Chewaukla, The legend of Sleepy Water
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Once long ago a chief who had been in poor health for many moons came to the sacred Valley of the Vapors hoping to find relief in the magic waters. Seemingly, however, the thermal waters did not have sufficient power to cure his affliction. After bathing in the pools, immersing himself in the hot mud, and enduring the sweat lodge, his condition did not improve. Instead, his illness worsened, and his pain grew so severe that he could not sleep.

One night, as the chief lay delirious in his tent, his beautiful daughter, weeping for his pain, came to him and took him by the hand. She led him out of the valley in search of cool waters she had been told had strong magic to cure him. After passing though a deep gorge [Gulpha Gorge] in the mountain, they followed a small stream until they reached a place where five cool, living springs burst forth from the rocky earth. Here, the daughter filled a gourd and held it to her father's lips. When he had drunk the cool, refreshing water, he fell into a deep, restful sleep. When the old man awoke, his pain was gone and he was cured of the affliction.

Out of gratitude to his lovely daughter, the chief gave her the name, Chewaukla, which meant "Sleepy Water," and the springs were known thereafter as Chewaukla Springs. The sleepy water soon became famous for the relaxing effect it had on all who drank there.

Colors
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite.

GREEN said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees, leaves - without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

BLUE interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

YELLOW chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and pawpaws. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

RED could stand it no longer. He shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you - I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

PURPLE rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me - they listen and obey."

Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening - thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

Coyote and the Stars
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Coyote is just being Coyote when he sees the Creator placing the stars in the sky from a bag in a very orderly manner. Coyote asks if he can help and the Creator lets Coyote place stars in the sky reminding him to be sure and put the stars up in an orderly manner. Coyote does it correctly, but, as is his nature, Coyote becomes impatient and throws the whole bag of stars into the sky distributing the stars helter skelter.

The Creator scolds him for his carelessness and for the mess he made. Coyote leaves with his tail between his legs. Soon, however, Coyote goes back to being a Coyote, only after that he howls at night when he sees the mess he made with the stars.

Coyote and The Rolling Rock
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
One spring day Coyote and Fox were out for a walk, and when they came to a big smooth rock, Coyote threw his blanket over it and they sat down to rest. After a while the Sun became very hot, and Coyote decided he no longer needed the blanket. "Here, brother," he said to the rock, "I give you my blanket because you are poor and have let me rest on you. Always keep it."

Then Coyote and Fox went on their way. They had not gone far when a heavy cloud covered the sky. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled and rain began to fall. The only shelter they could find was in a coulee, and Coyote said to Fox, "Run back to that rock, and ask him to lend us the blanket I gave him. We can cover ourselves with it and keep dry."

So Fox ran back to the rock, and said, "Coyote wants his blanket."

"No," replied the rock. "He gave it to me as a present. I shall keep it. Tell him he cannot have it."

Fox returned to Coyote and told him what the rock had said. "Well," said Coyote, "that certainly is an ungrateful rock. I only wanted the use of the blanket for a little while until the rain stops." He grew very angry and went back to the rock and snatched the blanket off. "I need this to keep me dry," he said. "You don't need a blanket. You have been out in the rain and snow all your life, and it won't hurt you to live so always."

Coyote and Fox kept dry under the blanket until the rain stopped and the sun came out again. Then they left the coulee and resumed their walk toward the river. After a while they heard a loud noise behind them coming from the other side of the hill. "Fox, little brother," said Coyote, "go back and see what is making that noise."

Fox went to the top of the hill, and then came hurrying back as fast as he could. "Run! run!" he shouted, "that big rock is coming." Coyote looked back and saw the rock roll over the top of the hill and start rushing down upon them. Fox jumped into a badger hole, but the rock mashed the tip of his tail, and that is why Fox's tail is white to this day.

Meanwhile Coyote had raced down the hill and jumped into the river. He swam across to the other side where he was sure that he was safe because he knew that rocks sink in water. But when the rock splashed into the river it began swimming, and Coyote fled toward the nearest woods. As soon as he was deep in the timber, he lay down to rest, but he had scarcely stretched himself out when he heard trees crashing. Knowing that the rock was still pursuing him, Coyote jumped up and ran out on the open prairie.

Some bears were crossing there, and Coyote called upon them for help. "We'll save you," the bears shouted, but the rock came rolling upon them and crushed the bears. About this time Coyote saw several bull buffalo. "Oh, my brothers," he called to them, "help me, help me. Stop that rock." The buffalo put their heads down and rushed upon the rock, but it broke their skulls and kept rolling. Then a nest of rattlesnakes came to help Coyote by forming themselves into a lariat, but when they tried to catch the rock, the rattlesnakes at the noose end were all cut to pieces.

Coyote kept running along a pathway, but the rock was now very close to him, so close that it began to knock against his heels. Just as he was about to give up, he saw two witches standing on opposite sides of the path. They had stone hatchets in their hands. "We'll save you," they called out. He ran between them, with the rock following close behind. Coyote heard the witches strike the rock with their hatchets, and when he turned to look he saw it lying on the ground all shattered into tiny pieces.

Then Coyote noticed that the path had led him into a large camp. When he sat down to catch his breath, he overheard one of the witches say to the other: "He looks nice and fat. We'll have something good for dinner now. Let's eat him right away."

Coyote Pretended he had heard nothing, but he watched the witches through one of his half-closed eyes until they went into their lodge and began rattling their cooking utensils. Then he jumped up and emptied all their water pails.

As soon as they came outside again, he said, "I am very thirsty. I wish you would give me a good drink of water."

"There is plenty of water here," one of the witches replied. "You may have a drink from one of these pails." But when she looked in the pails she found that every one was empty.

"That creek down there has water in it," Coyote said. "I'll go and get some water for you."

He took the pails and started off, but as soon as he was out of sight he ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. Afterwards he heard that when the old witches discovered that he had tricked them, they began blaming each other for letting him escape. They quarreled and quarreled, and fought and fought, Until finally they killed each other.

Coyote vs. Duck
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Coyote became disturbed because he had a sick daughter. He thought Duck had done something against his children in order to make them sick. So Coyote determined to bring harm to Duck. He met Duck at a certain place and ordered that Duck should run to a point with his eyes closed. This Duck did. When he opened them again, he found himself in the hole of a big rock, a little cave high on the face of a cliff. There was no way out for Duck.

Coyote took Duck's wife and children, whom he treated badly. In time, Coyote had more children from this woman, and these he took good care of.

