aside
and a young man entered.

"Welcome," said the man, and he motioned to a place where the
stranger should sit.

Now during this day there had been blowing a warm wind which had
melted the snow, so that the prairie was covered with water, yet
this young man's moccasins and leggings were dry. They saw this, and
were frightened. They sat there for a long time, saying nothing.

Then the young man spoke and asked, "Why is this? Why do you not
give me food?"

"Ah," replied the father, "you see here people who are truly poor.
We have no food. For many days the buffalo did not come in sight,
and we looked for deer and other animals, which people eat, and when
these had all been killed we began to starve. Then I said, 'We will
not stay here to die from hunger,' and we set out for the mountains.
This is the fourth night of our travels."

"Ah," said the young man, "then your travels are ended. You need go
no farther. Close by here is our piskun. Many buffalo have been run
in, and our parfleches are filled with dried meat. Wait a little; I
will go and bring you some," and he went out.

As soon as he had gone they began to talk about this strange person.
They were afraid of him and did not know what to do. The children
began to cry, and the women tried to quiet them. Presently the young
man came back, bringing some meat.

"There is food," said he, as he put it down by the woman. "Now
to-morrow move your camp over to our lodges. Do not fear anything.
No matter what strange things you may see, do not fear. All will be
your friends. Yet about one thing I must warn you. In this you
should be careful. If you should find an arrow lying about
anywhere, in the piskun or outside, do not touch it, neither you nor
your wives nor your children." When he had said this he went out.

The father took his pipe and filled it, and smoked and prayed to all
the powers, saying, "Hear now, Sun; listen, Above People; listen,
Underwater People; now you have taken pity; now you have given us
food. We are going to those mysterious ones who walk through water
with dry moccasins. Protect us among these to-be-feared people. Let
us live. Man, woman, and child, give us long life."

Now from the fire again arose the smell of roasting meat. The
children ate and played. Those who so long had been silent now
talked and laughed.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sun had risen, they took down
their lodge and packed their dogs and started for the ca