(1) kîtahtawê mihcêt mîkiwâhpa; mihcêtinwa ê-wîhkwêstêki, pêyak opwâsîmôw ê-okimâwit.¹

kotak mîna okimâwiw oskinîkiw ôma ôtênaw; êwako ana iskwêw ê-miyosit. êkwa awa kotak okimâw ômisi isiyîhkâsôw: takwahiminânâhtik.²

êkwa awa okimâw okosisa pêyakoyiwa; mistahi sâkihêw, osâm ê-miyosiyit okosisa. êkwa awa oskinîkiw wîscâsa wîcêwêw, tahki ê-nôcihiskwêwêyit. awa iskwêw kâ-miyosit ocâhkosa êwakoni tahki ê-wîcêwât.

(1) Once upon a time there were many tents; many tents stood in a circle, and a certain Assiniboine was the chieftain. There was also another chief in that village, a young man; he had a handsome wife. And that other chief's name was Cherry-Tree. This chief had one son; he loved him very much, because his son was so handsome. Now, this youth went about with his cousin, who was always courting women. And that handsome woman always went about with her husband's sister.

(2) "pakâhkam, nîscâs, kika-nôcîhkawâw awa kâ-miyosit iskwêw." "kîsta kimiyosin," itêw.

(2) “Surely, my cousin, you ought to court this handsome woman. You too are handsome,” he said to him.

(3) "namôya, nîscâs;" "osâm okimâwiyiwa onâpêma;" "nikostimâwa awa, ê-nâpêhkâsoyit;" "osâm niya nama wîhkâc niwâpahtên nôtinitôwin, êwako ohci," itêw wîscâsa.

(3) “No, Cousin; too great a chief is her husband; I respect him as a brave warrior; as for me, never have I seen fighting, that is why,” he told his cousin.

(4) kîhkîhkimik; piyisk tâpwêhtawêw, mistahi ê-miyohot awa okimâw okosisa. kêtahtawê ê-kwâpikêt awa iskwêw kâ-miyosit, itohtêwak ôki oskinîkiwak, pêyak okimâw okosisa, pêyak otihkwatima, ê-itohtêcik ôhi kâ-kwâpikêyit ôhi iskwêwa kâ-miyosiyit.

(4) The other kept urging him; at last he listened to him and put on his finest clothes, that chief's son. Presently to where that handsome woman was drawing water went those young men, one the chief 's son, the other his sister's son; they went to where the handsome woman was drawing water.

(5) êkwa awa ômisi itwêw; "hêy, takwahiminânâhtik, namôya ôta ê-kapatêskwêhk, ita kâ-pê-itohtêyan!" "namôya ôta ayâw mîkiwâhp, êkâ kâ-isi-pakisâpiyan, iskwêwak osikâkwaniwâwa pisisik ê-wî-kakwê-wâpahtaman." "nama wîhkâc kinitopayin;" "ahpô ninâpêm pêyakwâw itê ê-itohtêt nama wîhkâc kiwâpahtên." "tâpwê nama kinêpêwisin!" itêw.

(5) Then she spoke thus: “Hey, Cherry-Tree, it is not here that food is being served, seeing that you have come here! Here is no tent, for you to be staring every moment, trying to see the women's calves. Never have you gone on the war-path; not once even have you been to see where my husband goes. Truly you have no shame!” she told him.

(6) êkwa awa oskinîkiw mâtôw; oskîsikohk nipiy ohcikawiw, ê-nêpêwisit.

(6) Then that youth wept; the water ran from his eyes for very shame.

(7) kîtahtawê ômisi itik wîscâsa: "nîscâs, êkâya nêpêwisi." "miywâsinwa kitayiwinisa; miyosiw kitêm." "kikitimâkêyimik kôhtâwiy;" "mîna kiwâhkômâkanak kahkiyaw kisâkihikwak, osâm ê-miyosiyan," itêw wîscâsa.

