FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44  
45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   >>   >|  
tride of an old bull-buffalo, grazing in a distant pasture, who straightway set off with him at a long gallop, and the old Manito has not been heard of to this day. The warriors and the pipe-bearer and Grasshopper set to work and burned down the lodge of the wicked spirits, and then when they came to look about, they saw that the ground was strewn on all sides with human bones bleaching in the sun; these were the unhappy victims of the Manitoes. Grasshopper then took three arrows from his girdle, and after having performed a ceremony to the Great Spirit, he shot one into the air, crying, "You are lying down; rise up, or you will be hit!" The bones all moved to one place. He shot the second arrow, repeating the same words, when each bone drew toward its fellow-bone; the third arrow brought forth to life the whole multitude of people who had been killed by the Manitoes. Grasshopper conducted the crowd to the chief of the village, who had proved his friend, and gave them into his hands. The chief was there with his counselors, to whom he spoke apart. "Who is more worthy," said the chief to Grasshopper, "to rule than you. _You_ alone can defend them." Grasshopper thanked him, and told him that he was in search of more adventures. "I have done some things," said little Grasshopper, rather boastfully, "and I think I can do some more." The chief still urged him, but he was eager to go, and naming pipe-bearer to tarry and take his place, he set out again on his travels, promising that he would some time or other come back and see them. "Ho! ho! ho!" they all cried. "Come back again and see us!" He renewed his promise that he would; and then set out alone. After traveling some time he came to a great lake, and on looking about he discovered a very large otter on an island. He thought to himself, "His skin will make me a fine pouch." And he immediately drew up at long shots, and drove an arrow into his side. He waded into the lake, and with some difficulty dragged him ashore, and up a hill overlooking the lake. As soon as Grasshopper got the otter into the sunshine where it was warm, he skinned him, and threw the carcass some distance off, thinking the war-eagle would come, and that he should have a chance to secure his feathers as ornaments for the head; for Grasshopper began to be proud, and was disposed to display himself. He soon heard a rushing noise as of a loud wind, but could see nothing. Presently a l
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44  
45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Grasshopper
 

Manitoes

 

bearer

 

discovered

 

boastfully

 

naming

 
island
 

travels

 

promising

 

traveling


promise

 

renewed

 

secure

 

chance

 
feathers
 

ornaments

 

carcass

 

distance

 

thinking

 

Presently


disposed
 

display

 

rushing

 
skinned
 
immediately
 

difficulty

 

sunshine

 

dragged

 

ashore

 

overlooking


thought

 

village

 

unhappy

 

victims

 

bleaching

 

arrows

 

Spirit

 
crying
 

ceremony

 

performed


girdle

 

strewn

 
ground
 
straightway
 

gallop

 

Manito

 
pasture
 

distant

 
buffalo
 

grazing