Duck tried constantly to get out of the cave, without success. At last Bat camped nearby, and every day, when he went to hunt rabbits, his children could hear someone crying. They told Bat, and he flew upward to look. On his way he killed rabbits and hung them on his belt. Finally he found Duck, who was very weak from lack of food.

"Who is there?" asked Bat. "I am Duck." Bat asked, "How did you come up here?" Duck said, "Coyote caused me to lose my way with my eyes closed. He got rid of me in order to steal my wife." Then Bat said "Throw yourself down." Duck was afraid to try. So Bat told him, "Throw down a small rock." This Duck did and Bat caught it on his back. He said, "That is exactly the way I will catch you. You will not be hurt."

Duck still feared that Bat would not catch him. Bat continued to urge him to let himself fall. Several times Duck almost let himself go, but drew back. At least he thought, "Suppose I am killed; I shall die here anyway; I am as good as dead now."

Duck closed his eyes as Bat commanded, and let himself fall. Bat caught him gently and put Duck safely on the ground. Bat then took Duck to his home and said, "Do not use the fire-sticks that are near my fireplace, but use those stuck behind the tent poles, at the sides of the tent."

Then he entered, and Duck saw the sticks at the sides of the tent, but only thought them to be fine canes, too handsome for stirring the fire. He saw a number of sticks laying around that were charred on the ends. He took one of these and stirred the embers. Oh, how the sticks cried. All the other sticks called out, "Duck has burned our younger brother."

These sticks were Bat's children, and they all ran away. Duck became frightened at what he had done, and went out and hid in the brush. Bat came and called to him, "Come back! You have done no harm."

For a long time Duck seemed afraid that Bat would punish him. Then he thought, "I've already been as good as dead, so I have nothing more to fear, even if they should kill me." Duck went back into the tent. But Bat did not hurt him and gave him plenty of rabbit meat to eat. Soon Duck was strong again.

Duck said to Bat, "Coyote took my wife and children; I think I shall go and look for them." Believing him to be strong enough, Bat encouraged him to go. Duck went to his old camp, but he found it deserted. He followed tracks leading from it, and after a while found some tracks other than his own children's.

"I think Coyote has got children from my wife," he thought, and he became very angry. Coyote came along with Duck's wife. She was carrying a very large basket. Inside were Coyote's children, well kept; but Duck's children sat on the outer edge of the basket. Nearly falling off. These were dirty and miserable.

Duck caught the basket with a finger and pulled it back. "What are you doing, children?" the woman said. "Don't do that; you must not catch hold of something and hold me back." Duck continued to pull at the basket. At last she turned to look at the children and saw Duck. He said to her, "Why do you take care of Coyote's children, while my children are dirty and uncared for? Why do you not treat my children properly?"

The woman was ashamed and did not answer. Then he asked her, "Where will you camp now?" When she told him, he said to her, "Go to the place where Coyote told you to camp, but when you put up the shelter, make the grass very thin on one side and very thick on the side on which you are, so I can reach Coyote."

The woman arrived at the camping place. Coyote asked, "To whom have you been talking now?" She replied, "I have not met nor talked with anyone. Why do you always ask me that?" She then put up the shelter as Duck had directed her. Immediately Duck began to blow. He blew softly, but again, again, and again, until he made it freezing cold.

Coyote could not sleep. He thrust his spear through the sides of the shelter in all directions and nearly speared the Duck. Coyote said to his wife, "I knew that you met someone. It must have been Duck, who is making it so cold." Duck continued to blow and blow. At last Coyote burrowed himself down into the fireplace ashes, hoping to warm himself there. But it was of no use. Coyote froze to death before morning.

Duck let all of Coyote's children go free where they wished. Then he took his wife and his children back to their old home, where they had lived before all of the disruption began.

Coyote in the Buffalo Country
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Just before Coyote reached the Buffalo country, he came to an old buffalo-Bull lying down. He had been gored and torn by another buffalo-Bull, and was badly crippled. Coyote walked around Buffalo and looked him over. Then Coyote took off his breech-cloth and urinated in Buffalo's face. So Buffalo said to Coyote, "Coyote, you have treated me shamefully, although you see that I am badly hurt. I had ten wives, but another bull took them from me and crippled me thus."

Now, this Buffalo that talked to Coyote was very old, and his horns were dull and short. Coyote asked Buffalo where the other one was that had taken the ten wives, and Buffalo replied that he ranged close by. Then Coyote said, "I will make you a set of new horns; I will bathe you and cure you; and when you get well, you can recover your wives. But if I cure you, and you recover the wives, I want one of them to take home with me."

Buffalo agreed to give him one. So Coyote went to a small creek and dug a bathing-hole in the ground, and filled it with water. Then he heated a pile of stones and put them into the water. Buffalo bathed in this hot water for five days, and at the end of these five days he was entirely well. Then Buffalo lay down, and Coyote went to work on his horns. With his flint knife he scraped and pointed the horns; and when they were sharp, he put rattlesnake-poison on them. Then they went on to meet the others.

Now, when Coyote and Buffalo came in sight of the others, the young bull that had defeated the old one recognized the enemy whose wives he had stolen, but he did not see Coyote. He met old Buffalo, and tried to force him back; but after they had fought for a time, and had begun to grow tired, the older one caught the other in the flank, and tore a great hole that let the entrails out. The young bull died, and the old one gathered up his old wives as well as those of his victim.

Coyote devoured as much of the dead Buffalo's flesh as he could hold; then he said, "Well, I have had enough now; give me one of the Buffalo-Cows for a wife, and I will go home." So Coyote picked out one to take with him; and Buffalo told Coyote, "This Buffalo-Cow must go with you for ten full days before you dare to touch her." Coyote agreed to wait ten days, and they started.

Coyote took the lead, and the cow followed him. When night came, they would sleep at a distance from each other. The sixth day Buffalo-Cow could talk to Coyote a little, and on the eighth day the Buffalo-Cow turned into a Coyote woman. After this had happened, Coyote could hardly keep his vow. The tenth day she slept on the opposite side of the fire, and Coyote could not sleep. When it was nearly daylight, Coyote crept over to where she was and touched her. As soon as he did this, she jumped up as a buffalo-cow again, and rushed out. Coyote sat by the fire and howled, while Buffalo-Cow went back to the herd.

Then Coyote decided he would go back and get her. He thought he would know better next time. When he arrived at the Buffalo camp, Coyote told Buffalo-Bull that he had had a nightmare that last night, and had frightened away his new wife. Then Buffalo Bull told Coyote, "She will not go a second time; now you will have to go home alone."

