72. THE CRUCIFIED ENEMY.[74]
Many years ago there stood a village made of earth-lodges. In the village there were some people who wanted to go on a buffalo hunt. They were mostly young men and young women. The older people were left in the village. After many days the enemy were seen in the distance.
The old people who remained in the village were somewhat confused and frightened. When the enemy approached, the men marched out and fought them desperately. Finally the people of the village retreated. They all got inside of their lodges. The men stood by their doors, fighting the enemy. In one of the lodges sat an old man. He was putting on his medicine paint and costumes. After he had finished he went out, having a gourd in his hand, but no weapon. He went on top of the lodge and sang some of his most sacred songs, that there might come aid from some of the gods. When the enemy saw him they were much amazed, and very much afraid of him. Some one said that he knew the old medicine-man, and that they could not do anything to him, for he was a medicine-man who had the power to mesmerize. So they all ran, crying: “We can not do anything with him! Hurry on, before he works on us!†The old man ran behind them. One young man on the enemy’s side was wounded and brought into the village. He was taken into the medicine-lodge, and they all saw him. He had been one of the bravest men, and had all kinds of medicines on his head and around his neck. Finally it was agreed that he should be tied up to a wooden cross and be placed outside of the village. They did this, and the man died. After a while he lost all of his flesh, but the bones were left on the cross.
Many young men used to go outside of the village near the cross to play at games. One day while they were playing, the bones of the man on the cross fell to the ground, rose up and ran toward the village. Everybody ran away, because of the ghost. The ghost ran toward the medicine-lodge and ran inside, but no one would go in, for everyonewas afraid. At last one brave man came forward who dared to go in. He looked all around and found the man from the cross under some blankets upon the altar. He called to the others. They all came in and saw the ghost lying there. They gathered the bones and bundled them up in an old basket, then threw them away. After this had passed, the party that had gone on a buffalo hunt returned with lots of dried meat. Of course, the people who stayed were very glad to see them again. The happenings and results were told to them.
FOOTNOTES:[74]Told by Hawk.
[74]Told by Hawk.
[74]Told by Hawk.