and then no one believed in them. It was told in this way."

I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of the story-teller, and
now I took a deep breath and settled myself so that I might not disturb
him by the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale. We were
taught this courtesy to our elders, but I was impulsive and sometimes
forgot.

"A long time ago," resumed Weyuha, "the red people were many in number,
and they inhabited all the land from the coldest place to the region of
perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all of one tongue, and
all were friends.

"All the animals were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the
elk, the antelope, were tribes of considerable importance. The bears
were a smaller band, but they obeyed the mandates of the Great Mystery
and were his favorites, and for this reason they have always known more
about the secrets of medicine. So they were held in much honor. The
wolves, too, were highly regarded at one time. But the buffalo, elk,
moose, deer and antelope were the ruling people.

"These soon became conceited and considered themselves very important,
and thought no one could withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the
smaller tribes, and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought
it best to change the people in form and in language.

"He made a great tent and kept it dark for ten days. Into this tent he
invited the different bands, and when they came out they were greatly
changed, and some could not talk at all after that. However, there is
a sign language given to all the animals that no man knows except some
medicine men, and they are under a heavy penalty if they should tell it.

"The buffalo came out of the darkened tent the clumsiest of all
the animals. The elk and moose were burdened with their heavy and
many-branched horns, while the antelope and deer were made the most
defenseless of animals, only that they are fleet of foot. The bear and
the wolf were made to prey upon all the others.

"Man was alone then. When the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him
to keep his own shape and language. He was king over all the animals,
but they did not obey him. From that day, man's spirit may live with the
beasts before he is born a man. He will then know the animal language
but he cannot tell it in human speech. He always retains his sympathy
with them, and can converse with them in dreams.

"I must not forget to tell you that the Great M