Coyote said, "This country will always be this way. When a man starts back from here with a new wife, he will always lose her before he gets home."

Coyote's adventures in Idaho
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Near Spokane one day, Coyote and Fox were traveling together on their way north. When they reached a river, Coyote said to Fox, "I believe I'll get married. I'd like to take one of those Pend d'Oreille women for my wife."

So they decided to go in search of the Chief of the Pend d'Oreilles. They soon located him with his tribe, and Coyote approached him with a gift of salmon.

"Chief, I would very much like to have one of your tribal women for my wife. Can we talk about which one you would choose for me?"

"Now Coyote, you know we do not approve that our women intermarry with other tribal members. So you cannot have one of our Pend d'Oreille women for your wife."

Coyote and Fox left the Chief. Coyote became so disappointed with the Chief's decision, he began to rage to his partner, Fox.

"Soon the Chief will be sorry for his refusal. I'll make a big waterfall here in his big river. Forevermore, salmon will not be able to get over the falls to feed the Pend d'Oreilles."

Since Coyote had the power for his wishes to be granted, the great falls immediately formed as he had proclaimed. That is how the Spokane Falls began.

From there, Coyote walked north to Ravalli. Soon he met an Old Indian Woman camped close by. Old Woman said to Coyote, "Where are you going?"

"I am on my way to travel all over the world."

"Well, you had better go back and not stay here," Old Woman said to Coyote.

"Why should I turn back and not stay here for a while? I am looking for a wife."

"Because there is a Giant here who kills everyone passing through this valley," replied Old Woman.

"But I am strong, I will fight him and kill him instead."

So Coyote did not heed Old Woman's warning and started walking on the trail again. He noticed a large tamarack tree nearby on a hillside.

"I'll put an end to the Giant with a hard blow from this tree. That's the way I'll kill him," Coyote said to himself. So he pulled the tamarack tree from the ground and swung it onto his shoulder and continued his search for the Giant.

Soon Coyote saw a woman who seemed nearly dead. He asked, "What is the matter, are you sick?"

"No, I am not sick," she replied.

"I am going to kill the Giant with this tamarack tree," said Coyote.

"You might as well throw the tree away. Don't you know the Giant already sees you and you are already a tasty bite in the Giant's belly?" said the woman.

Coyote took her advice and threw the tamarack tree up on a hillside where it is still growing near Arlee, a little station on the Northern Pacific Railroad. All of what was Jocko Valley now fills the Giant's belly.

As Coyote traveled on from there, he observed many people lying here and there. Some were already dead, others seemed about to die, or were nearly dead.

"Tell me what is the trouble with all of you people," asked Coyote of an Old Woman with her eyes open.

"We are all starving to death," she answered.

"How can that be, when I can see plenty to eat here, lots of meat and fat?" said Coyote.

Then Coyote attacked the Giant and cut away large chunks of grease and fat from the sides of the Giant and fed all of the people. Soon all became well again.

"All of you people prepare to run for your lives. I am going to cut out the Giant's heart. When I start cutting, you must all run to O'Keef's Canyon or to Ravalli," called out Coyote.

With his stone knife, Coyote cut out the Giant's heart. The Giant called out, "Please, Coyote, let me alone. Go away from here. Get Out!"

"No I won't go away. I'm going to stay right here until I kill you, said Coyote.

Then he cut out the Giant's heart. As he was dying, the Giant's jaws began to close tightly. Woodtick was the last one to escape from the Giant's belly when Giant's jaws closed. But Coyote caught hold of him and with all his strength pulled Woodtick out of the Giant's mouth.

"We can't help it but you will always be flat headed from your experience," said Coyote as he left and started again on his world trip.

From there the traveler continued on to what is today Missoula, Montana. Coyote walked along between Lolo and Fort Missoula when he thought he heard someone call his name. But he could not see anyone. He trotted forward again, and heard his name called again. He stopped and when he looked into the woods, he saw two women sitting down beside a river.

Coyote swam across the river, and went up the embankment to the women. They were very good-looking women, thought Coyote, maybe he could marry one of them. He sat down between them, but they stood up and danced down to the river.

"Wait for me," called Coyote. "I'll go swimming with you." He took off his jacket beaded with shells, denoting that he was a great Chief.

"We don't want to wait, we are having a good time dancing," replied the two women as they danced on into the river. When Coyote joined them, they pushed him down into the water and tried to drown him.

Later, Coyote's partner, Fox, appeared from around a bend in the river, looking for something to eat. When he looked into the river and saw something lying on the bottom, he said, "This must be my partner, Coyote!"

Fox pulled out the object, and when he was sure it was Coyote, he made a magical jump over him and brought Coyote back to life.

Coyote said, "Oh, I must have had a long sleep."

"You were not asleep, you were dead," replied Fox. "Why did you go near those women, you had no right to be near them, they are from the Shell tribe."

Coyote climbed partway up the hill and set the grass on fire. Later it was discovered that the women could not escape, and died in the fire. Today some shells have a black side, because they had been burned at the same time.

Old Man induces Men and Women to mate
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
"Men and women formerly did not live together as they do now, they were in separate bands like animals. Old Man was the means of bringing them together.

The women were then camped on Crow Lodge River beside a piskun (a ridge for buffalo jumps) and secured their game by driving them over a high cliff. They were skilled in the art of tanning, and knew how to make good clothes and lodges from skins.

The men, on the other hand, killed their game with bows and arrows. They did not know how to tan skins , or sew. Their lodges were made of green hides and their clothes of rough skins, roughly fastened together.

When Old Man came to the women's camp, he met the Chief Women and told her about the condition of the men. She asked him to bring the men to their camp, that they might each choose a mate.

Old Man led the men to a hill outside the women's camp, where they all stood in line. The Chief Women, who had first choice, came out very shabbily dressed. She walked along the line of men and selected Old Man for her mate. But he did not recognize her in her poor clothes and refused to go with her.

The Chief Women was very angry. She returned to camp and instructed the other women to pass by Old Man in their choosing. She dressed in her best clothes and returned again to the men. This time Old Man liked her appearance so much, that he kept getting in her way, seeking to be chosen. But she selected another mate.

When the other women selected their mates, Old Man was left out. The Chief Women then changed him into a pine tree.

There were formerly three pine trees beside the Women's Piskun. There is now a fourth, which we call Old Man."

