Treasury of American Indian TalesRessler, Theodore Whitson
General
Treasury of American Indian Tales
Ressler, Theodore Whitson
Indians of North America -- Folklore; Indians of North America -- Juvenile literature
“But,” said Singing Waters, “the hills where the streams flow are many
miles from here. If Brown Fawn left when the sun rose, then she might
just have reached the spring when the storm came. She is probably on her
way back to the village right now.”
The sad news about Brown Fawn soon reached everyone in the village. Many
anxious eyes watched the trail that led from the hills. Each person
hoped to be first to catch sight of Brown Fawn and bring happiness to
Little Otter and Fat Buffalo.
Later that afternoon, Singing Waters came once again to Brown Fawn’s
tepee. She talked quietly with Little Otter and then hurried back to her
tepee and placed a warm buffalo jacket across her shoulders. Then taking
her two little daughters, she went to her sister’s tepee and asked if
she might leave the children there for supper while she went in search
of Brown Fawn. Her sister looked at her and asked, “Why do you not wait
until the warriors return? They should be coming any time now, and they
could go in search of Brown Fawn! You have two little children to think
about.”
“Yes,” said Singing Waters, “I have two little children to think about,
but we do not know when the warriors will be back. If the hunting is
good they may not return for another week. Brown Fawn may not be too far
from the village.” Nothing Singing Waters’ sister could say to her would
change her mind. So she set out from the village toward the mountain
spring known to the members of her tribe as the medicine well. It was
getting late in the day, and Singing Waters knew that she must hurry if
she were to reach the medicine well before sunset. She knew the trail
well. As a girl she had followed it many times, for there always seemed
to be some sickness in her village.
Singing Waters finally came in sight of the ridge beyond which lay the
medicine well, still having found no trace of Brown Fawn. Tirelessly,
she trotted on until she had climbed the ridge and had worked her way to
the place from which the water flowed into the medicine well. As Singing
Waters approached the medicine well, she called Brown Fawn’s name
softly, but heard no answer. Then she began to call more loudly.
Suddenly, from far ahead she heard a voice answer. Now Singing Waters
began to run, for she feared that Brown Fawn was in serious trouble. She
ran until she reached the side of the medicine well, but still did not
see Brown Fawn. Then she called again and the voice answered. “Help me,
I am over here.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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