(1) kîtahtawê opwâsîmowak mihcêtiwak; mîna mîkiwâhpa mihcêtinwa. pêyak opwâsîmôw oskinîkiw mistahi kitimâkisiw. nama awiya owâhkômâkana pimâtisiyiwa. "tâpwê nikitimâkisin," itêyihtam. êkwa wîwa, nôtokêsiwa kêkâc, kakwêcimêw:

(1) Once upon a time there were many Assiniboine Sioux; and there were many tents. One Assiniboine, a young man, was very poor. None of his kinsfolk were living. “Truly I am wretched,” he thought. Then he asked his wife, who was nearly an old woman:

(2) "awiyak cî kiwâhkômâkan pimâtisiw, kôhtâwiy kikâwiy kisîm kistês kimis?" "nama awiyak cî pimâtisiw?" itêw.

(2) “Are any of your kinsfolk alive, your father, your mother, your younger brother or sister, your elder brother, your elder sister? Is none of them alive?” he asked her.

(3) êkwa ômisi itik: "mitoni nama awiyak."

(3) She answered him, “They are all gone.”

(4) "êkwa tâpwê kikitimâkisinânaw." "âhkamêyimo ê-atoskêyan." "niya mîna nika-âhkamêyimon, ôta kâ-wîkihkêmoyahk kita-atoskawâyahkok ta-pamihâyahkok, ôma ita kâ-wîkihkêmoyahk."

(4) “Then truly we are pitiable. Take heart and work. I too shall take courage, and we shall work for the people here among whom we dwell.”

(5) "êha," itik.

(5) “Yes,” she answered him.

(6) ê-piponiyik êkwa atoskêwak. ê-miyoskamik ê-âhtokêwiht, êkwa papâmohtêw. matokahpihk pôti miskam: mîkwana êkwa pîwâpiskwa. êkwa kîwêhtatâw; owîkimâkana miyêw.

(6) In winter then they worked. In spring, when his people moved camp, he walked about. In an abandoned lodge he found something: some feathers and some pieces of metal. He took the things home and gave them to his wife.

(7) "nah ôhi kanawêyihta," itêw.¹

(7) “Take these things and save them up,” he told her.

(8) êkwa manimisâskwatwêw; ahcâpiya mîna osîhêw; nîsitanaw niyânanosâp osîhtâw acosisa. êkwa astâwêw. kîsihtâw kahkiyaw. êkwa pîhtatwâna kaskikwâtêw. êkwa ispatinâhk itohtêw, ê-wîhkwêstêyiki mîkiwâhpa ê-kitâpahtahk. wâpahtam mîkiwâhp pîhtêyas ê-cimatêyik.

(8) Then he gathered spruce-wood; he made a bow and twenty-five arrows. Then he put feathers on the arrows. He completed it all. Then he sewed a quiver. Then he went to the top of a hill and looked at the lodges which stood in a circle. He saw a single lodge which stood in the center.

(9) itêyihtam, "wêyôtisiw nâha." "mahti nika-nitawi-kakwêcimâw;" "nika-nitawi-atâmâw atimwa pêyak ôhi ohci nîpisisa," itêyihtam.

(9) He thought, “That man is rich. Suppose I go ask him; I shall buy a dog from him with these arrows,” he thought.

(10) itohtêw ê-otâkosiniyik, mihcêt ê-wâpamât atimwa, otâpânâskwa, atimo-otâpânâskwa. êkwa ê-pîhtokêt, pôti apiyiwa nâpêwa.

(10) He went there in the evening, and saw a great many dogs and sleds, dog-sleds. When he entered the lodge, there sat a man.

(11) "tawâw, oskinîkiw", itik; "hâw, ta-mîcisôw."

(11) “Come in, young man,” said the other to him; “Come, let him eat.”

(12) asamâw. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, miyêw.

(12) He was given to eat. When he had finished his meal, he gave the things to the other.

(13) "ôhi ohci kâ-pê-itohtêyân acosisa, 'mâskôc pêyak miyici,' ê-itêyihtamân, kâ-ôh-pîhtokêyân."

(13) “I have come here on account of these arrows, thinking perhaps he would give me a puppy;' that is why I have come to our tent.”

