(1) kîtahtawê ê-mihcêticik ayîsiyiniwak, êkwa opwâsîmôwak, êkwa nahkawiyiniwak. êkosi isi mihcêtiwak, iskwêwak, awâsisak ê-wîcihiwêcik, tâpiskôc ê-pimipicicik. kîtahtawê êtokê nisto opwâsîmôwak oskinîkiwak ê-sipwêhtêcik, ê-wî-kakwê-wâpamâcik ayahciyiniwa. ômisi isiyîhkâtêw êwako: ê-nitawâhtâcik isiyîhkâtêw.

(1) Once upon a time there were many of the people, and also of the Assiniboine Sioux and of the Salteaux. They were numerous, for they had their women and children with them, as they all trekked together. Then at one time three Assiniboine youths left the band, to try to get sight of Blackfoot. This is called as follows: they went on a reconnaissance, it is called.

(2) ôki oskinîkiwak kâ-nisticik, kîtahtawê mâna ê-sâkêwêcik, kâ-wâpamâcik pêyak ayahciyiniwa, pêyak misatimwa; ê-kitâpamâcik, êsa ôma ê-wiyanihtâkêyit. êkwa êwakoni nâciyôstawêwak ôki oskinîkiwak, kisiwâk ê-osâpamâcik. atimapiyiwa, ê-wiyanihtâkêyit, ê-mosêskatêyit, ê-kîsopwêyik. môskîstawêwak. iyikohk ê-môsihikocik, kêkâc ê-otihtâcik, pâsici-kwâskohtiw awa ayahciyiniw omostosoma, ê-kwêskipayihot, âsay ôhi pêyak oskinîkiwa kâ-tahkamikot. êkosi ê-otihtinikot, ê-nipahikot, ôma ostikwân ê-pahkwêkisamiyit. misatimwa mîna ôhi otinêwak, mîna opâskisikaniyiw, mîna otayiwinisiyiwa. êkosi namôya awiya kotaka wâpamêwak ôki oskinîkiwak. namôya kiskêyimêwak tânitê ê-ohtohtêt awa ayahciyiniw. êkosi kîwêpahtâwak ôki oskinîkiwak, ê-wî-nitawi-âcimocik ôhi ê-nipahâcik ayahciyiniwa. tâpwê ita ê-wâpamâcik ayîsiyiniwa owîcêwâkaniwâwa, êkota takohtêwak, ê-âcimocik ê-pêyakoyit ayahciyiniwa ê-nipahâcik.

(2) As those three youths surmounted one hill after the other, presently they saw a single Blackfoot and one horse; when they observed him, it appeared that he was dressing a carcass. Then those youths crept up to him, and watched him from close by. He was sitting with his back turned, dressing his game, and he wore scant clothes, for it was a hot day. [no translation] When he perceived their presence, as they were almost upon him, the Blackfoot jumped over his buffalo-carcass and turned to face them, but already one of the youths had stabbed him. So they seized him and killed him, and cut the scalp from his head. And they took also his horse and his gun and his clothes. The youths saw no one else. They did not know from where that Blackfoot had come. So those youths gallopped back, to go tell of how they had slain that Blackfoot. They went to where they saw the people of their band, and told of how they had slain a lone Blackfoot.

(3) "namôya nikiskêyihtên tânitê ê-ohtohtêt awa ayahciyiniw kâ-nipahiht."¹

(3) “I do not know from where he came, that Blackfoot who has been killed.”

(4) êkosi sipwêhtêwak kahkiyaw ôki ayisiyiniwak. ê-otâkosiniyik otihtêwak ôhi ayahciyiniwa, ê-wâ-wâpamâcik; êkwa namôya kiskêyihtamok tânitê ê-wîkiyit.

(4) So all those people set out. Toward evening they came to that Blackfoot and examined him; and they did not know where his camp had been.

(5) ômisi itwêwak: "ka-kiskêyimânawak tânitê wîkitwâwi;" "ka-pêtisâpamânaw nitonâhci awa."

(5) They said, “We shall know where they have their camp; we shall see them when they come to look for this man.”