The Beaver and the Frog Woman
A Native American Legend - Nation Unknown
as told by Louis Miranda
Once in the long ago, Skel'aw' (beaver) had a large family of young men and not far from the beaver house, there lived a lone woman, Waxes was her name. It was during the wintertime so it was very cold and all the land was covered with snow. The ice was very thick on the waters.

Skel'aw called all of his children and he said to them, that they must go and gamble against the Iceman. I want you all to play hard and don't stop until you have defeated him. So, the young men went to gamble against Iceman. They continued playing very hard for two days and two nights without a break, so on the second night Skel'aw went to the home of the Frog Woman, and told her that he wanted for his wife.

She became very angry and she bitterly called him down. She struck him and told to get out. Skel'aw' becomes very sad and he began to cry, saying, "caha caha", and on his way home he could hear the voice of all his boys singing over their gambling. The chorus of their song was, "ice break open, ice break open". This they kept repeating as they continued playing and final the ice began to groan and crack. By the morning the water is open and all the ice is gone.

When Beaver seen the open water, he dives into it and he swims around and leaps like a salmon. Soon the rains begins to fall, increasing in violence as Skel'aw' leaps and sings. In a short time the water rises and enters the house of Frog Woman, who became, greatly alarmed for her safety. In her fright, she calls out to the Beaver. "I consent, Beaver, I consent, yes Beaver, I consent," she screamed.

The only notice Beaver takes of her now is to call back and say "Co! Co!" I am not such a bad fellow, after all, hey! you would like to marry me now, would you? The Frog's trying to reach the top of the roof. Beaver continues his plunging, leaping and singing. The water is just about to wash her frog off the roof top when a drifting log comes by. she immediately grabs the log, leaps upon it and is carried away.

After she was drifting around for sometime, the log is finally beached she sees a large house. She approaches the house and secretly peeps in. And in the house, she sees a man lying on the bed. He had a very round head and a big white face. this man was the Moon Man.

She enters the house and seats herself on the side of the fire farthest away from the Moon Man. The Moon Man said to her, "Come and sit at the foot of my bed." She answered him by saying, "Do you think I came here to sit at the foot of your bed?" Then the Moon Man said, Come and sit on my lap." "do you think that I came her to sit on your lap?" she replied. He then said, come then, and sit on my breast, perhaps that would satisfy you." "I never came here for that propose either," was her reply to the invitation. "Well then, come and sit on my forehead," he said.

And to that invitation she gladly responds and quickly she jumped up on his forehead, where she has remained ever since. So ends the story of the Frog Woman.

Two Fawns and a Rabbit
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Two young Fawns sat on the ground talking about their condition. They were two boys without a mother. "We used to have a deer for our mother," they said. Rabbit came to them and said "I'm hungry. I've traveled without eating, and I've come a long way."

The Fawns said, "We have nothing to eat here; our food is not here." Where is it?" asked Rabbit. "It is not here, I say to you again," said one Fawn.

Rabbit said, "Tell me where it is, I am hungry and I want to eat." He continued talking about the Fawns' food for a long time. But they concealed from him how they obtained it.

Then Rabbit said, "I think you both are too lazy to get the food. Show me the path and I will go after it; I will cut off enough for all of us and bring it here."

"But we never eat here," the Fawns said. Rabbit said, "You boys do not know me. I am your grandfather. You did not recognize me; that is why you hid your food from me." The one boy nudged the other and whispered to him, "I think he is our grandfather; I will tell him where we eat."

For a while, the other boy said nothing. Then he spoke up and said, "What we eat is not on the ground; our food is far up in the sky; and we eat at a certain time. When we ask for our food, something always comes down from the sky; it is white like a cloud. At the end of the cloud it's like a person; it has an eye, a mouth, and it watches us. It comes only at a certain time. If we ask before time, it will think someone else wants our food. But when it's time for us to ask for it, we will hide you out of sight." Then they hid him.

One ran toward the East, the other toward the West; then they ran toward each other. When they met, they cried like young animals at play. They circled about, met each other again, crying, and gradually came nearer to the tent. Something white came down from the sky. Rabbit saw it coming. It looked like a cloud with a face above it; like a man sitting on their food.

The boys took up dull knives, and when the food arrived, they cut off a piece. They cut more than usual, so there would be enough for their grandfather. Then the cloud flew upward as fast as lightning.

The Fawn boys cut up their food and called Rabbit to come out and eat with them. The food tasted good and sweet, and Rabbit wanted more and asked the boys to make the thing come again. The Fawns said, "But it only comes at set times." Rabbit replied, "I will live with you, for your food is very good." He made a burrow in the brush nearby and watched.

The food did come down again. The person riding on it looked around like an antelope watching. Rabbit took a bow and arrow from his quiver. Just before the cloud came low enough for the boys to cut off another piece of food, Rabbit shot at the manlike object on the cloud. The white object fell down in a heap.

"I thought that was what it would do," said the older brother to the younger, as if blaming him. Rabbit said to them, "Well, my grandchildren, I will leave you now. You have something to eat and it will last you a long time. After you have consumed all of it, you will go to the mountains and eat grass and become Deer."

Fiercely dedicated to his people and a hero to the Lakota Sioux Indians, Crazy Horse was the natural choice for the largest sculpture in the world dedicated to honoring the Native American Indians. Located in South Dakota’s Black Hills not far away from Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument is a work in progress, started back in 1948!

Crazy Horse had a vision and was devoted to preserving the culture and traditions of his people. He died young, at the hands of an American solider who stabbed him in the back. Because of his humility and valor, his spirit lives on in the land and the many stories handed down through generations of Lakota Sioux Indians. The Crazy Horse Monument embodies this proud heritage of the Native American people.

Lakota Chief Standing Bear and sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski started the ball rolling in 1946 by identifying Thunderhead Mountain as the place to create the Crazy Horse Monument. By 1948, the first explosives were detonated to start sculpting the rock face. Much like the construction of Mount Rushmore, the monument is being created in a special explosive engineering process. Holes have to be drilled in order to place the charges and punch through the rock. This action helps shape the rock. A special torch creates the smooth finish of the monument.

Even though the sculptor died in the 1980s, the work on Crazy Horse Monument continues and lives on through his family. With only private donations and paid tours, the sculpting process is slow but steady. There is also a museum and cultural arts center associated with the monument and is open to the public. While the work may take many more years, the dedication to completing the Crazy Horse Monument serves only to honor the life of this great warrior and that of his Native American people, both past and present.

