69. TWO-WOLVES, THE PROPHET.[70]
On what we call “Stevenson Flat” is a good piece of timber. There the Arikara were camped a long time ago. One day everybody turned out on the hills some few miles away on a buffalo chase. While they were making preparations to go home there came up a very bad storm. The hunters were scattered in small groups, some fleeing with the wind, others heading toward their camp. Two-Wolves, a rather quiet but good-hearted fellow, was rather slow about getting away. He was left all by himself in the storm. He stayed out all night and was missed the next night. They thought that he was a victim of the bad storm. His relatives mourned for him, and when the storm was over they set out to look around for him and to bring home their meat. Two-Wolves had been pitied by a Prairie-Chicken that had saved his life. The ruling power, Waruhti, had given him power to understand the speech of Thunder. The hunters met Two-Wolves coming home, and as they rushed up to greet him and inquire of his troubles he answered that he was all right.
A long time after this had happened Two-Wolves began to practice his power. The men began to be interested in him. He always had his lodge full. A few of the wonderful things that he did are these: Once a man named Two-Bears had a herd of ponies. They were badly disturbed by a horse owned by a man named Roving-Coyote. One day as Two-Bears was driving his herd to water, this horse acted very badly, cutting out the mares and chasing the horses. Two-Bears grew tired of the horse’s behavior and took a strong, sharp-pointed ash stake and threw it at him. The horse was badly injured by the pin and died. Roving-Coyote, wondering who could have killed his horse, made up his mind to find out. He took the matter to Two-Wolves. “Aye! I want to find out who shot my pony. I do not want to make any trouble, but I want to know who did it.” “Yes,” said Two-Wolves, “my father will be the one to decide, but I will perform the ceremony to him.” He called all the men together that belonged to his fire. He then asked the crier to call allover the village: “O! people of this village! Two-Wolves wants the man who killed the horse belonging to Roving-Coyote to report to his lodge.” The crier repeated this over and over. When all had heard he went into the lodge again. While the ceremony had been going on black clouds rose in the west, and “Ah ho! Ah ho!” was repeatedly said by Two-Wolves. “Now my father is coming.” He called again for the man to hurry, saying there was no use of secrecy and that he should know.Another call was given, and the Thunder was heard in the distance. Two-Bears did not believe that Two-Wolves could learn anything from Thunder, and so would not come. Thunder told Two-Wolves that Two-Bears was the man who had killed the horse. When Two-Bears did not come, Two-Wolves sent his servant to tell him to come right away. When he had come he was greeted heartily by Two-Wolves and placed beside him. “I am glad you have come. Now I want to say that my father says you are the man that killed Roving-Coyote’s horse.” “Yes,” said Two-Bears, “I know now that you are a wonderful man. I did what you have accused me of. Ah! my friend,” said he to Roving-Coyote, “you know how trying your horses are sometimes, and we lose our temper and are sorry for it afterwards. I did kill your horse with a picket pin, but I did not think you would find it out. I have nice ponies, and you may have your choice for my deed.”
Another time an old brave named Wolf-Chief could not believe that such a thing as to understand the speech of Thunder was possible. Whenever he heard a call from Two-Wolves he would remark: “Now, what has that young rascal heard from the Big-One. We are gifted with power from different sources and we do not send out criers to make it public. Oh! grandson, if you will show us that you are something more than a man to go on the war-path and bring home scalps and ponies, then we will believe your doings.” Two-Wolves heard all of these things, but never said anything. One day as it was raining and thundering Two-Wolves heard his father speaking, telling him to get Wolf-Chief and speak to him about his making fun of him, and to have him kill a black dog that he had and perform the ceremony with the feast. Two-Wolves sent out a crier to call for the man that would not believe Two-Wolves’ prophecies. The caller passed by Wolf-Chief’s lodge and Wolf-Chief remarked, “Well, that young rascal has something up again.” Again the crier was out saying that the man who ridiculed Two-Wolves was wanted at Two-Wolves’ lodge, right away. At the third call he did not come, but Wolf-Chief knew he was the man wanted. Two-Wolves then sent a servant to tell Wolf-Chief that he was wanted. When the servant arrived at Wolf-Chief’s he found the old brave making arrows. “Nawa, you look as though you had something to say,” said Wolf-Chief. “Yes,” said the servant, “you are wanted at Two-Wolves’.” “I will come,” said he. He laid his work aside and went on to answer the call. He was greeted cheerfully and seated beside Two-Wolves. “I called you here to remind you that I have heard all the ridicule you have made, but I did not mind it until my father himself spoke to me of it, and that is why I have you here. You are to stop your jesting and make a feast for my father’sceremony with the black dog my father said that you have.” “Ah, my grandson! You are wonderful. I know now, and I will do as you have asked me, and the servant will go with me and bring the dog you speak of.”
Two-Wolves sent out only one war-party, and it was a failure. He gave out notice that he was to be a leader of a war-party. The party was held back on account of the rain, and he prophesied that there was a party of five enemies near on foot, and if they did not hurry they would miss them. On their way they saw the footprints of five men that had already passed. Two-Wolves was disappointed by the slowness of the party, and on their way he gave notice that no bird of any kind should be killed. This same day, the picket men found a bunch of buffalo. They gave chase and killed several. Strike-Enemy sacrificed one buffalo to his sacred bundle. The men got together around the meat. An eagle flew around them. It came nearer and nearer. They knew that the prophet had forbidden any birds to be killed. The temptation was so great that finally one took his musket and shot the eagle. Two-Wolves on hearing this was displeased. He warned the party to remain together, for they were to meet a party of seven. Sure enough, the scouts saw seven men in a party, but the men saw the scouts and they escaped. Two-Wolves called the party together and told them that he was discouraged by their errors and would not go further. They returned home. Two-Wolves lived a long time, doing good work, discovering thieves, and prophesying many wonderful things. At last he was taken sick and died.
FOOTNOTES:[70]Told by Strike-Enemy.
[70]Told by Strike-Enemy.
[70]Told by Strike-Enemy.