(6) tahki asawâpiwak, ita ê-wâyahcâyik ê-ayâcik ôki nêhiyawak. piyisk kêkâc tipiskâyiw; nama awiya wâpamêwak. piyis tipiskâw. êkota kapêsiwak. ê-wâpahk, âta ê-nanâtawâpicik, nama kêkway wâpahtamok.

(6) They kept a continuous look-out, and the Cree stayed in a hollow of the land. At last it was almost dark; they saw no one. At last it was night. They camped there. When day came, although they kept on the watch, they saw nothing.

(7) kîtahtawê ômisi itwêwak ôki nêhiyawak: "mahti nîswayak ta-ispayiwak oskinîkiwak;" "ê-mîhkawikiyit ta-têhtapiwak," itwêwak.

(7) Presently the Cree said, “Let young men ride off in two directions; let them ride fast horses.”

(8) tâpwê awihâwak ê-mîhkawikiyit misatimwa. pêyak natimihk isi ispayiw, pêyak âpihtâ-kîsikâhk itêhkê isi. piyisk wâhyawês ê-ispatinâyik ê-sâkêwêt, êkota ê-ay-apit, ê-nanâtawâpit, kîtahtawê kâ-pê-sâkêwê-têhtapiyit pêyak ayîsiyiniwa. piyisk kotaka mîna; piyisk ati-mihcêtiyiwa, êkwa ê-nitonâht awa kâ-nipahiht ayahciyiniw. êkwa pê-môskîstâk awa nêhiyaw. ômisi isiyîhkâsôw awa nêhiyaw: caciwâsin isiyîhkâsôw. êkosi têhtapiw, ê-tapasît. nisihk iyâpasâpamâci, pôti mihcêtiyiwa, nâh-nâway ê-pâpayiyit. pêyak wâhyaw pê-nakasiwêyiwa, ê-wâpiskisiyit ê-têhtapiyit. namôya sôhki wî-tapasîw, ê-kiskêyihtahk ê-mîhkawikiyit ôhi kâ-têhtapit. tahki nahiyikohk pâpayiyiwa. kîtahtawê kâ-pêtisâpamikot owîcêwâkana. wawêyîwak nêhiyawak, kâ-mîhkawikiyit otêmiwâwa êwakoni ê-têhtapicik. piyisk kisiwâk pê-ayâw; kisiwâk êkwa pê-askôk ôhi ayahciyiniwa, mâka namôya sôhki ê-tapasît.

(8) Accordingly they were lent fast horses. One rode west, and one in the direction of noon. Presently, as he came out over a hill a little ways off, as he stopped there apd looked about, a Blackfoot came riding into view. Soon another; soon there were many of them, looking for the Blackfoot who had been slain. Then they came to attack that Cree. This was the Cree's name: Tchatchiwasin was his name. So he mounted his horse and fled. When in a leisurely way he looked behind him, he saw that they were many, riding after him one behind the other. One had far outdistanced the rest; he rode a white horse. The Cree did not intend to flee fast, for he knew that his mount was fleet. They kept coming toward him, always at about the same distance. Presently his people saw him coming. The Cree made ready, mounting their swiftest horses. Presently he had come near; and now the Blackfoot were coming close behind him, but he did not flee fast.

(9) kiskêyihtam kisiwâk ê-ayâyit owîcêwâkana, "namôya nika-kî-atimik misawâc," ê-itêyihtahk.

(9) He knew that his companions were near, and thought, “In any case they will not be able to catch me in time.”

(10) mwêhci êkwa ê-otihtahk ôma ê-osêhcâyik, êkota kâ-ayâyit owîcêwâkana, êkoyikohk kisiwâk êkwa askôk. kîtahtawê ka-pê-sâkêwêpayiyit êkwa owîcêwâkana. âsay ôki ayahciyiniwak otêmiwâwa nayawapiyiwa. ê-wâwinipitâcik, ê-tapasîcik ôki ayahciyiniwak, awa wâpastimwa kâ-têhtapit ê-wâwinipitât otêma, ê-tapasît, âsay kisiwâk askôk nêhiyawa.²

