Atondido Stories
Then the Chief took with him the young Chief's son and set
out on his quest. The people wanted to go with him, but he said,
"No! We shall go alone. It is a dangerous duty, and it is better
that, if need be, two should die in the attempt, than that all
should perish." They journeyed westwards across the prairies to-
wards the Great Water in the West, and as they went, the youth
prayed to the Sun and the Moon and the Morning Star to send
them success. Soon they came to the rolling foot-hills covered
with sweet-grass and scrubby pine. But still they saw no signs of
buffalo. At last they reached a narrow stream, on the bank of
which they saw a house with smoke coming from the chimney.
"There is the cause of all our troubles," said the Chief. "In that
house dwells the giant Buffalo-thief and his wife. They have
driven all the animals from the prairies until not one is left. My
magic power tells me it is so!" Then by his magic power he
changed his companion into a sharp-pointed straight stick, while
he himself took the shape of a dog, and they lay on the ground
and waited.
Soon the giant and his wife and their little son came along.
The boy patted the dog on the head, and said, "See what a nice
dog I have found. He must be lost. May I take him home?" His
father said, "No, I do not like his looks. Do not touch him." The
boy cried bitterly, for he had long hoped for a dog of his own,
and his mother pleaded for him so hard that at last the giant fa-
ther said, "Oh, very well. Have your own way, but no good can
come of it." The woman picked up the stick and said, "I will take
this nice straight stick along with me. I can dig roots with it to
make medicine." So they all went to the giant's house, the giant
frowning angrily, the woman carrying the stick, and the boy
leading the dog.
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