The Myths of the North American IndiansSpence, Lewis
History
The Myths of the North American Indians
Spence, Lewis
Indian mythology -- North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
of her husband told her that he was sound asleep; then, rising
cautiously, she loosened the ropes that bound her captive, and, giving
her a pair of moccasins, a flint, and a small sack of pemmican, bade
her make haste and escape from the fate that would surely befall her
{195} if she remained where she was. The trembling woman obeyed, and
travelled at a good pace all night. At dawn she hid in the dense
undergrowth, hoping to escape observation should her captors pursue
her. They, meanwhile, had discovered her absence, and were searching
high and low, but no tracks were visible, and at last, wearied with
their unprofitable search, they gave up the chase and returned to their
homes.
The Friendly Wolf
When the woman had journeyed on for four nights she stopped concealing
herself in the daytime and travelled straight on. She was not yet out
of danger, however, for her supply of pemmican was soon exhausted, and
she found herself face to face with the miseries of starvation. Her
moccasins, besides, were worn to holes and her feet were cut and
bleeding, while, to add to her misfortunes, a huge wolf dogged her
every movement. In vain she tried to run away; her strength was
exhausted and she sank to the ground. Nearer and nearer came the great
wolf, and at last he lay down at her feet. Whenever the woman walked
on her way the wolf followed, and when she lay down to rest he lay down
also.
At length she begged her strange companion to help her, for she knew
that unless she obtained food very soon she must die. The animal
trotted away, and returned shortly with a buffalo calf which it had
killed, and laid it at the woman's feet. With the aid of the
flint--one of the gifts with which the Crow woman had sped her unhappy
guest--she built a fire and cooked some of the buffalo meat. Thus
refreshed, she proceeded on her way. Again and again the wolf provided
food in a similar manner, until at length they reached the Blackfoot
camp. The woman led the animal {196} into her lodge, and related to
her friends all that had befallen her in the Crow camp, and the manner
of her escape. She also told them how the wolf had befriended her, and
begged them to treat it kindly. But soon afterward she fell ill, and
the poor wolf was driven out of the village by the Indian dogs. Every
evening he would come to the top of a hill overlooking the camp and
watch the lodge where Sits-by-the-door dwelt. Though he was still fed
by her friends, after a time he disappeared and was seen no more.[3]
[3] The reader cannot fail to discern the striking resemblance between
this episode and that of Una and the lion in Spenser's _Faerie Queene_.
The Story of Scar-face
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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