ê-pasastêhwât otêma, kâ-pahkisiniyit. nîhcipayiw awa ayahciyiniw. ê-wî-waniskât, kâ-tâwikipayihikot misatimwa nêhiyawa ê-têhtapiyit. mîna ê-wî-waniskât, âsay otihtinik nêhiyawa, ê-ta-tahkamikot, ê-nipahikot. êkota ohci êkwa, nâh-nâway ê-ati-nipahihcik ayahciyiniwak, piyis mihcêt nipahâwak. ayis nayawapiyiwa otêmiwâwa. ôki piko wâhyaw kâ-kî-nakatihcik ayahciyiniwak, êyakonik piko takohtêwak wîkiwâhk. êyakonik âcimowak ê-mihcêtiyit nêhiyawa, mîna âsay mihcêt ê-nipahihcik ayahciyiniwak.

(10) By the time he reached the hill where his people were, they were close upon him. Then suddenly out into view came his companions. By this time the Blackfoots' horses were tired. When they pulled them round, to flee, and when the one who rode the white horse pulled it round to run away, the Cree were already close upon him. When he struck his horse with the quirt, it fell. The Blackfoot was thrown. When he tried to get up, the Crees' horses trampled him. When again he tried to get up, the Cree were already upon him, and killed him with knife-thrusts. From then on, as they overtook and killed one alter the other of the Blackfoot, in the end they had slain many of them. For the Blackfoots' horses were tired. Only those of the Blackfoot who had been left far behind, only they reached their camp. They told of how the Cree were numerous and that already many Blackfoot had been slain.

(11) êkosi ita ê-tahtakwahcâk, êkota kahkiyaw itohtêwak, ê-wâtihkêcik, iskwêwak mîna wâsakâm ê-apahkwêcik wîkiwâwa ohci, pêyak piko mîkiwâhp ê-osîhtâcik, êkota awâsisak iskwêwak ê-asiwasocik. piyis kahkiyaw takohtêwak, tahto êkâ ê-nipahihcik ôki ayahciyiniwak.

(11) Then they all went to a flat place in the land and dug a trench, and the women sheltered it all round with covering from their tipis, so as to make one great tent, into which the women and children were placed. Soon all the Blackfoot had come there, as many as had not been killed.

(12) êkwa wîhkwêskawêwak ita, êkwa ê-nôtinitocik, kahkiyaw ê-takohtêcik ôki nêhiyawak mîna opwâsîmôwak mîna nahkawiyiniwak.

(12) Then they surrounded them there, and they fought, all the Cree and Assiniboine and Salteaux having come there.

(13) pêyak opwâsîmôw, mistahi ê-miyosit oskinîkiw, sihkosiwayâna ê-kikamoyit oskotâkâhk mîna otâsihk, kahkiyaw ê-mîkisiwiyiki otayôwinisa, mîna otastotin sihkosiwayâna ê-kikamoyit, êskana ê-kikamoyit otastotinihk, êwako êkota ê-ayât ôma ê-nôtinitôwiht, namôya nôtinikêw, ê-pêhât ôhtâwiya, câpihcikanis ê-tahkonahk, êkwa cîkahikani-pakamâkan ê-tahkonahk, êkwa napakihkomân, âsay nîso ê-pê-tahkamât câpihcikanis ohci ayahciyiniwa, êkwa pêyak ê-cîkahwât ôma ohci ocîkahikanis, êkosi nisto ê-nipahât, ostikwâniyiwa ôhi pâh-pahki ê-pahkwêkisamwât, "pita nika-miyâw nôhtâwiy," ê-itêyihtahk, otêmiyiwa nîso ê-otinât mîna.³

piyis mihcêtiyiwa owîcêwâkana, ê-takohtêyit. kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamât ôhtâwiya ita ê-apit ê-pê-itohtêyit.

(13) A certain Assiniboine, a very handsome youth, with weaselskins on his coat and on his breeches, with beads on all his clothes, and weaselskins also on his toque, and horns, beside, on his headgear, he, staying tight close to the fight, took yet no active part in it, for he was awaiting his father, holding in hand a lance and a tomahawk and a bowie knife; with his lance he had already transfixed two Blackfoot on the way hither, and had tomahawked one, so that he had slain three: taking a part of each one's scalp, in the thought, “Later I shall give them to my father,” and taking also two of their horses. Soon many of his companions had arrived. Presently he saw his father coming to where he sat.