I loved the one on the Cherokee.

Grey Eagle And Morning Dove

Oh, great of spirit of love that protects
the mentally insane, widows and insects
hear my fervent wish in this dark hour
so that I may feel your great power.
Guide my steps as I walk the trail
that borders between heaven and hell
so that I don't get lost in the night
and be overcome with all the fright.
Clutch my hand in your loving grip
so I don't falter; stumble or trip
on my big two left feet in this mess
and give me peace as I get dressed.
Help me to understand the impossible
because with you I know all is possible
and I am just a small part of life
trying to cope with all this strife.
Walk daily with me and be my friend
as I try to make all of my amends
ever reminded of past in pictures
and so many forgotten lectures.
Oh, great potter of lumped clay
don't let me survive to decay
cause I am a long way from death
and I still draw many a breath.
Thank you for all the sanctuaries
that seemed like little estuaries
but became like great seas of hope
once your relieved me of the dope.
Oh, precious father and loving mother
your gift of life I still discover
as I walked down a different path
no longer do I need the warpath.
Make me just a little Indian brave
so that I can learn to behave
and live in the paleface's place
as I honor and love your grace.
Grey Eagle and Morning Dove
fill my heart with your love
as I see you glide up in flight
where the moon-bow touches night.

thnx for that my freind, i've been aware of that for along time but others may not be. glad you found time to contribute your words are appreciated much.

RAINBOW - ASDANUNU [AH-SSS-DA-NUH-NUH

TROUT - TSUNAGA [ CHEW-NAH-GAH]

your new cherokee name my friend

Thank you my friend. I will cherish it.

Grizzly Bear and Raccoon
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Little-Raccoon (kaikáiyuts) used to hunt crawfish along the edge of the creek. One day, after catching all he could eat, he became sleepy, and climbed an alder-tree to an old crow's nest. There he went to sleep with his tail hanging over the side of the nest. Grizzly-Bear was traveling along the creek, when she happened to look up and see Raccoon's tail. So Grizzly-Bear went there, shook the tree, and woke up Raccoon. Then she said, "How did you get up there?" and Raccoon replied, " I backed up." So Grizzly-Bear also backed up the tree.

She said to Raccoon, "Now, Raccoon, you may louse my head." But the Raccoon could find no lice in the head of Grizzly-Bear, only little frogs. She was lying with her head back, and Raccoon dropped a little frog down her ear. He said to Grizzly-Bear, "Aunt, I dropped one louse down your ear." She replied, "Then dig him out." Raccoon put in his finger, but could not reach the frog. Then Grizzly-Bear thought of her long bone needle, and she gave this to Raccoon to dig out the louse. Raccoon put the needle in place in the ear, and then gave it a heavy blow with his fist and killed Grizzly-Bear. Then Raccoon climbed down out of the tree, and started for home.

Raccoon told his grandmother that he had killed Grizzly-Bear. Then they went and cut her up. Now, Raccoon's grandmother had taken off her leggings, and by chance had scratched her leg; and when Raccoon saw the blood on her leg, he said to her, "You must go home, you are having menses." She did not wish to go, but he compelled her to do so, lest she spoil his luck.

Raccoon dug a roasting-pit, and roasted the bear-meat in it. When all was ready, he went home, and said to his grandmother, "A large crowd has come to see me, and I do not think there will be any meat left for you." Then he went out to the roasting-pit, where he made a fine speech and ate, and then made another fine speech and ate, until he alone had eaten up all the bear-meat. Then he told his grandmother she had better take care of the hide, because that was all that was left.

The old woman did not like the way she had been treated; so, after Raccoon had stepped outside, she put on the hide, and thus changed herself into a Grizzly-Bear. Raccoon came back after the old woman had gone off into the brush. He could not find her around camp, so he tracked her out into the brush. Then he heard the sound of pounding; and he thought she was making bread of kaus-roots for him, but instead she was pounding the ground in anger. It was almost evening. When Raccoon called to his grandmother, "Are you making kaus-bread for me?" she replied, "Yes!" And then, when he came close, she caught him and killed him, and then went off into the mountains.

How Rabbit brought fire to the People
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
In the beginning there was no fire and the Earth was cold. Then the Thunderbirds sent their lightning to a sycamore tree on an island where the Weasels lived. The Weasels were the only ones who had fire and they would not give any of it away.

The people knew that there was fire on the island because they could see smoke coming from the sycamore, but the water was too deep for anyone to cross. When winter came the people suffered so much from the cold that they called a council to find some way of obtaining fire from the Weasels. They invited all the animals who could swim.

"How shall we obtain fire?" the people asked.

Most of the animals were afraid of the Weasels because they were bloodthirsty and ate mice and moles and fish and birds. Rabbit was the only one who was brave enough to try to steal fire from them. "I can run and swim faster than the Weasels," he said. "I am also a good dancer. Every night the Weasels build a big fire and dance around it. Tonight I will swim across and join in the dancing. I will run away with some fire."

He considered the matter for a while and then decided how he would do it. Before the sun set he rubbed his head with pine tar so as to make his hair stand up. Then, as darkness was falling, he swam across to the island.

The Weasels received Rabbit gladly because they had heard of his fame as a dancer. Soon they had a big fire blazing and all began dancing around it. As the Weasels danced, they approached nearer and nearer the fire in the center of the circle. They would bow to the fire and then dance backwards away from it.

When Rabbit entered the dancing circle, the Weasels shouted to him: "Lead us, Rabbit!" He danced ahead of them, coming closer and closer to the fire. He bowed to the fire, bringing his head lower and lower as if he were going to take hold of it. While the Weasels were dancing faster and faster, trying to keep up with him, Rabbit suddenly bowed very low so that the pine tar in his hair caught fire in a flash of flame.

He ran off with his head ablaze, and the angry Weasels pursued him, crying, "Catch him! Catch him! He has stolen our sacred fire! Catch him, and throw him down!"

But Rabbit outran them and plunged into the water, leaving the Weasels on the shore. He swam across the water with the flames still blazing from his hair.

The Weasels now called on the Thunderbirds to make it rain so as to extinguish the fire stolen by Rabbit. For three days rain poured down upon the Earth, and the Weasels were sure that no fire was left burning except in their sycamore tree.

Rabbit, however, had built a fire in a hollow tree, and when the rain stopped and the sun shone, he came out and gave fire to all the people. After that whenever it rained, they kept fires in their shelters, and that is how Rabbit brought fire to the people.