(14) "êha, kika-miyitin."

(14) “Yes, I shall give you some.”

(15) têpakohp ihtasiyiwa.

(15) There were seven of them.

(16) "âsay pâhkwâpiwak ôki acimosisak;" "êwakonik kimiyitin; êkwa okâwiyiwâwa, acimosisak okâwiyiwâwa." "kitatamihin ôhi kâ-pê-miyiyan."

(16) “These puppies have already opened their eyes; I give you these; also the dam, the puppies' mother. I thank you for having come and given me these things.”

(17) êkwa iskwêwak postamôhêwak kiskânakwa ôhi kâ-atâwêwiht. kêkâ-tipiskâyiw âsay. kîwêhtahêw; nayômêw acimosisa kahkiyaw. pimitisahok ôhi kiskânakwa.

(17) Then the women harnessed the female that had been sold. It was already close to night. He took them home, carrying all the puppies. The bitch ran behind him.

(18) owîkimâkana kitotêw, "pê-wayawî!"

(18) He called to his wife, “Come out!”

(19) wayawîw awa iskwêw.

(19) She came out of the lodge.

(20) "sakahpis." "ôhi otawâsimisa kita-nôhêw."

(20) “Tie her up. Let her suckle these puppies of hers.”

(21) sakahpitêw. asamêw ôhi atimwa. ohpikihêw otawâsimisa.

(21) She tied her up and fed her. The dog brought up its young.

(22) âsay mîna kotaka kîskikaham misâskwatwa. kêyâpic êko-tahto, nîsitanaw niyânanosâp âsay mîna osihtâw. ê-kîsihtât, âsay mîna ispatinâhk itohtêw. âsay mîna kitâpahtam mîkiwâhpa.

(22) Then again he cut some spruce-sticks. Again the same number, twenty-five, he made. When he had finished them, again he went to the hill-top and looked down at the tents.

(23) "nêki mihcêtiwak ê-atoskêcik iskwêwak," itêyihtam; "êkotê nika-kiyokân," itêyihtam awa kâ-kitimâkisit opwâsîmôw.

(23) “Down there are many women at work,” he thought; “There I shall visit,” thought the poor Stony.

(24) kiyokêw ê-otâkosiniyik, ê-pimiwitât ôhi kâ-kî-osîhtât acosisa.

(24) He made his visit at dusk, carrying along the arrows he had made.

(25) ê-takohtêt mîkiwâhpihk, "tawâw," itik ôhi nâpêwa.

(25) When he came to the tent, “Come in,” said the man to him.

(26) pîhtokêw; âsay mîna asamâw.

(26) He entered; this time too he was given food.

(27) ê-kîsi-mîcisot, "hâw, oskinîkiw! nama wîhkâc kikiyokân." "kâ-pê-kiyokêyan kîkway êtokê ê-pê-nitawêyihtaman?"

(27) When he had eaten, “Now, young man, it is not your habit to go a-visiting. No doubt you have called here with something in mind.”

(28) "ôhi ê-pimiwitâyân ê-pê-atâmitân, kîspin kitayân." "'ayâwak iskwêwak mihkihkwana mâtahikan cîkahikan kiskiman môhkomân,' ê-itêyihtamân, "mahti nika-nitawi-atâmâw," kâ-itêyihtamân."

(28) “It is that I have come to trade you these things which I am carrying with me, if you have the trade. 'The women have hide-flatteners, hide-scrapers, hatchets, files, and knives,' was my thought; 'Suppose I go buy them from him,' was my thought.”

(29) "ahaq, ihtakonwa," itik ôhi nâpêwa.

(29) “Yes, these things are here,” said the man to him.

(30) kahkiyaw miyik tahto kâ-pê-atâmât. kîwêhtatâw wîkiwâhk. êkwa miyêw owîkimâkana.

(30) He gave him all the things he had come to buy. He took them home and gave them to his wife.

(31) "nahi ôhi; kiya ôhi âyâ; nahastâ; kanawêyihta;" "osâm mistahi kikitimâkisinânaw," itêw owîkimâkana.