(14) "tânisi, nikosis?"

(14) “How fare you, my son?”

(15) "â, nîso nipê-tahkamâwak;" "otêmiwâwa nitôtinimâwa; mîna ostikwâniwâwa nitôtinên."⁴

(15) “Oh, two I stabbed on the way; I took their horses; and I took their heads.”

(16) "hâw!"

(16) “Good!”

(17) ôhi êwakoni ostikwâniyiwa wâpahtam awa kisêyiniw.

(17) The old man looked at the scalps.

(18) "êkwa pêyak ôma ohci nipê-cîkahwâw," itêw ôhtâwiya"êkosi nisto ninipahâwak," itêw.

(18) “And one with this I felled as I came,” he told his father; “So that I have killed three,” he told him.

(19) "hay hay hay!" itwêw awa kisêyiniw; "êkosi, nikosis, miywâsin ê-tôtaman, ê-miyosiyan," itêw.

(19) “Splendid!” cried the old man; “That is the right way to do, since you are handsome,” he told him.

(20) êkosi êkota ay-apiw, pita ê-pîhtwât awa kisêyiniw.

(20) Then the old man sat there a while and smoked.

(21) ê-kî-pîhtwât, "mahti, nikosis, pêtâ kimôhkomân."

(21) When he had smoked, “Come, Son, give me your knife.”

(22) otinam awa oskinîkiw, ê-miyât ôhtâwiya. ta-tâsaham ôma môhkomân.

(22) The youth drew it and gave it to his father. He whetted the knife.

(23) "hâ, nikosis, êwako ani kimôhkomân." "ômatôwahk ayahciyiniw namôya tahto-kîsikâw wâpamâw;" "mostos piko tahto-kîsikâw kâ-wâpamiht," itêw.

(23) “There, my son, even this is your knife. Such game as the Blackfoot is not seen every day; it is only the buffalo is seen every day,” he told him.

(24) "kah!" itwêw oskinîkiw.

(24) “I hear what you say!” said the youth.

(25) êkosi pasikôw, itê kâ-nôtinitôwiht ê-itohtêt awa oskinîkiw. piyisk takohtêw. êkwa ê-kitâpamât, nama awiya wâpamêw ayahciyiniwa. mâka âsay wâh-wâpamêw nêhiyawa, cîki êkotê ê-pimisiniyit, ê-nipahimiht. êkota êspahtâw, ê-kwâh-kwâskwêpayihot awa kâ-miyosit oskinîkiw. cîki ayahciyiniwa kâ-ayâyit, êkota nahapipayihôw. mayaw ê-nahapit, pâskisok ayahciyiniwa. kîpiwêpahok, ê-nipahikot.

(25) Accordingly he rose to his feet, the youth, and went to the fight. Soon he arrived there. Then when he looked to see them, he saw none of the Blackfoot. But already he saw Cree lying near by, Cree who had been slain. To that place ran the handsome youth, leaping high as he ran. Close to where the Blackfoot were, he flung himself into a crouching position. As soon as he had squatted down, the Blackfoot shot at him. He was hit headlong, and killed.

(26) âsay wîhtamawâw awa kisêyiniw. ômisi isiyîhkâsôw: mistikwaskihk isiyîhkâsôw awa okosisa kâ-miyosiyit.

(26) Already the old man was being told. his was his name: Wooden-Drum was the name of him whose son was so handsome.

(27) "mistikwaskihk!"

(27) “Wooden-Drum!”

(28) "wêy!" itwêw.

(28) “What is it?” he asked.

(29) "kikosis nipahâw!" itêw.

(29) “Your son has been killed!” he was told.

(30) "kah!" itwêw.

(30) “I hear!” he answered.