How Buffalo Taught The Bully A Lesson
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
One day long ago, Grizzly Bear was traveling through the hills near a river. He came upon Buffalo Bull standing in the trail. Buffalo's head was hanging down as if he were weak and sick.

"Ho! Crooked Horns," said Bear. "They say you have been saying you will go to war with me! Put on your war paint now and we will have a big fight!"

"I do not want to fight with you, Rootdigger," Buffalo replied. "I want peace, not war."

"Ho!" said Bear. "Crooked Horns, you are a coward! You want to run away like an old woman! You are afraid of me!" Then Bear came close and pulled Buffalo's hair and pushed his nose down into the dust. Then he pulled Buffalo's tail and slapped him as hard as he could.

"Oh! Root-digger, you have caused me great pain," said Buffalo as he limped away. "I have done nothing to you and you still have hurt me. That is not right"

"Ho! You are a coward Crooked Horns! You have the heart of an old woman and you fear me," said Bear as he turned to continue his travels. "Ho! I laugh at you! You are a coward!"

As Bear walked away, Buffalo thought to himself, "I really ought to fight him for he is just a mean bully."

Bear, by his magic powers, knew what Buffalo was thinking, so he came back and said, "What was that you said about me, Crooked Horns?"

Buffalo said, "I said nothing about you."

"You speak with two tongues," said Bear. "You were talking in your mind about me and I know it!" Then he mauled Buffalo again, pulling his hair and slapping him. And then he went away laughing.

Buffalo thought again to himself, "Now I should surely fight him for he is always picking on someone and wanting to fight."

Again Bear knew what Buffalo was thinking and came back and snarled and abused him. Four times this happened. The fifth time, when Bear started to come back to Buffalo, Buffalo backed away and began pawing the earth, still begging Bear not to hurt him.

Bear said, "Don't run away Old Woman Crooked Horns. Don't run away. Stand and fight me, Crooked Horns Coward!"

But Buffalo kept backing away, and at last, when he was at the edge of a steep bank, he rushed at Bear and knocked him flat. Buffalo stood over Bear and tried to pin him down to the ground with his sharp black horns.

"Ho! Do not spear me with your horns! You cause me great pain, Crooked Horns!" cried Bear as he scrambled about, trying to get away from Buffalo.

"You wanted to go to war," said Buffalo. "Now why don't you stand up and fight, Old Woman Root-digger? Why don't you fight me now, I say?"

At last Bear scrambled too close to the edge of the high bank, and over he went, right down to the bottom of the river valley. There he lay on his back, where he had fallen, crying and begging Buffalo to let him come up again.

Buffalo stood at the top of the bank watching Bear. At last he said, "You are the kind of person who always wants to fight the weak. I should finish this fight and make you pay dearly to teach you a lesson, instead of letting you come back up here to bother decent people."

Bear cried, "If you will let me come up, we will make peace and fight no more."

So. at last, Buffalo let Bear come back up. Since that time Bear and Buffalo have been at peace. But Bear still has his bad temper.

That is how one bully found someone who was not fearful of him and was hurt the way he had been hurting others! A bully has no real courage, and somewhere, sometime, he is going to learn a lesson in life that will hurt him.

How Rabbit fooled Wolf
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Two pretty girls lived not far from Rabbit and Wolf. One day Rabbit called upon Wolf and said, "Let's go and visit those pretty girls up the road."

"All right," Wolf said, and they started off.

When they got to the girls' house, they were invited in, but both girls took a great liking to Wolf and paid all their attention to him while Rabbit had to sit by and look on. Rabbit of course was not pleased by this, and he soon said, "We had better be going back."

"Let's wait a while longer," Wolf replied, and they remained until late in the day. Before they left, Rabbit found a chance to speak to one of the girls so that Wolf could not overhear and he said, "The one you've been having so much fun with is my old horse."

"I think you are lying," the girl replied.

"No, I am not. You shall see me ride him up here tomorrow."

"If we see you ride him up here," the girl said with a laugh, "we'll believe he's only your old horse."

When the two left the house, the girls said, "Well, call again."

Next morning Wolf was up early, knocking on Rabbit's door. "It's time to visit those girls again," he announced.

Rabbit groaned. "Oh, I was sick all night," he answered, "and I hardly feel able to go."

Wolf kept urging him, and finally Rabbit said, "If you will let me ride you, I might go along to keep you company."

Wolf agreed to carry him astride of his back. But then Rabbit said, "I would like to put a saddle on you so as to brace myself" When Wolf agreed to this, Rabbit added: "I believe it would be better if I should also bridle you."

Although Wolf objected at first to being bridled, he gave in when Rabbit said he did not think he could hold on and manage to get as far as the girls' house without a bridle. Finally Rabbit wanted to put on spurs.

"I am too ticklish," Wolf protested.

"I will not spur you with them," Rabbit promised. "I will hold them away from you, but it would be nicer to have them on."

At last Wolf agreed to this, but he repeated: "I am very ticklish. You must not spur me."

"When we get near the girls' house," Rabbit said, "we will take everything off you and walk the rest of the way."

And so they started up the road, Rabbit proudly riding upon Wolf's back. When they were nearly in sight of the house, Rabbit raked his spurs into Wolf's sides and Wolf galloped full speed right by the house.

"Those girls have seen you now," Rabbit said. "I will tie you here and go up to see them and try to explain everything. I'll come back after a while and get you."

And so Rabbit went back to the house and said to the girls: "You both saw me riding my old horse, did you not?"

"Yes," they answered, and he sat down and had a good time with them.

After a while Rabbit thought he ought to untie Wolf, and he started back to the place where he was fastened. He knew that Wolf must be very angry with him by this time, and he thought up a way to untie him and get rid of him without any danger to himself. He found a thin hollow log and began beating upon it as if it were a drum. Then he ran up to Wolf as fast as he could go, crying out: "The soldiers are hunting for you! You heard their drum. The soldiers are after you."

Wolf was very much frightened of soldiers. "Let me go, let me go!" he shouted.

Rabbit was purposely slow in untying him and had barely freed him when Wolf broke away and ran as fast as he could into the woods. Then Rabbit returned home, laughing to himself over how he had fooled Wolf, and feeling satisfied that he could have the girls to himself for a while.

Near the girls' house was a large peach orchard, and one day they asked Rabbit to shake the peaches off the tree for them. They went to the orchard together and he climbed up into a tree to shake the peaches off. While he was there Wolf suddenly appeared and called out: "Rabbit, old fellow, I'm going to even the score with you. I'm not going to leave you alone until I do."

