feathers； and going to the east side of
the ridge； heated stones and erected a wickieup； placed the
feathers inside； and getting water； she sprinkled the stones； and
this caused a thick vapor in the wickieup。 She continued this for
a long time； when she heard something moving inside the wickieup。
Then a voice spoke up； saying： 〃Whoever you are； pour some more
water on and I will be all right。〃 So the woman got more water and
poured it on the rocks。 〃That will do now； I want to dry off。〃
She plucked a pile of sage and in handing it in to him； he
recognized his elk wife's hand。
They went back home and shortly after the buffalo； hearing about
him coming back to life； decided to make war on him and kill him
and his wife； she being the one who brought him back to life。 The
woman； hearing of this； had posts set in the ground and a strong
platform placed on top。 When the buffalo came； her husband； her
son and herself； were seated upon the bough platform； and the
buffalo could not reach them。 She flouted her red blanket in their
faces； which made the buffalo wild with rage。 The hunter's friends
came to his rescue； and so fast were they killing the buffalo that
they took flight and rushed away； never more to bother Pretty
Feather Forehead。
THE FOUR BROTHERS
OR
INYANHOKSILA （STONE BOY）
Alone and apart from their tribe dwelt four orphan brothers。 They
had erected a very comfortable hut； although the materials used
were only willows； hay； birch bark； and adobe mud。 After the
completion of their hut； the oldest brother laid out the different
kinds of work to be done by the four of them。 He and the second
and third brothers were to do all the hunting； and the youngest
brother was to do the house work； cook the meals； and keep plenty
of wood on hand at all times。
As his older brothers would leave for their hunting very early
every morning； and would not return till late at night； the little
fellow always found plenty of spare time to gather into little
piles fine dry wood for their winter use。
Thus the four brothers lived happily for a long time。 One day
while out gathering and piling up wood； the boy heard a rustling in
the leaves and looking around he saw a young woman standing in the
cherry bushes； smiling at him。
〃Who are you； and where did you come from？〃 asked the boy； in
surprise。 〃I am an orphan girl and have no relatives living。 I
came from the village west of here。 I learned from rabbit that
there were four orphan brothers living here all alone； and that the
youngest was keeping house for his older brothers； so I thought I
would come over and see if I couldn't have them adopt me as their
sister； so that I might keep house for them； as I am very poor and
have no relations； neither have I a home。〃
She looked so pitiful and sad that the boy thought to himself； 〃I
will take her home with me； poor girl； no matter what my brothers
think or say。〃 Then he said to her： 〃Come on； tanke （sister）。 You
may go home with me； I am sure my older brothers will be glad to
have you for our sister。〃
When they arrived at the hut； the girl hustled about and cooked up
a fine hot supper； and when the brothers returned they were
surprised to see a girl sitting by the fire in their hut。 After
they had entered the youngest brother got up and walked outside；
and a short time after the oldest brother followed him
out。 〃Who is that girl； and where did she come from？〃 he asked his
brother。 Whereupon the brother told him the whole story。 Upon
hearing this the oldest brother felt very sorry for the poor orphan
girl and going back into the hut he spoke to the girl； saying：
〃Sister； you are an orphan； the same as we； you have no relatives；
no home。 We will be your brothers； and our poor hut shall be your
home。 Henceforth call us brothers； and you will be our sister。〃
〃Oh； how happy I am now that you take me as your sister。 I will be
to you all as though we were of the same father and mother；〃 said
the girl。 And true to her word； she looked after everything of her
brothers and kept the house in such fine shape that the brothers
blessed the day that she came to their poor little hut。 She always
had an extra buckskin suit and two pairs of moccasins hanging at
the head of each one's bed。 Buffalo； deer； antelope； bear； wolf；
wildcat； mountain lion and beaver skins she tanned by the dozen；
and piled nicely in one corner of the hut。
When the Indians have walked a great distance and are very tired；
they have great faith in painting their feet； claiming that paint
eases the pain and rests their feet。
After their return from a long day's journey； when they would be
lying down resting； the sister would get her paint and mix it with
the deer tallow and rub the paint on her brother's feet； painting
them up to their ankles。 The gentle touch of her hands； and the
soothing qualities of the tallow and paint soon put them into a
deep； dreamless steep。
Many such kind actions on her part won the hearts of the brothers；
and never was a full blood sister loved more than was this poor
orphan girl； who had been taken as their adopted sister。 In the
morning when they arose； the sister always combed their long black
silken scalp locks and painted the circle around the scalp lock a
bright vermillion。
When the hunters would return with a goodly supply of beef； the
sister would hurry and relieve them of their packs； hanging each
one high enough from the ground so the prowling dogs and coyotes
could not reach them。 The hunters each had a post on which to hang
his bow and flint head arrows。 （Good hunters never laid their
arrows on the ground； as it was considered unlucky to the hunter
who let his arrows touch the earth after they had been out
of the quiver）。 They were all perfectly happy； until one day the
older brother surprised them all by saying： 〃We have a plentiful
supply of meat on hand at present to last us for a week or so。 I
am going for a visit to the village west of us； so you boys all