, drew them to their length and laid the brothers dead at his
feet. Thus ended the contest between the hermit's sons, and a firm and
happy union was consummated between Odjibwa, or him of the primitive or
intonated voice, and the Red Swan.
[66] Pai-gwud-aw-diz-zid.
[67] Pungish-e-moo, falling or sinking to a position of repose.
[68] My grandchild.
[69] Enaw-baundum.
[70] The Indian expression is, Awuss-Waubung--the day _beyond_
to-morrow.
[71] A species of hawk.
TAU-WAU-CHEE-HEZKAW,
OR
THE WHITE FEATHER.
A DACOTAH LEGEND.
There was an old man living in the centre of a forest, with his
grandson, whom he had taken when quite an infant. The child had no
parents, brothers, or sisters; they had all been destroyed by six large
giants, and he had been informed that he had no other relative living
besides his grandfather. The band to whom he belonged had put up their
children on a wager in a race against those of the giants, and had thus
lost them. There was an old tradition in the band, that it would
produce a great man, who would wear a white feather, and who would
astonish every one with his skill and feats of bravery.
The grandfather, as soon as the child could play about, gave him a bow
and arrows to amuse himself. He went into the edge of the woods one
day, and saw a rabbit; but not knowing what it was, he ran home and
described it to his grandfather. He told him what it was, that its
flesh was good to eat, and that if he would shoot one of his arrows
into its body, he would kill it. He did so, and brought the little
animal home, which he asked his grandfather to boil, that they might
feast on it. He humored the boy in this, and encouraged him to go on in
acquiring the knowledge of hunting, until he could kill deer and larger
animals; and he became, as he grew up, an expert hunter. As they lived
alone, and away from other Indians, his curiosity was excited to know
what was passing in the world. One day he came to the edge of a
prairie, where he saw ashes like those at his grandfather's lodge, and
lodge-poles left standing. He returned and inquired whether his
grandfather put up the poles and made the fire. He was answered no, nor
did he believe that he had seen anything of the kind. It was all
imagination.
Another day he went out to see what there was curious; and, on entering
the woods, he heard a voice calling out to him, "Come here, you
d
|