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first； but finally this gave way； and the leaders pushed on
through； only to fall into the second ditch and meet a similar fate
to those in the first。 The brothers commenced to look anxiously
towards their nephew； as there was only one more stockade left； and
the second ditch was nearly bridged over with dead buffalo； with
the now thrice maddened buffalo attacking the last stockade more
furiously than before； as they could see the little hut through the
openings in the corral。
〃Come in； uncles；〃 shouted Stone boy。 They obeyed him； and
stepping to the center he said： 〃Watch me build my fence。〃 Suiting
the words； he took from his belt an arrow with a white stone
fastened to the point and fastening it to his bow； he shot it high
in the air。 Straight up into the air it went； for two or three
thousand feet； then seemed to stop suddenly and turned with point
down and descended as swiftly as it had ascended。 Upon striking
the ground a high stone wall arose； enclosing the hut and all who
were inside。 Just then the buffalo broke the last stockade only to
fill the last ditch up again。 In vain did the leaders butt the
stone wall。 They hurt themselves； broke their horns and mashed
their snouts； but could not even scar the wall。
The uncles and Stone boy in the meantime rained arrows of death
into their ranks。
When the buffalo chief saw what they had to contend with； he
ordered the fight off。 The crier or herald sang out： 〃Come away；
come away； Stone boy and his uncles will kill all of us。〃
So the buffalo withdrew； leaving over two thousand of their dead
and wounded on the field； only to be skinned and put away for the
feasts of Stone boy and his uncles； who lived to be great chiefs of
their own tribe； and whose many relations soon joined them on the
banks of Stone Boy Creek。
THE UNKTOMI （SPIDER）； TWO WIDOWS；
AND THE RED PLUMS
There once lived； in a remote part of a great forest； two widowed
sisters； with their little babies。 One day there came to their
tent a visitor who was called Unktomi （spider）。 He had found some
nice red plums during his wanderings in the forest； and he said to
himself； 〃I will keep these plums and fool the two widows with
them。〃 After the widows had bidden him be seated； he presented
them with the plums。
On seeing them they exclaimed 〃hi nu； hi nu （an exclamation of
surprise）； where did you get those fine plums？〃 Unktomi arose and
pointing to a crimson tipped cloud； said： 〃You see that red cloud？
Directly underneath it is a patch of plums。 So large is the patch
and so red and beautiful are the plums that it is the reflection of
them on the cloud that you see。〃
〃Oh； how we wish some one would take care of our babies； while we
go over there and pick some；〃 said the sisters。 〃Why； I am not in
any particular hurry； so if you want to go I will take care of my
little nephews until you return。〃 （Unktomi always claimed
relationship with everyone he met）。 〃Well brother；〃 said the older
widow； 〃take good care of them and we will be back as soon as
possible。〃
The two then took a sack in which to gather the plums； and started
off towards the cloud with the crimson lining。 Scarcely had they
gone from Unktomi's sight when he took the babies out of their
swinging hammocks and cut off first one head and then the other。
He then took some old blankets and rolled them in the shape of a
baby body and laid one in each hammock。 Then he took the heads and
put them in place in their different hammocks。 The bodies he cut
up and threw into a large kettle。 This he placed over a rousing
fire。 Then he mixed Indian turnips and arikara squash with the
baby meat and soon had a kettle of soup。 Just about the time the
soup was ready to serve the widows returned。 They were tired and
hungry and not a plum had they。 Unktomi； hearing the approach of
the two； hurriedly dished out the baby soup in two wooden dishes
and then seated himself near the door so that he could get out
easily。 Upon the entrance of the widows； Unktomi exclaimed：
〃Sisters； I had brought some meat with me and I cooked some turnips
and squash with it and made a pot of fine soup。 The babies have
just fallen asleep； so don't waken them until you have
finished eating； for I know that you are nearly starved。〃 The two
fell to at once and after they had somewhat appeased their
appetites； one of them arose and went over to see how her baby was
resting。 Noting an unnatural color on her baby's face； she raised
him up only to have his head roll off from the bundle of blankets。
〃'My son！ my son！〃 she cried out。 At once the other hastened to
her baby and grabbed it up； only to have the same thing happen。 At
once they surmised who had done this； and caught up sticks from the
fire with which to beat Unktomi to death。 He； expecting something
like this to happen； lost very little time in getting outside and
down into a hole at the roots of a large tree。 The two widows not
being able to follow Unktomi down into the hole； had to give up
trying to get him out； and passed the rest of the day and night
crying for their beloved babies。 In the meantime Unktomi had
gotten out by another opening； and fixing himself up in an entirely
different style； and painting his face in a manner that they would
not recognize him； he cautiously approached the weeping women and
inquired the cause of their tears。
Thus they answered him： 〃Unktomi came here and fooled us about some
plums； and while we were absent killed our babies and made soup out
of their bodies。 Then he gave us the soup to eat； which we did；
and when we found out what he had done we tried to kill him； but he
crawled down into that hole and we could not get him out。〃
〃I will get him out；〃 said the mock stranger； and with that he
crawled down into the hole and scratched his own face all over to
make the widows believe he had been fighting with Unktomi。 〃I have
killed him； and that you may see him I have enlarged the hole so
you can crawl in and see for yourselves； also to take some revenge
on his dead body。〃 The two foolish widows； believing him； crawled
into the hole； only to be blocked up by Unktomi； who at once
gathered great piles of wood and stuffing it into the hole； set it
on fire； and thus ended the last of the family who were foolish
enough to let Unktomi tempt them with a few red plums。
The End