Part 24 (2/2)

”Ho, warriors!” said Big Turtle. ”Warriors, when men are injured, they always take revenge. I cook this for the warpath. I cook sweet corn and a buffalo paunch. You will go after Corn Crusher for me,” saying this to his servants. ”Call to Comb, Awl, Pestle, Firebrand, and Buffalo Bladder also,” said Big Turtle.

The two men went to call them. They called to Corn Crusher. ”Corn Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl! Corn Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl! Corn Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl! Corn Crusher, be sure to bring your bowl!” Four times they called.

They called to Comb. ”Comb, be sure to bring your bowl!” So they called four times.

They called to Awl. ”Awl, be sure to bring your bowl!” So they called four times.

Then they called to Pestle. ”Pestle, be sure to bring your bowl!” So they called four times.

They called to Firebrand, too. ”Firebrand, be sure to bring your bowl!” So they called four times.

Then they called to Buffalo Bladder. ”Buffalo Bladder, be sure to bring your bowl!” So they called four times to him.

Then the criers reached home, having invited the guests.

”Oh, war chief,” they said, ”all heard it.”

All those who were called arrived at the lodge of Big Turtle.

”Ho! Oh, war chiefs! Corn Crusher, Comb, Awl, Pestle, Firebrand, and Buffalo Bladder, though those people have been injured they do not seem to stir. Let us go on the warpath for them,” said Big Turtle.

”Let us go in four nights.”

He commanded Corn Crusher to cook. ”O war chief, Corn Crusher, you will cook. And you, O Comb, will cook on the night after that. And you, O Awl, will cook, and complete the number.”

That many war chiefs, four, cooked. They were war chiefs. The rest were servants.

The people of the village said, ”Why! Of the persons who have been called, who is cooking for the warpath?”

And one said, ”Why! Big Turtle cooked. Pshaw! Has he gathered all those who cannot move well enough, those who cannot move fast enough?

Pshaw! If the foe find them out, they will destroy them. When a war chief has sense, he will carry on war.”

Corn Crusher cooked. He cooked turnips, and he cooked a buffalo paunch with them, just as Big Turtle had cooked one with sweet corn. Awl cooked wild rice. Comb cooked other things.

Big Turtle said, ”Time enough has pa.s.sed. Let us go at night.”

So they departed. Big Turtle made leggings with large flaps. He tied short garters around them. He rubbed earth on his face and he reddened it. He wore gra.s.s around his head. He put white feathers on top of his head. He took his gourd rattle thus. He rattled it. He sang the song of the war chief:

”Big Turtle is coming back from touching the foe, it is said, you say. He is coming back from touching.”

He walked, stepping very lively in the dance. He walked around them.

As they went, it was day.

At length a young Buffalo Bull came. ”Warriors, wait for him,” said Big Turtle.

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