When the tree flowered : $b An authentic tale of the old Sioux worldNeihardt, John G.
History
When the tree flowered : $b An authentic tale of the old Sioux world
Neihardt, John G.
Historical fiction; Oglala Indians -- Fiction
“So the two thin little boys went back to the little patched tepee with
the _papa_; and while the grandfather and grandmother were eating, they
heard about Wazya’s bow, and were happy again. And while they were
eating and hearing, there was a crier going around the village outside,
and it was good news that he had for the people. He was shouting, ‘Moon
Necklace,’ for that was the head chief of this village, ‘Moon Necklace,
the valleys where you used to hunt, they are full of bison! Many bison
they have seen in the valleys where you used to hunt! Men, get ready!
Women, look to your children’s moccasins and sharpen your knives!’
“So the grandfather and grandmother and their grandson and Falling Star
went outside. All the people were coming out of their tepees, singing
as they came. Even the wind had stopped mourning, and the valley was
no longer white. It was all in brown patches, and the tender grass was
peeking through.
“So there was a big hunt. Falling Star had only one arrow, but that was
all he needed; for he tied his hawk feather on the end of it, and the
feather had the sacred power of the hawk, to see and swoop and kill.
He would shoot a bison with this arrow, and it would go on through to
another bison, and on through to another and another. I cannot say how
many, because my grandmother was too old to remember that; but it went
through many. Then Falling Star would find his arrow and shoot again,
and again, and again. I think the women were very busy by now, cutting
up the meat.
“All at once Wazya and his woman and all his children were coming
running, and Wazya was roaring, ‘Leave my bison alone! Those are my
bison, and you cannot have any!’ He began putting all the dead bison
into a big sack he carried. Then Falling Star grew very tall, taller
than any man ever was, and he was burning all over, for he was very
angry. When Wazya and his woman and his children saw this, they began
to run away. But Falling Star ran faster, and with one swing of his
knife he cut off Wazya’s head!”
“_Hoka hey!_” cried Moves Walking and Eagle Voice. “_Hoka hey!_”
“And water came rushing out of the giant’s neck,” No Water went on.
“Then with another stroke, the giant woman’s head rolled off, and
gushing water came out of her neck also.”
“_Hoka hey!_” the two cried in unison.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account