(7) Presently his cousin said to him, “Cousin, do not be ashamed. You have fine clothes; you have a handsome horse. Your father cares lovingly for you; and all your relatives love you, because you are so handsome,” he told his young cousin.

(8) nama nânitaw itik, osâm ê-nêpêwisit. êkwa kîwêw. pimisin wîkiwâhk. ê-pêhtahk awa kisêyiniw okosisa ê-itimiht, otinam ayiwinisa.

(8) The other answered him not at all, because he was too much humiliated. Then he went home. He lay in the tent. When the old man heard what has been said to his son, he took some garments.

(9) "hâw, nikosis, postayôwinisê;" "êkâ nêpêwisi;" "êkâ wiya nânitaw tôtâso." "mâyâtan êwako." "osâm nama wîhkâc kisîhkimitin nânitaw kita-itohtêyan; osâm kisâkihitin." "ê-kitimâkisicik ayîsiyiniwak kâ-nitopayicik, ê-wî-kakwê-kimoticik misatimwa;" "mâka kiya miyosiw kitêm; mîhkawikiw." "kîsta kimiyosin; namôya kikitimâkisin," itêw okosisa.

(9) “Here, my son, dress yourself; do not be ashamed; do nothing foolish to yourself. This is no way to be. I never bid you go to the scenes I need not name; I love you too much. Poor men are they who go on the war-path, for they hope to steal horses; but you, your horse is handsome; he is fleet of foot. And you yourself are handsome; you are not poor,” he told his son.

(10) nama nânitaw itwêw awa oskinîkiw, osâm ê-nêpêwisit. ê-wâpaniyik, ê-mâh-mâcîwiht, kîtahtawê kîkisêpâ kâ-pêhtahk, "ayahciyiniwak ôta sêskâmôwak kisiwâk mihcêt!" itwêwân.

(10) The youth did not answer, for he was too deeply shamed. The next morning, as the men of that village were about to go out on the hunt, early he heard the cry, “Blackfoot are coming out of the woods close by, in great number!”

(11) pêhtam. êkwa kêsiskotâtôwak ayîsiyiniwak, ê-wî-kakwê-nipahâcik ayahciyiniwa ôki opwâsîmowak. êkwa awa okimâw wawêyîw; sipwêpayiw.

(11) He heard it. Then the people went forth to the attack, for those Assiniboine meant to kill the Blackfoot. That chieftain, too, made ready for the fight; away he rode.

(12) "kanawêyimihk awa kikosisinaw, otêma." "- êkâ wiya nânitaw itohtê, nikosis." "kiwêyôtisin;" "kahkiyaw ôhi kêkway kâ-miywâsiki kiya kitâyân," itêw okosisa.

(12) “Take care of this son of ours, and of his horse. - Do not go to any place, my son. You are wealthy; all things that are good, you have them,” he told his son.

(13) "êha," itik okosisa.

(13) “Yes,” his son answered him.

(14) aspin sipwêhtêw, ê-nitawâpahkêt ita ka-nôtinitowiht. piyisk awa oskinîkiw wayawîw. postayôwinisêw, sihkosiwayân, sihkosiwayânasâkay; êkwa mitâsa, sihkosiwayâninêtâsa positâsêw; êkwa misiwê ê-pîmikitêyiki maskisina otinam; postaskisinêw. êkwa pîhtatwâna otinêw; wayawîw; otêma wiyahpitêw; sîpihkwâpowêyân êkotôwahk otakohpiw awa oskinîkiw kâ-miyosit, kâ-okimâwiyit ôhtâwiya. êkwa otêma wiyahpitêw; kaskitêsiyiwa. têhtapiw; sipwêpayiw, ê-iyipahtâyit ôhi otêma.