(31) “Here, take these things; do you keep them; put them away and take care of them; we are altogether too destitute,” said he to his wife.

(32) "êha," itik, "kitatamihin," itik owîkimâkana.

(32) “Yes,” his wife answered him; “Thank you.”

(33) âsay mîna otinam misâskwatwa; âsay mîna nîsitanaw niyânanosâp osîhtâw. kîsihtâw. âsay mîna ê-otâkosiniyik ê-wîhkwêstêyiki mîkiwâhpa kitâpahtam: pôti pîhtêyask cimatêyiw mîkiwâhp.

(33) Again he took some spruce-sticks; again he made twenty-five. He finished them. Again at nightfall he looked at the tents standing in a circle. There in the center stood a lodge.

(34) itêyihtam: "nâha okimâw manitôwiw; nihtâ-nanâtawihiwêw," itêyihtam.

(34) He thought: “Yonder chief has spirit-power; he is a great healer.”

(35) itohtêw; ê-otâkosiniyik pîhtokêw.

(35) He went there; at nightfall he entered.

(36) "tawâw," itâw.

(36) “Come in,” he was told.

(37) âsay mîna asamâw. ê-itâpit askotâskopisonihk, pôti wâpahtam pâskisikana nisto. asamâw. ê-kîsi-mîcisot, miyâw pâskisikan pêyak, ê-atâwêt ôhi ohci acosisa, êkwa kaskitêw pîhcipihkwâna ê-sâkaskinêyit, êkwa môsasiniya nîsitanaw, êkwa cahkisêhikana nîso, êkwa kêtahikana nîso.

(37) Again he was given food. When he looked at the wooden beams along the wall, there he saw three guns. He was given food. When he had eaten, he was given a gun, which he bought with those arrows, also some gun-powder, a powder-horn full of it, twenty bullets, two flints, and two ramrods.

(38) "kitatamihin, oskinîkiw, ôhi kâ-miyiyan," itêw.

(38) “I thank you, young man, for giving me these,” he said to him.

(39) kîwêw.

(39) He went home.

(40) "êkosi kanawêyihta," itêw owîkimâkana.

(40) “So do you save these things,” he told his wife.

(41) âsay mîna osîhtâw acosisa nîsitanaw, "êwakoni nika-ayân," ê-itêyihtahk. kîsihtâw. êkwa ôki acimosisak misikitiwak; êkwa âsay takwâkin; âsay mitoni misikitiwak. êkwa awa iskwêw nakayâhêw. pâ-pîmakâmêpitêw ôhi acimosisa. êkwa kêkâc pipon. êkwa mitoni kisin. kêkâc ê-pipohk, paskêpiciwak ê-nîsicik owîkimâkana awa kâ-kitimâkisit. sakâw otihtam ê-ihkatawâyik, wâsakâm ê-sakâyik, mihta ê-mihcêniyiki, mîna mostoswa ê-mihcêtiyit. nipahêw pêyak mostoswa. êkwa osîhtâw wîki, mîkiwâhp, mihtikowâhp ê-misâyik. êkwa kahkiyaw otinam wiyâs. êkwa tahto-kîsikâw mâcîw; tahto-kîsikâw minahôw. atimwa âpacihêwak ayinânêw; kahkiyaw otinamwak wiyâs. mîna wanihikêw mistiko-wanihikana, mahîhkana ê-nôcihât, nanâtohk atâwâkana ê-nipahât wanihikanihk. pêyak kîsikâw âskaw mitâtaht ayiwâkês nipahêw mahîhkana. mihcêt osîhtâw cêsipicikana, wiyâs êkota ê-akotât, wiyâs ê-akotât cêsipicikanihk. êkwa awa iskwêw âhkamêyimôw. kêkâc wiyâpaniyik pôni-atoskêw, mistahi ê-atoskêcik. âsay ati-kâ-kîsopwêyâyiw.

