Part 6 (1/2)

The young man went homeward. He made the rocks open suddenly by pointing at them with the iron. He went up, making the ground echo under the horse's feet. When he pushed aside a very large rock which was in his way, he found himself again on the surface of the earth.

The horse and mule were very sudden in their movements. They s.h.i.+ed at every step. They sniffed the odor of a bad land.

The young man found his nation that he had left. Behold! they had recently removed and departed. After they waited some time for him to appear, they had removed their camp and departed. The horse and mule went along, fearing the sight of the old camping ground. They followed the trail of the departing village.

Then the young man saw two people on a large hill, walking in the trail. They were the head chief and his wife who were walking along, mourning for the dead.

They looked behind and said, ”Yonder comes one on horseback, following the trail made by the departing village.”

He drew near. They sat waiting for him to appear. The horse and mule feared the sight of them; they sniffed a bad odor.

”Why! Of what nation are you?” asked the chief.

”It is I,” said the young man.

”But which one are you?” said the chief.

”Your son went headlong into a pit when they surrounded the herd,”

said the young man. ”And I went down to get him. You did not bring me back. It is I.”

As he was very much changed, the old man doubted.

”Fie! Tell the truth about yourself.”

”When they surrounded the herd, your son went headlong as well as the buffalo, and he was killed by falling into a pit. When you commanded them to get him, they drew back through fear. I am he who went to get him when you offered your daughter as a reward,” said the young man.

”I have hardly been able to come again to the surface.”

Then they recognized him. The two men stood talking together on the large hill. The chief's son looked back from the camp.

”Why! The chief and his wife have come as far as the large hill and a man on horseback has come, too. He stands talking to them. I will go thither. Let me see! I will go to see them.”

He went back on horseback and came to his father.

”With what person do you talk?” said the son.

”Why! He who went to get your elder brother has come back!” said the head chief.

They shook hands. And the head chief gave his daughter to the young man.

”Let all the men and chiefs a.s.semble. Let all the stout-hearted young men a.s.semble. They can look at my daughter's husband,” he said.

They a.s.sembled. They came to see the young man and brought the things they intended giving him.

”He says that he who went to get the man who was killed by falling has come back. The chief says that as he has made the young man his daughter's husband you shall go to see the young man. He says that you will take to him what things you wish to give him. The chief says he will give thanks for them.” So shouted the crier.

All the young men and those who were brave and generous went thither.

They all gave him clothing and good horses. His wife's father made him the head chief.

”Make ye a tent for him in the center,” said the old chief.