(31) itohtêw. ê-itâpit, kâ-wâpamât okosisa ê-pimisiniyit. itohtêw, ê-ispahtât. otihtêw okosisa, cîki ayahciyiniwa ita ê-ayâyit. otinam okosisa otastotiniyiw, ê-postastotinêt. ê-kîsi-postastotinêt, êkwa ôma cîkahikanis ê-otinahk, âta ê-pâh-pâskisoht, âhci piko apiw, ê-kwêskapit, ê-isi-ohtiskawapit itê kâ-ôh-pâskisoht. sâsakiciwêpahwâw, ê-nipahiht. âsay osîma têpwâtimâwa.

(31) He went there. When he looked, he saw his son lying there. He went there, running. He reached his son, close by to where the Blackfoot were. He took his son's headgear and placed it on his own head. Having put on the headgear, he took the tomahawk, and though he was being fired at, yet he stayed sitting there, turning so as to face the fire. He was felled backward and killed. Already the cry came to his younger brother.

(32) "mistanikocâsah-kâ-pimwât, kistês nipahâw!" itimâwa osîma.

(32) “Shoots-the-Gopher, your elder brother has been killed!” his brother was told.

(33) êkosi awa êkotê itohtêw. ê-itâpit, pôti kâ-wâpamât ostêsa êkwa okosisa ê-nipahimiht. pasikôw, ê-itohtêt, ê-ati-wayacîwît. ê-âta-pâskisoht, piyisk otihtêw. ostêsa otinam ôma cîkahikanis, ê-môskîstawât ayahciyiniwa. pîhtokêw wîkiyihk, ê-cîkahwât nîso ayahciyiniwa.

(33) Then he too went there. When he looked that way, there he saw his brother and his brother's son lying slain. He rose to his feet and went there, breaking into a run. Although he was fired at, he went there. He took the tomahawk from his brother, and made for the Blackfoot. He entered their camp and felled two Blackfoot.

(34) pê-wayawîw, ê-pê-tapasît, "hahwêh!" ê-pê-itwêt; "nitôtêmitik, nîso nicîkahwâwak nikosis ocîkahikanis ohci," itwêw; "hâw, nitôtêmitik, kakwê-otinihk nikosis têpiyâhk, kiyâm nistês êkotê ka-pimisin," itwêw.

(34) He came forth and came fleeing back, crying, “Hyah, friends, I have felled two with my son's tomahawk. So now, friends, try to take up my son's body at least. Let my brother's lie there,” he said.

(35) tâpwê môskîstawêwak oskinîkiwak. âta ê-pâskisohcik, otihtêwak ôhi kâ-miyosiyit oskinîkiwa. otinêwak, ê-kospohtahâcik. takohtahêwak owîcêwâkaniwâwa itê ê-ayâyit. êkosi âhci piko ê-nôtinâcik, ê-pâskiswâcik.

(35) Accordingly, the young men made for them. Although they were shot at, they reached the handsome youth. They took him up and carried him off. They brought him to where their comrades were. Then they kept on fighting the enemy, and shooting at them.

(36) êkwa ôki nêhiyawak cîki ê-pimisihkik, ê-mâtâposihkik êwakonik ê-nâpêhkâsocik, ositiwâhk êkotê âtiht ê-ayâyit owîcêwâkaniwâwa, ôki nîkân kâ-pimisihkik, kâ-ta-tasinahkwâwi, tapahtiskwêyiwak, ôki kotakak ê-tasinahkik, ayahciyiniwa ê-pâ-pâskiswâcik. kîtahtawê awa pêyak nêhiyaw otâhk kâ-apit, ositiyihk isi oskinîkiwa, mwêhci ê-wî-tasinahk, kâ-ohpiskwêyiyit oskinîkiwa owîcêwâkana. ostikwâniyihk pistahwêw oskinîkiwa; nipahêw. pakwâtam ê-pistahwât otôtêma.

(36) And where the Cree were lying near there, as the braves lay in a row, with some of their comrades close at their feet, then, whenever those who lay in the front rank had fired, they would duck their heads, and the others would fire, sending a volley at the Blackfoot. Then at one time just as a certain Cree in the rear rank was about to fire, the youth, his comrade, who lay by his feet, raised his head. Thus accidentally he shot the youth in the head and killed him. He was grieved at having shot his friend.