(41) Again he made twenty arrows, “These I shall keep,” being his plan. He finished them. Now those puppies had grown up and it was autumn; they were already quite big. The woman broke them to harness. She hitched up those young dogs. Then it was nearly winter, and very cold. When it was nearly winter, the two, the poor man and his wife, moved camp away from the others. He came to a wood with an open space in the middle with woods all round, where there was plenty of fuel and where the buffalos were many. He killed a buffalo. Then he built his dwelling, a large wooden house. He took all the meat. Then every day he hunted; every day he made a killing. They used the eight dogs; they took all the meat. Also he trapped with wooden traps, trying for wolves, and killed all kinds of fur-bearing beasts in his traps. Often he killed more than ten wolves in a day. He built many drying-frames, on which he hung his meat. The woman, too, worked bravely. It would be almost dawn when they quit work, so busy were they. The warm weather was already coming on.

(42) "mahti êkwa nika-osîhâw otâpânâsk," itêyihtam.

(42) “I suppose I had better make a sled now,” he thought.

(43) osîhêw atimo-otâpânâskwa, ê-pasahwât mistikwa, napakitâpânâskwa ê-osîhât. ê-kî-kîsihât, takohtêw.²

êkota napakâhtikohk ahêw mostoswayâna mîna mahîhkaniwayâna, nanâtohk atâwâkana. sipwêhtêw, ê-itohtêt wâskahikanihk, otatâwêwa ê-nitawâpamât. takohtêw.

(43) He built a dog-sled with split trees, a flat dog-sled. When he had finished it, he tied it up. On the boards of it he put buffalo-robes, wolfskins, and all kinds of furs. He went off to see the trader in his house. He came there.

(44) "haw, pîhtoka; asam kitêmak," itik okimâwa.

(44) “Well, bring them in; feed your dogs,” said the agent to him.

(45) pîhtokahêw wâskahikanihk, ê-asamât.

(45) He brought them into the shed and fed them.

(46) êkwa awa oskinîkiw kâ-kitimâkisit, "awîna ita ê-ayât ê-pê-wâh-ohci-sipwêhtêyan?" itik.

(46) Then they asked the poor young man, “Who is there at the places you come from?”

(47) "niya piko êkwa niwîkimâkan." "mistahi nitayân wiyâs wiyinwa pimiya atâwâkanak." "nitawêyihtamani wiyâs, kika-miyitin."

(47) “Only my wife and I. I have a great deal of meat, fats, grease, and fur. If you need meat, I can give you some.”

(48) "êha, ninitawêyihtên mîcim tahto ê-ayâyan;" "kahkiyaw nika-otinên," itik; "tâniyikohk otâpânâskwak?"

(48) “Yes, I want all the food you have. I can take it all,” the other told him; “How many wagonloads is it?”

(49) "pêyak, nîso, mitâtaht otâpânâskwak."

(49) “One, two, ten wagonloads.”

(50) "wahwâ! mistahi kititwân." "ahpô ôtênaw ê-otihtamân, nama wîhkâc mitâtaht sâkaskinêwak otâpânâskwak."

(50) “Well! You are saying a great deal. Even when I come to a town, there are never ten loads.”

(51) "êha."

(51) “Yes.”

(52) "êkwa ê-pêyakoyan, kiwîkimâkan ê-nîsiyêk, mistahi kâ-nitawêyimacik otâpânâskwak."

(52) “For you and your wife alone that is quite a few sleds.”

(53) "êha," itêw, "nôhtaw." "wiyâs piko mitâtaht otâpânâskwak kâ-nitawêyihtaman." "tahto kêkway atâwâkana mêstawatâtwâwi kôskinîkîmak, êkoyikohk nika-pê-itohtân ta-pê-otinikêyân." "anohc wiya pêyakwasâkay kika-miyin, kaskitêwêkin êkwa pêhpêsâpowayân." "êkwa kiya! pêyakwayôwinis wêmistikôsiwi-ayôwinisa, astotin, êkwa kiya kiminihkwêwin kâ-miywâsik, êkwa pêyakonisk mihkwêkin, êkwa cistêmâw;" "iyikohk ê-wî-miyiyan." "itâp pê-otinikêyâni êkota ka-wîhtamâtin."

(53) “Yes,” answered the other, “and that is not all. It is for meat alone that I need ten sleds. When your helpers have carted away all the furs, then I shall come to take my pay. Today just give me one dress-length, black cloth and striped cloth. And one suit of your white-man's clothes, a hat, and some of your own good liquor, one fathom of red flannel, and some tobacco; that is all you need to give me. When I come back to collect, I shall tell you the rest.”