(14) Off he went, to see where his people were fighting. At last that youth went out of the tent. He dressed, he put on a weaselskin, a weaselskin jacket; and breeches, weaselskin breeches he put on his legs; he took moccasins that were all covered with quillwork; he put on these moccasins. And he took an ammunition-bag; he went out of doors; he saddled his horse; a blue blanket he had for his robe, that handsome youth whose father was a chieftain. Then he saddled his horse; it was a black horse. He mounted; he rode away at a trot.

(15) ayîsiyiniwa iskwêwa wâpamêw; wiyâpamâci owâhkômâkana, "hêy, pêyâhtik, ôma itê kâ-itohtêyan ê-âyimahk!" itik owâhkômâkana.

(15) He saw men and women; when he saw his relatives, “Hey, go slow; there is danger where you are going!” his relatives said to him.

(16) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât êwakoni iskwêyânihk ê-ayâyit ôhi kâ-kî-kîhkâmikot iskwêwa. wîmâskawêw; nânitaw nikotwâsiyiwa iskwêwa.

(16) Presently, at the very end of the town, there he saw that woman who had taunted him. He circled round to avoid her; there were half a dozen women.

(17) "hêy, kiwanisinin, takwahiminânâhtik!" "itê kâ-itohtêyan namôya kêkway kakî-wâpahtên iskwêwak osikâkwaniwâwa!" âsay mîna êkosi itik.

(17) “Hey, you have lost your way, Cherry-Tree! Where you are going you cannot gee any women's calves!” she said to him again.

(18) "hêy, tâpwê mâmaskâc kititâw!" itik wîci-iskwêwa awa iskwêw kâ-miyosit.

(18) “Why, strangely are you speaking to him!” the other women said to the handsome one.

(19) mihkwêkin kikasâkêw; mihkwâpowêyân akwanahôw awa iskwêw, awa kâ-itwêt. nama nânitaw itwêw awa oskinîkiw kâ-miyosit, ê-kisipiskawât iskwêwa. êkwa sôhki pimipayiyiwa. nâpêwa pisisik wâpamêw.

(19) She wore a jacket of red cloth; a red blanket she had for her robe, that woman, the one who had spoken so. Not a word said the youth, but went past those women. He rode on at a good pace. He saw men all along the way.

(20) êkwa wiyâpamâci owâhkômâkana, "pêyâhtik, takwahiminânâhtik! iyinîsi!" itik owâhkômâkana otôtêma.

(20) Whenever he saw any of his relatives, “Go slow, Cherry-Tree! Be careful!” said his relatives, his kinsmen to him.

(21) nama nânitaw itêw. kîtahtawê kâ-pêhtahk ê-ma-matwêwêyik. wâpahtam ê-sakâyik; êwako wâsakâm ayâwak opwâsîmôwak; êkwa ayahciyiniwak sakâhk ayâwak, mênisk ê-ayâcik, ê-osîhtâcik. âsay âtiht pahkwêyawâwak opwâsîmowak; ayisk kâsôwak ayahciyiniwak. êkwa awa kisêyiniw pêtisâpamêw okosisa, ê-pâpayiyit. nakiskawêw; otihtêw okosisa.

(21) He said nothing to them. Presently he heard the sound of firing. He saw a wooded place; all round it were the Assiniboine; and the Blackfoot were in the wood, where they had made an earthwork. Already some of the Assiniboine had been wounded by bullets; for the Blackfoot were fighting from shelter. Then that old man saw his son riding toward where he was. He went to meet him; he went up to his son.

(22) "âstam, nikosis!" itêw.

(22) “Come here, my son!” he said to him.

(23) êkwa âkawâyihk itohtahêw.

(23) Then he led him to a sheltered place.

(24) "hâw, nikosis, nîhtakosî," itêw.

(24) “Now, my son, dismount!” he told him.

(25) apiw êkota awa oskinîkiw.

(25) The youth sat down there.

(26) "nikosis, pêtâ kipâskisikan mîna kipîhtatwân."

(26) “My son, give me your gun and your ammunition sack.”