(37) ômisi itwêw: "hahahêy, tâpwê nipakwâtên ê-pistahowêyân!" itwêw, ê-pasikôt, êkota ê-nitawi-nahapit ôhi oskinîkiwa kâ-nipahât. namwâc kinwêsk apiw âsay ostikwânihk ê-tawahokot ayahciyiniwa; kîpiwêpahok. êkosi otinâw, âkawâyihk ê-itohtahiht awa mîna oskinîkiw. âhci piko yêhyêw awa ayahciyiniwa ostikwânihk kâ-pâskisokot. nicawâc nipiy ita ê-ayâyik, êkota itohtahâw, êkota ê-pimisihk, ê-akwanahiht wâpowayân. êkosi isi ohpimê itohtêwak ôki ayisiyiniwak, ôma ê-nôtinitocik kêyâpic.⁵

(37) Thus he spoke: “Alas, truly I am grieved at having made a fatal error!” he cried, rising to his feet, and went and sat by the youth he had killed. He had not been there long, before the Blackfoot sent a bullet through his head; he fell hurtling. So he was taken up and brought to a sheltered spot, and the body of the youth as well. He who had been shot in the head by the Blackfoot was still breathing. He was taken to where there was water, and there he lay, covered with a blanket. Then the people went off, to fight again.

(38) kîtahtawê kâwaniskât awa nipîhk kâ-pimisimiht, ê-pê-pasikôt, ê-takohtêt otôtêma ita ê-ayâyit, êkota ê-nahapit, "oskinîkîtik, oyaskinahihk!" ê-itwêt; "nika-pîhtwân," ê-itwêt.

(38) Then presently he arose who had been laid by the water's edge; he rose to his feet and walked over to his companions, and sat down there, saying, “Young men, fill a pipe. Let me smoke.”

(39) tâpwê ê-kitâpamâcik ôhi ostikwâniyihk kâ-kî-pâskisomiht, namwâc ihtakoniyiw ôma ita kâ-kî-pâskisomiht. ê-manitôwit awa nâpêw, ê-nanâtawihisot, êkosi nama takoniyiw ôma ita kâ-pâskisoht. pimâtisiw êwako nahkawiyiniw.

(39) Truly, when they looked at him who had been shot in the head, not a trace was there of the bullet-wound. Because that man had manitou power and had cured himself, there was no trace of the gunshot-wound. That Salteau lived.

(40) piyis wîpac pôyôwak. kêkâc mêscihêwak ôhi ayahciyiniwa; wiyawâw mîna mihcêt nipahikwak. êkosi pê-kîwêwak ôki nêhiyawak, ê-miyawâtahkik, ê-miywêyihtahkik, mihcêt ê-nipahâcik ayahciyiniwa. piyis takosinwak wîkiwâhk ôki nêhiyawak.

(40) Soon after that they ceased fighting. They had nearly exterminated those Blackfoot; and on their side, too, many had been slain. Then the Cree went home, celebrating their joy at having killed many Blackfoot. In time those Cree arrived at their camp.

(41) êkoyikohk ê-iskwâk êwako âcimowin.

(41) This is the end of the story.

Footnotes

¹LB: I suspect that there is a tabu, - except for certain special circumstances, cf. below in this story, - against saying, “whome I (or we) have killed.” Certainly some of my Plains Cree friends have killed their man, but I have never heard them, even in telling of war, mention such a fact.

²LB on êh-wâwinipitâcik: This word, as here recorded, may show the normal form of what I have generally taken to be wâyôniw: “he turns back.” If so, it is strange that I seem never to have heard the latter as *wâwinîw.

³LB: A typical Central Algonquian sentence, such as for obvious reasons is not often obtained in dictation or in the laborious process fo syllabic writing. In length and suppleness of subordination it resembled earlier Indo-European, e.g. Latin.

⁴LB on ostikwâniwâwa: “Head” for “scalp”, as often; I do not know whether this locution dates back to the antecedents of the custom.

⁵LB on omê: Probably error for ôma.