mp of the
stranger. When they had come to where they could see it, they found
it a wonderful place. There around the piskun, and stretching far
up and down the valley, were pitched the lodges of the meat eaters.
They could not see them all, but near by they saw the lodges of the
Bear band, the Fox band, and the Raven band. The father of the young
man who had visited them and given them meat was the chief of the
Wolf band, and by that band they pitched their lodge. Truly that was
a happy place. Food was plenty. All day long people were shouting
out for feasts, and everywhere was heard the sound of drumming and
singing and dancing.

The newly come people went to the piskun for meat, and there one of
the children saw an arrow lying on the ground. It was a beautiful
arrow, the stone point long, slender, and sharp, the shaft round and
straight. The boy remembered what had been said and he looked around
fearfully, but everywhere the people were busy. No one was looking.
He picked up the arrow and put it under his robe.

Then there rose a terrible sound. All the animals howled and growled
and rushed toward him, but the chief Wolf got to him first, and
holding up his hand said, "Wait. He is young and not yet of good
sense. We will let him go this time." They did nothing to him.

When night came some one shouted out, calling people to a feast and
saying, "Listen, listen, Wolf, you are to eat; enter with your
friend."

"We are invited," said the chief Wolf to his new friend, and
together they went to the lodge from which the call came.

Within the lodge the fire burned brightly, and seated around it were
many men, the old and wise of the Raven band. On the lodge lining,
hanging behind the seats, were the paintings of many great deeds.
Food was placed before the guests--pemican and berries and dried
back fat--and after they had eaten the pipe was lighted and passed
around the circle. Then the Raven chief spoke and said, "Now, Wolf,
I am going to give our new friend a present. What do you think of
that?"

"It shall be as you say," replied the Wolf; "our new friend will be
glad."

From a long parfleche sack the Raven chief took a slender stick,
beautifully ornamented with many-colored feathers. To the end of
the stick was tied the skin of a raven--head, wings, feet, and tail.

"We," said the Raven chief, "are those who carry the raven
(M[)a]s-to-p[=a]h'-t[)a]-k[=i]ks). Of all the fliers, of all the
birds, what one is so