(27) kêcikonam. apiyiwa. pâskisikan sipwêhtatâw. haw, wâpamêw oskinîkiwa, cîkahikan-pakamâkan ê-ayâyit.

(27) He undid them. The son sat there. He carried the gun away. He saw a young man who had a tomahawk.

(28) "ôma pâskisikan!" "hâw, oskinîkiw, ôma mêskoc âpacihtâ." "awihin ôma kicîkahikanis," itêw; "namôya ê-nêsowêyimitân, kâ-nitâhtâmitân ôma kicîkahikan; 'mâskôc kisiwâk osâpahkêci,' ê-itêyihtamân, "nikosis.""

(28) “Here is a gun! Now, young man, use it in return. Lend me this tomahawk of yours,” he said to him; “Not because I think you l aboard, am I borrowing this tomahawk of yours; but because I am thinking, 'perhaps my son will come to close quarters.'”

(29) "êha; otina; âpacihtâ," itik ôhi oskinîkiwa.

(29) “Very well; take it; use it,” the young man answered him.

(30) êkwa okosisa otihtêw.

(30) Then he went to his son.

(31) "hâw, nikosis, kêtayôwinisê!"

(31) “Now, my son, take off your clothes!”

(32) kêtayôwinisêw. ôhi kâ-miywâsiniyiki otayiwinisa kêcikonam kahkiyaw êwakoni, ê-mosêskatêt awa oskinîkiw. êkwa ôhtâwiya wâpatoniskinik misiwê wiyawihk, ohkwâkanihk; wêstakaya âpahamiyiwa ôhtâwiya, ospiskwanihk ê-astâyit.

(32) He took off his clothes. The youth took off all those fine clothes of his, until he was naked. Then his father painted him white all over his body and on his face; his father undid his hair for him and placed it at his back.

(33) "hâw, nikosis, ôma kâ-nêyâskwêyâk, êkota kakwê-otihta ê-tâh-tapasîhk, kinwês ka-pimâtisihk, namôya pêyâhtik ê-pimohtêhk." "ômisi kika-ispayihon;" "nânitaw kêkway wâpahtamani, pêyak ôma ohci kika-cîkahên ayîsiyiniwi-mistikwân;" "êkwa kî-tôtaman, kika-otinên tahto kêkway ê-ayât." "kika-pê-kîwân; ôta ka-pê-itohtân." "hâw, nikosis, niyâ!" itêw.

(33) “Now, my son, try to reach that point of the woods, where men dodge and flee that life may be the longer, where walking is not slow. Thus you will do; when you see that which I need not name, with this sole weapon you will cut a human head; and when you have done this, you will take as many things as he has. You will come back here; to this place you will come. Now, my son, be off!” he bade him.

(34) êkwa awa môskîstam ôma sakâw. kêkâc ê-sêskisit, kâ-pâskiswât, aspin ê-sêskisit.³

kîtahtawê kâ-pê-matâwisipahtât; pâskisikan pê-tahkonam. êkwa ayiwinisa êkwa ôma misiwê ostikwân. âsay misiwê mihko wiyâhk ayâyiw. êkwa ôhtâwiya otihtêw.

(34) Then he attacked the wood. When he had almost disappeared among the trees, he was fired at, and then he went out of sight. After a time, there he came, running into the open; he held a gun as he came, and clothes, and an entire head. Blood was all over his body. Then he went to where his father was.

(35) ômisi itik: "nikosis, api" itik.

(35) The latter said to him, “My son, sit down!”

(36) sipwêhtêw awa kisêyiniw.

(36) The old man went away.

(37) "hâw, opwâsîmôwitik, kiwâpamâwâw ê-tôtahk nikosis." "êkosi mistahi tôtam."

(37) “Now, Assiniboine men, you see what my son has done. So now he has done nobly.”