Rabbit raised his head and pretended to be looking at some people off in the distance. Then he shouted from the treetop: "Here is that fellow, Wolf, you've been hunting for!" At this, Wolf took fright and ran away again.

Some time after this, Rabbit was resting against a tree-trunk that leaned toward the ground. When he saw Wolf coming along toward him, he stood up so that the bent tree-trunk pressed against his shoulder.

"I have you now," said Wolf, but Rabbit quickly replied: "Some people told me that if I would hold this tree up with the great power I have they would bring me four hogs in payment. Now, I don't like hog meat as well as you do, so if you take my place they'll give the hogs to you."

Wolf's greed was excited by this, and he said he was willing to hold up the tree. He squeezed in beside Rabbit, who said, "You must hold it tight or it will fall down." Rabbit then ran off, and Wolf stood with his back pressed hard against the bent tree- trunk until he finally decided he could stand it no longer. He jumped away quickly so the tree would not fall upon him. Then he saw that it was only a leaning tree rooted in the Earth. "That Rabbit is the biggest liar," he cried. "If I can catch him I'll certainly fix him."

After that, Wolf hunted for Rabbit every day until he found him lying in a nice grassy place. He was about to spring upon him when Rabbit said, "My friend, I've been waiting to see you again. I have something good for you to eat. Somebody killed a pony out there in the road. If you wish I'll help you drag it out of the road to a place where you can make a feast off it."

"All right," Wolf said, and he followed Rabbit out to the road where a pony was lying asleep.

"I'm not strong enough to move the pony by myself," said Rabbit, "so I'll tie its tail to yours and help you by pushing."

Rabbit tied their tails together carefully so as not to awaken the pony. Then he grabbed the pony by the ears as if he were going to lift it up. The pony woke up, jumped to its feet, and ran away, dragging Wolf behind. Wolf struggled frantically to free his tail, but all he could do was scratch on the ground with his claws.

"Pull with all your might," Rabbit shouted after him.

"How can I pull with all my might," Wolf cried, "when I'm not standing on the ground?"

By and by, however, Wolf got loose, and then Rabbit had to go into hiding for a long, long time.

How the Chipmunk got his stripes
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
Long ago when animals could talk, a bear was walking along. Now it has always been said that bears think very highly of themselves. Since they are big and strong, they are certain that they are the most important of the animals.

As this bear went along turning over big logs with his paws to look for food to eat, he felt very sure of himself. "There is nothing I cannot do," said this bear.

"Is that so?" said a small voice. Bear looked down. There was a little chipmunk looking up at Bear from its hole in the ground.

"Yes," Bear said, "that is true indeed." He reached out one huge paw and rolled over a big log. "Look at how easily I can do this. I am the strongest of all the animals. I can do anything. All the other animals fear me."

"Can you stop the sun from rising in the morning?" said the Chipmunk.

Bear thought for a moment. "I have never tried that," he said. "Yes, I am sure I could stop the sun from rising."

"You are sure?" said Chipmunk.

"I am sure," said Bear. "Tomorrow morning the sun will not rise. I, Bear, have said so." Bear sat down facing the east to wait.

Behind him the sun set for the night and still he sat there. The chipmunk went into its hole and curled up in its snug little nest, chuckling about how foolish Bear was. All through the night Bear sat. Finally the first birds started their songs and the east glowed with the light which comes before the sun.

"The sun will not rise today," said Bear. He stared hard at the glowing light. "The sun will not rise today."

However, the sun rose, just as it always had. Bear was very upset, but Chipmunk was delighted. He laughed and laughed.

"Sun is stronger than Bear," said the chipmunk, twittering with laughter. Chipmunk was so amused that he came out of his hole and began running around in circles, singing this song:

"The sun came up, The sun came up. Bear is angry, But the sun came up."
While Bear sat there looking very unhappy, Chipmunk ran around and around, singing and laughing until he was so weak that he rolled over on his back. Then, quicker than the leap of a fish from a stream, Bear shot out one big paw and pinned him to the ground.

"Perhaps I cannot stop the sun from rising," said Bear, "but you will never see another sunrise."

'Oh, Bear," said the chipmunk. "oh, oh, oh, you are the strongest, you are the quickest, you are the best of all of the animals. I was only joking." But Bear did not move his paw. "Oh, Bear," Chipmunk said, "you are right to kill me, I deserve to die. Just please let me say one last prayer to Creator before you eat me."

"Say your prayer quickly," said Bear. "Your time to walk the Sky Road has come!"

"Oh, Bear," said Chipmunk, "I would like to die. But you are pressing down on me so hard I cannot breathe. I can hardly squeak. I do not have enough breath to say a prayer. If you would just lift your paw a little, just a little bit, then I could breathe. And I could say my last prayer to the Maker of all, to the one who made great, wise, powerful Bear and the foolish, weak, little Chipmunk.

"Bear lifted up his paw. He lifted it just a little bit. That little bit, though, was enough. Chipmunk squirmed free and ran for his hole as quickly as the blinking of an eye. Bear swung his paw at the little chipmunk as it darted away. He was not quick enough to catch him, but the very tips of his long claws scraped along Chipmunk's back leaving three pale scars.

To this day, all chipmunks wear those scars as a reminder to them of what happens when one animal makes fun to another.

How the People hunted the Moose
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
One night, a family of moose was sitting in their lodge. As they sat around the fire, a very strange thing happened. A pipe came floating through their door! Sweet-smelling smoke came from the long pipe and it made a circle around their lodge, passing close to the Moose People.

The old bull moose saw the pipe, but said nothing, so it passed by him. The cow moose said nothing, so the pipe passed by her, too. The pipe passed each of the Moose People until it reached the youngest bull moose who was near the door, of the lodge.

"You've come to me," he said to the pipe. Then, he reached out, took the pipe, and started to smoke it.

"Oh, my son," said the old bull moose, "now you have killed us! This is a pipe from the Human People. They're smoking this pipe now and asking for success in tomorrow's hunt. They will find us now. Because you smoked their pipe, they will find us."

"I'm not afraid," said the young bull moose. "I can run faster than any of those Human People. They can't catch me."

The old bull moose said nothing else.

When it was morning, the Moose People left their lodge. They went across the land looking for food. But, as soon as they got to the edge of the forest, they smelled the hunters. It was the time of year when there is a thin crust on the snow, and it made it hard for the Moose People to move quickly.

