on the banks of Stone
Boy Creek.

THE UNKTOMI (SPIDER), TWO WIDOWS, AND THE RED PLUMS

There once lived, in a remote part of a great forest, two widowed
sisters, with their little babies. One day there came to their tent
a visitor who was called Unktomi (spider). He had found some nice red
plums during his wanderings in the forest, and he said to himself, "I
will keep these plums and fool the two widows with them." After the
widows had bidden him be seated, he presented them with the plums.

On seeing them they exclaimed "hi nu, hi nu (an exclamation of
surprise), where did you get those fine plums?" Unktomi arose and
pointing to a crimson tipped cloud, said: "You see that red cloud?
Directly underneath it is a patch of plums. So large is the patch and so
red and beautiful are the plums that it is the reflection of them on the
cloud that you see."

"Oh, how we wish some one would take care of our babies, while we go
over there and pick some," said the sisters. "Why, I am not in any
particular hurry, so if you want to go I will take care of my little
nephews until you return." (Unktomi always claimed relationship with
everyone he met). "Well brother," said the older widow, "take good care
of them and we will be back as soon as possible."

The two then took a sack in which to gather the plums, and started off
towards the cloud with the crimson lining. Scarcely had they gone from
Unktomi's sight when he took the babies out of their swinging hammocks
and cut off first one head and then the other. He then took some old
blankets and rolled them in the shape of a baby body and laid one in
each hammock. Then he took the heads and put them in place in their
different hammocks. The bodies he cut up and threw into a large kettle.
This he placed over a rousing fire. Then he mixed Indian turnips and
arikara squash with the baby meat and soon had a kettle of soup. Just
about the time the soup was ready to serve the widows returned. They
were tired and hungry and not a plum had they. Unktomi, hearing the
approach of the two, hurriedly dished out the baby soup in two wooden
dishes and then seated himself near the door so that he could get out
easily. Upon the entrance of the widows, Unktomi exclaimed: "Sisters, I
had brought some meat with me and I cooked some turnips and squash with
it and made a pot of fine soup. The babies have just fallen asleep, so
don't waken them until you have finished eating, for I know that yo