(38) âsay êkwa kotak oskinîkiw câpihcikanis ê-tahkonahk oskinîkiw, "awihin ôma;" "ôhi mîskoc acosisa nîmâskwê." "namôya ê-nêsowêyimitân; mâka'mâskôc kisiwâk osâpahkêci nikosis,' ê-itêyihtamân, kâ-ôh-nitâhtâmitân," itêw.

(38) Then to another young man, who was holding a spear, “Lend me this; use these arrows instead as your weapon. Not that I think you laggard, but because I think, 'No doubt my son will come to close quarters,' is why I ask the loan of you,” he told him.

(39) êkosi nitawi-miyêw okosisa.

(39) Thereupon he went and gave it to his son.

(40) êkosi, "hâw, nikosis, tahto-kîsikâw wiyâs kâ-wâpahtamêk, mâka wiya ôma nôtinitowin namôya tahto-kîsikâw." "kisiwâk kakwê-otihta ita kâ-wîkicik." "ôma âpacihtâ câpihcikanis," itêw okosisa; "ê-tâh-tapasîhk, kinwês kâ-pimâtisihk, mâka ka-wîcêtin," itêw okosisa.

(40) Then, “Now, my son, you folk see meat every day, but not every day this fighting. Try to get near the place where they are dwelling. Use this spear,” he told his son; “where men dodge and flee that life may be the longer, - but I shall go with you,” he told his son.

(41) êkwa cîkahikan tahkonam pakamâkan awa kisêyiniw okimâw. êkwa nîkânohtêw awa oskinîkiw, nâway ôhtâwiya. namôya wî-nakîwak.

(41) Then that old man, the chief, took in his hand a tomahawk. In front walked the youth; behind, his father. They had it not in mind to halt.

(42) "môskîstamâhkok!" itwêwak ôki opwâsîmowak.

(42) “Attack their stronghold!” cried the Assiniboine.

(43) êkosi ê-otihtahkik ôma mênisk, konita papêtikopayihowak ôki ayahciyiniwak. tâh-tahkamêw; êkosi isi kahkiyaw mêscihimâwa. êkwa kîwêwak. nîkânohtêw; otêma kaskitêwastimwa; wâpowayân paskitastêyiw.

(43) And then, when they reached the earthwork, the Blackfoot merely threw themselves down and crouched. He stabbed one after another; he left not one of them alive. Then they went back. He walked in front; his horse was a black horse; a blanket lay across its back.

(44) êkwa kîwêpayiw awa oskinîkiw wîwa kâ-miyosiyit.

(44) Then back rode also the youth whose wife was beautiful.

(45) "nitawi-nakiskaw." "ayis iyikohk nitâtiskâk ayîsiyiniw." "tâpiskôc iskwêw niya," itêw owîkimâkana.

(45) “Go to meet him. For now a man has outdone me. Like a woman am I,” he told his wife.

(46) "êha," itik.

(46) “So be it,” she answered him.

(47) êkwa nakiskawêw ôhi oskinîkiwa kâ-kî-nâh-nêpêwimât; ocêmêw ita ê-nakiskawât. êkwa awa oskinîkiw miyêw otêma ôhi kâ-mîhkawikiyit ôma kiki mîkis-akohp; êkwa iyiniwistikwân miyêw ôhi iskwêwa awa oskinîkiw kâ-miyosit. ê-tipiskâyik: pê-nitomâw êkota ôhi kâ-kî-nâh-nêpêwimikot.

(47) Then she met that youth whom she had shamed by her speech; she kissed him where she met him. Then the youth gave her that swift horse of his, together with the beaded blanket; and a human head he gave to that woman, did that handsome youth. At nightfall he was sent for and invited to the tent of her who had put him to shame with words.

(48) ê-pîhtokêt, "hâ, nisîm, êkota anohc api."

(48) When he entered, “Ah, my younger brother, do you now sit here.”

(49) ana ita kâ-apit iskwêw, êkota apiw awa oskinîkiw.

