Myths and Legends of the Sioux | Page 7

his robe over her head while he
whispered in her ear:
"Be my wife. I have little but I am young and strong. I will treat you
well, for I love you."
For a long time the maiden did not answer, but one day she whispered
back.
"Yes, you may ask my father's leave to marry me. But first you must do
something noble. I belong to a great family and have many relations.
You must go on a war party and bring back the scalp of an enemy."
The young man answered modestly, "I will try to do as you bid me. I
am only a hunter, not a warrior. Whether I shall be brave or not I do not
know. But I will try to take a scalp for your sake."
So he made a war party of seven, himself and six other young men.
They wandered through the enemy's country, hoping to get a chance to
strike a blow. But none came, for they found no one of the enemy.
"Our medicine is unfavorable," said their leader at last. "We shall have
to return home."
Before they started they sat down to smoke and rest beside a beautiful
lake at the foot of a green knoll that rose from its shore. The knoll was
covered with green grass and somehow as they looked at it they had a

feeling that there was something about it that was mysterious or
uncanny.
But there was a young man in the party named the jester, for he was
venturesome and full of fun. Gazing at the knoll he said: "Let's run and
jump on its top."
"No," said the young lover, "it looks mysterious. Sit still and finish
your smoke."
"Oh, come on, who's afraid," said the jester, laughing. "Come on
you--come on!" and springing to his feet he ran up the side of the knoll.
Four of the young men followed. Having reached the top of the knoll
all five began to jump and stamp about in sport, calling, "Come on,
come on," to the others. Suddenly they stopped--the knoll had begun to
move toward the water. It was a gigantic turtle. The five men cried out
in alarm and tried to run--too late! Their feet by some power were held
fast to the monster's back.
"Help us--drag us away," they cried; but the others could do nothing. In
a few moments the waves had closed over them.
The other two men, the lover and his friend, went on, but with heavy
hearts, for they had forebodings of evil. After some days, they came to
a river. Worn with fatigue the lover threw himself down on the bank.
"I will sleep awhile," he said, "for I am wearied and worn out."
"And I will go down to the water and see if I can chance upon a dead
fish. At this time of the year the high water may have left one stranded
on the seashore," said his friend.
And as he had said, he found a fish which he cleaned, and then called to
the lover.
"Come and eat the fish with me. I have cleaned it and made a fire and it
is now cooking."

"No, you eat it; let me rest," said the lover.
"Oh, come on."
"No, let me rest."
"But you are my friend. I will not eat unless you share it with me."
"Very well," said the lover, "I will eat the fish with you, but you must
first make me a promise. If I eat the fish, you must promise, pledge
yourself, to fetch me all the water that I can drink."
"I promise," said the other, and the two ate the fish out of their
war-kettle. For there had been but one kettle for the party.
When they had eaten, the kettle was rinsed out and the lover's friend
brought it back full of water. This the lover drank at a draught.
"Bring me more," he said.
Again his friend filled the kettle at the river and again the lover drank it
dry.
"More!" he cried.
"Oh, I am tired. Cannot you go to the river and drink your fill from the
stream?" asked his friend.
"Remember your promise."
"Yes, but I am weary. Go now and drink."
"Ek-hey, I feared it would be so. Now trouble is coming upon us," said
the lover sadly. He walked to the river, sprang in, and lying down in the
water with his head toward land, drank greedily. By and by he called to
his friend.
"Come hither, you who have been my sworn friend. See what comes of
your broken promise."

The friend came and was amazed to see that the lover was now a fish
from his feet to his middle.
Sick at heart he