staff.

"'My son,' he said to him, 'I don't want to make you a coward, but
this young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He has powerful
medicine. He gambles for life; be careful! My brothers and I are the
only ones who have ever beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed
he can resurrect himself--I tell you he is great medicine.

"'However, I think that I can save you--listen! He will run behind you
all the way until you are within a short distance of the goal. Then he
will pass you by in a flash, for his name is ZigZag Fire! (lightning).
Here is my medicine.' So speaking, he gave me a rabbit skin and the gum
of a certain plant. 'When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the
gum, and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot pass you.'

"'And who are you, grandfather?' Chotanka inquired.

"'I am the medicine turtle,' the old man replied. 'The gambler is a
spirit from heaven, and those whom he outruns must shortly die. You have
heard, no doubt, that all animals know beforehand when they are to be
killed; and any man who understands these mysteries may also know when
he is to die.'

"The race was announced to the world. The buffalo, elk, wolves and all
the animals came to look on. All the spirits of the air came also to
cheer for their comrade. In the sky the trumpet was sounded--the great
medicine drum was struck. It was the signal for a start. The course
was around the Minnewakan. (That means around the earth or the ocean.)
Everywhere the multitude cheered as the two sped by.

"The young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they came once
more in sight of the Chantay. Then he felt a slight shock and he threw
his rabbit skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed
himself with the gum, and ran on until he reached the goal. There was
a great shout that echoed over the earth, but in the heavens there was
muttering and grumbling. The referee declared that the winner would live
to a good old age, and Zig-Zag Fire promised to come at his call. He was
indeed great medicine," Weyuha concluded.

"But you have not told me how Chotanka became a man," I said.

"One night a beautiful woman came to him in his sleep. She enticed him
into her white teepee to see what she had there. Then she shut the door
of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out. But the woman was kind
and petted him so that he loved to stay in the white teepee. Then it was
that he became a human born. This is a lo