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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 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 wicki