(49) Even where that woman sat, there sat that youth.

(50) "haw, nisîm, kimiyitin êwako ana." "ôta pîhtêyask kika-wîkin." "ka-pamihitinâwâw; nika-kîsitêpon," itêw.

(50) “Now, O my younger brother, I give you this person here. Here at the center of the village you shall live. l will care for your needs; I shall cook,” he told him.

(51) êkosi tôtam; pamihêw. êkwa tâpiskôc miyosiwak ôki ayîsiyiniwak. êkwa nêpâtwâwi, wiyâpaniyiki, kîsitêpôw awa kotak kâ-mêkit wîwa. nicawâc ê-kiskêyimiht, kotaka miyâw iskwêwa. nîsokamikisiwak pîhtêyas ociwâma okosâka. êkwa awa oskinîkiw kâ-miyosit namôya pisikwâtisiw; kiyâm nipâwak pêyak askiy. êkwa ê-âkwâ-nîpiniyik, kîtahtawê kâ-mâtot awa iskwêw, êkâ ê-owîcimosihk, âta ê-wîhpêmât ôhi kâ-miyosiyit oskinîkiwa; mâka kiyâmêwisiw; nêpêwisiw, ê-kî-mâh-mâyi-itikot ôhi kâ-wîwit. nicawâc ostêsa nitomêw.

(51) He did even so; he cared for all his needs. And equally handsome were those men. And when they had slept, of a morning, that other would cook who had given away his wife. When it was known that he had done this, he was given another woman. They had their two tents in the center of the town, he and his brother, the husband of his wife. But that handsome youth was not forward; they slept there, and no more, for a year. Then, when summer came again, presently that woman wept, because there was no love-making, even though she slept in one tent with that handsome youth; but he kept his reserve; he still felt shame at the repeated evil words she had spoken to him, she who now was his wife. At last he called his elder brother.

(52) "hâw, nistêsê, awa kîwa kiyaskoc kimiyitin." "osâm wahkê-mâtôw." "niya, 'namôya êkotê kîci-iskwêwak ayâwak,' ê-kî-isit, namôya nîci-iskwêw ta-kî-pisiskêyimak, ta-kî-wîwiyân." "aspin kâ-miyiyan, namwâc nôh-owîcimosin." "êwako ohci namôya awâsisa ayâwêw." "êwako pisisik kâ-ôh-mâtot."

(52) “Now, O my elder brother, this your wife I give back to you. She is too easily brought to tears. I, to whom she said, 'Not here are your fellow-women,' I cannot fancy my fellow-woman or have her to wife. From the time when you gave her to me, never have I made love to her. That is why she has no child. That is why she weeps all the time.”

(53) "êha, nisîm, mâka êkâ wiya sâkwêyimo;" "ôta nîkihk êkota wîkihkêmo;" "wîwi ana niwîkimâkan." "nama êskwa awâsisa ayâwêw êwako mîna."

(53) “Very well, my brother, but do not withdraw your goodwill; stay here in my house; take this other wife of mine. This one too has as yet no child.”

(54) "êha," itêw.

(54) “Very well,” he answered him.

(55) êkosi tâpwê awa kâ-miyosit oskinîkiw kotaka wîwiw ôhi kâ-miyiht. kiyipa awâsisa ayâwêwak.

(55) So then the handsome youth took to wife this woman who now was given to him. Soon they had a child.

(56) êkosi êwako wiya âcimowin; êkoyikohk ê-isko-âcimostâtân.

(56) So goes this story; now I have told it you to the end.

Footnotes

¹LB on opwâsimôw: Although the record has often this form, my feeling is for opwâsîmôw with long î as normal.

²LB on takwahiminânâhtik: Below, this is the name not of the chief, but of his son.

³LB on kâ-pâskiswât: I have translated as though it were kâ-pâskisoht, for I do not understand the form in the text: “he shot (with gun) at the other(s).”