es. The chiefs worked upon it; they trimmed it and
called it a human being. They made a basket of twigs and feathers and
tied it half way up the tree. Then they said, "It has no hair!" So
they sent out to get a large scalp lock and they put it on top of Pole
for hair. Afterwards the chiefs told the criers to tell the people
that when Pole was completed they should see it.

Then they painted Pole and set it up before the tent. They leaned it
on a crotched stick. Then they called all the people and all the
people came. Men, women, and children came.

When they were all together, the chiefs said, "This is a mystery.
Whenever we meet with trouble, we shall bring all our prayers to Pole.
We shall make offerings to him. We shall ask him for what we need.
When we ask anything, we must make gifts. If anyone desires to become
a chief, he shall make presents to the Keepers of the Pole, and they
shall give him authority to be a chief."

When all was finished the people said, "Let us appoint a time when we
shall again paint Pole; when we shall act before him the battles we
have fought." So they fixed the time in the moon when the buffaloes
bellow.

IKTO AND THE THUNDERS

_Teton_

Ikto once stood on the bank of a stream across which he could not
swim. He stood on the bank and thought. Then he sang:

I stand,
Thinking often,
Oh, that I might reach the other side.

Just then a long Something passed, swimming against the current. When
it reached Ikto, it said,

"I will take you across, but you must not lift your head above the
water. Should you notice even a small cloud, warn me at once, as I
must go under the water. If you see a small cloud, you must say,
'Younger brother, your grandfather is coming.'"

Before the other bank was reached, Ikto looked up. He saw a small
cloud and said, "Younger brother, your grandfather is coming."

There was a sudden commotion. When Ikto became conscious again, the
Thunder Beings were roaring, and the water was dashing high, but the
monster had vanished.

THE THUNDER BIRD

_Comanche_

In the olden times, a hunter once shot at a large bird which was
flying above him. It fell to the ground. It was so large he was afraid
to go to it alone, so he went back to the camp for others.

When they came back to the place where the bird had been shot, thunder
was rolling through the ravine. Flashes of lightning showed the place
where the bird lay. They came nearer.