"These Human People will catch us!" said the cow moose. Their feet have feathers, like the grouse. They can walk on top of the snow."

Then, the Moose People started to run as the Human People followed them. The young bull moose who had smoked from the pipe ran away from the others. He was still sure that he could outrun the hunters. But, the hunters had on snowshoes, and the young moose's feet sank into the snow. The Human People followed him until he was tired, and then they shot and killed him.

After they killed him, they thanked him for smoking their pipe and for giving himself to them so that they could survive. They treated his body with care, and they soothed his spirit.

That night, the young bull moose woke up in his lodge surrounded by his Moose People. Next to his bed was a present that the Human People had given to him. He showed it to the others.

"See," he said. "It wasn't such a bad thing for me to accept the long pipe that the Human People sent us. Those hunters treated me respectfully. So, it is right for us to let the Human People catch us."

And, so it is to this day. Hunters who show respect to the moose, and other animals, are always the ones who have successful hunt.

Legend of the Jumping Mouse
An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown
There once was a little mouse. He and his friends loved to spend the evenings listening to the old ones tell stories. His favorite story by far was the story of the Far Off Lands. So much did he love this tale, he would dream of the Far Off Lands every night.

One day, the little mouse said to himself, "I simply must see these Far Off Lands!" That very morning, he set off on his journey. He would travel almost the entire day, stopping only for rest or food or drink. He came to a riverbank, and his heart fell. "Oh, how will I ever get across this river?" he said to himself.

From behind him, he heard a gravely voice. "Don't you know how to swim?"
He looked, and saw a frog standing among some cat-tails.

"Swim? What is that?" asked the mouse.

The frog jumped into the water, and began to kick her legs. "This is swimming, silly," the frog said.

"Now, why do you want to cross the river anyway?"

"I have been dreaming of the Far Off Lands for many nights. I simply must see it!" explained the mouse.

"My name is Magic Frog," said the frog, "and I will help you. Bend down low, and jump as far as you can."

The mouse jumped, and he felt a strange feeling in his legs. They seemed much stronger than before, and he noticed that he had jumped farther than he had ever been able to before.

"Why, thank you Magic Frog, that was good medicine you gave to me."

Magic Frog said, "You will experience many hardships on your journey, but if you keep hope alive within you, you will reach the Far Off Lands. And I give you a new name. You are now called Jumping Mouse."

She waved, and hopped back off into the cat-tails. Jumping Mouse leaped across the river, and turned to wave, but Magic Frog was gone.

In the back of his mind, he could still hear Magic Frog's words: "Keep hope alive within you..." Jumping Mouse continued on until nightfall, then dug a hole and went to sleep.

The next day, Jumping Mouse reached the prairie. He was walking along when he saw a huge boulder ahead. As he got closer, he saw that it was not a boulder, but a large buffalo lying on the ground.

"My friend," said Jumping Mouse, "why are you lying here as if you were dying?"

"I am dying," said Buffalo. "I drank from a poisoned pool of water, and now I have lost my sight; I cannot find the cool waters to drink or the sweet grass to eat. I am lying here waiting for the end."

Jumping Mouse said, " I am Jumping Mouse. My friend Magic Frog gave me some medicine powers. I am not as strong as her, but I will help you. I name you Eyes of a Mouse."

No sooner had he said this when the buffalo stood, looked about and blinked his eyes in amazement. He snorted with happiness. Jumping Mouse heard this, but he could not see it, for he had given away his sight.

"Why thank you, my small friend," said Eyes of a Mouse. "This is a wonderful gift you have given me. Climb onto my back, and I shall carry you to the edge of the prairie." Jumping Mouse climbed onto the mighty buffalo's back and in this way, he reached the edge of the prairie.

When they arrived, Eyes of a Mouse said, "I am a creature of the prairies, so I must stop here. My friend, how will you make it over the mountains if you can not see?"

Jumping Mouse said, "There will be a way; I have hope alive within me." He waved good-bye to Eyes of a Mouse and turned to the mountains. He walked away, and when night fell, he dug a hole and went to sleep.

Jumping Mouse awoke with the sun, and felt his way along the mountain path, sniffing for, and occasionally nibbling on small grasses. Suddenly he bumped into something. He felt fur beneath his little paws. He sniffed, and realized that he had just stumbled upon a wolf.

"H-h-hello? I am Jumping Mouse, who are you?"

The wolf replied, "I am a wolf."

Jumping Mouse asked, "why are you just sitting there in the middle of the path?"

The wolf sighed. "I was once a very proud creature, with a very good sense of smell. Because I was too proud, I have had this gift taken away.

I have learned to be humble, but now I cannot smell to find food to eat. I will surely die." Jumping mouse was saddened by the wolf's story. "I have... just a little medicine left. Please let me help you. I name you Nose of a Mouse.

The wolf breathed in. He sniffed the mountain air. He howled with joy and danced in a circle. "I can smell the trees and the flowers again!"

Jumping Mouse heard the wolf's joy, but alas, he could not smell the trees or flowers; he had given his sense of smell away.

"This is truly a wonderful gift you have given me," said Nose of a Mouse. "You must let me repay you. Climb onto my back and I will carry you over the mountains to the Far Off Lands."

Jumping Mouse was carried over the mountains, and soon his wolf friend knelt down so he could carefully climb down. "Little friend, I am a creature of the mountains, so I can not go on. But you... how will you get along, not being able to smell or see?"

Jumping Mouse said, "There will be a way; hope is alive within me." The two said good-bye, and Nose of a Mouse trotted back up into the mountains.

"I am here at last," said Jumping Mouse. "I hear the leaves rustling through the trees. The sun warms my body. I feel the wind. But.. I will never be as I was. What am I to do?" Jumping Mouse began to cry.

"Jumping Mouse," he heard a gravely voice. "M-Magic Frog, is... is that you?" "Yes, my friend, it is Magic Frog. You have suffered greatly on your long journey, and experienced many hardships. But it was your unselfish heart, and your generosity that helped to bring you here. You have nothing to fear, my little friend."

Next, Magic Frog said, "Jump high, Jumping Mouse, jump HIGH!" Jumping Mouse leapt straight up, and he felt himself changing. His paws stretched out and became very powerful. He moved them up and down, and soon he was feeling the wind streaming over him and under him. He looked down, and he could see the mountains far below. He breathed in, and could smell the pines and the earth. From far below, he heard Magic Frog calling.

"Jumping Mouse, I give to you a new name. You are now called Eagle... and you will live in the Far Off Lands forever!"