Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/536

 1 88 Journal of A merican Folk-Lore.

grew out of her abdomen, and took root, and she grew fast to it, and became part of the tree. Therefore formerly cottonwoods were much worshipped. And women, after they learned this story, no longer hung themselves. This woman used to sing a great deal, and she was still heard singing up in the tree.

XXVIII.

A man went eagle-catching. He dug a hole, covered it with brush, and put a skinned buffalo calf on top. Then he hid in the hole. An eagle saw the calf, and flew down. As soon as he settled and began to eat, the man seized both his legs. But the eagle flew up with him to a very high mountain near by, from which he knew that the man could not climb to the ground. The man soon began to be very hungry, and he cried all day. He worshipped the sun, and prayed to it to help him to go down safely. At last the whirlwind carried him down. So he was saved by the sun.

XXIX.

Some men were travelling. As they came near a river, and entered the timber, they heard, some one singing. This was the song : —

The world is large and wide and long. A great many wolves have been in the world. But I alone have been all over the world. To-day I am so old that at last my old age is over.

The men found an old gray wolf, so feeble that he was unable to move, and hungering. They fed him. When he was satisfied, the wolf said : " I will give you my life. You will live on this world your full lives. You will go all over the world, and have success in war. You will live free from danger and sickness, until your old age is passed." The wolf also told them to get up before sunrise, if they were to have his life. It is said that if a wolf or coyote sleeps until the sun, he dies at once.

XXX.

Some hunters found some young bears. They amused themselves with them, and cut their ears and tails. Then one of the cubs sang that his father and mother were away, while he was maltreated, and that they - might know it. As soon as he sang, the old bears heard his voice. The mother stood up, and tried her might on a large tree, and broke it in two. The father said to himself : " I am great and powerful. Who has come to take away my child ? " And he rolled a huge stone, and broke it in two. At once they both ran to their hole. This hole is called the Bears' Lodge, and is in Yellowstone Park. The bears arrived here, and saved their young. But ever since,. bears are tailless.

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