(54) kîwêw. owîkimâkana otihtêw. pêyakwâw nipâw; owîkimâkana otihtêw. miyêw.

(54) He went home to his wife, sleeping one night on the way. He gave her the things.

(56) "kakwêyâho;" "ôma osihtâ kita-oskotâkâyan," itêw. kakwêyâhow ê-kaskikwâtahk awa iskwêw oskotâkay ôma kaskitêwêkin, otâsa mîna awa iskwêw, wanakwaya mîna. postayôwinisêw awa iskwêw.

(56) “Stick to your work; make yourself a dress of this,” he told her. The woman worked busily, sewing a dress for herself out of the black broadcloth, as well as some gaiters and sleeves. She put on her new clothes.

(57) "hâ, pakwahtê ôma," itêw owîkimâkana, "ôma wâpowêyân."

(57) “Good, now wear this round your waist,” he said to his wife, “this robe.”

(58) ê-kîsi-postayôwinisêt awa iskwêw, êkwa awa nâpêw postayôwinisêw, wêmistikôsiwi-ayôwinisa; astotin, postastotinêw. âsay namôya kitimâkisiwak. otinam; oyâkanihk iskotêwâpoy sîkinam, êkwa êwako ê-minihkwêcik. kêkâc ê-wâpaniyik.³

(58) When the woman had dressed up, the man also dressed up in white-man's clothes, and put on his hat. Now they were no longer poor. He took the whiskey and poured it into a bowl and then they drank it. When it was almost daylight,

(59) "ay, êkoyikohk; pôni-minihkwêtân;" "osâm kika-atoskânânaw;" "ta-takosinwak ayîsiyiniwak, wêmistikôsiwak, ê-wî-pê-nâtahkik wiyâs." "âhkamêyimo ê-atoskêyan." "osâm mistahi kikitimâkisinânaw, êkâ awiyak ê-wâhkômâyahk." "êwako ohci kâ-kî-atâwêyân atimwak, êwakonik kita-otêmiyahk." "âhkamêyimo êkwa tâpwê kita-atoskêyan;" "niya mîna nika-âhkamêyimon ta-nipahtâyân atâwâkana."

(59) “There, that will do; let us stop drinking; we have too much work ahead; some people are coming, Frenchmen, to fetch meat. Set bravely to work. We are altogether too poor, having no kinspeople. It was for this I bought the dogs, to be our beasts of burden. Take heart and work bravely; I too shall work stoutly at getting furs.”

(60) tâpwê ê-kî-nisto-tipiskâyik nikotwâsik otâpânâskwa takosiniyiwa.

(60) Accordingly, three days later six sleds arrived.

(61) "pisisik wiyâs pêtâhkêk;" "atâwâkanak pêyak otâpânâsk ka-pêsiwâwâwak, niyânan otâpânâsk wiyâs êkwa."

(61) “Bring only meat; one load of fur you will bring, and five loads of meat.”

(62) ê-takosihkik ôki wêmistikôsiwak, êkwa pôsihtâwak wiyâs; namôya âpihtaw otinamwak; namôya ahpô âpihtaw atâwâkana otinêwak. kîwêwak. êkwa nêtê wâskahikanihk takosinwak. êkwa awa okimâw âcimostawâw:

(62) When those Frenchmen arrived, they loaded meat; they did not take half of it, and they took not even half of the pelts. They went back. They arrived yonder at the trading-house. Then the agent was told:

(63) "mâskôc nîsitanaw otâpânâskwak ta-sâkaskinêwak." "mistahi wiyâs, pimiya mîna, wiyinwa mîna." "mâskôc mistahi kika-itêyihtên, okimâw, wâpahtamani, pêyak ayîsiyiniw kita-miyisk ahtaya, nanâtohk mîciwin." "wêyôtisiw ê-pêyakot, owîkimâkana ê-nîsicik." "mihta ê-wîkicik tâpiskôc ôtênaw ayîsiyiniw wêtihtahki." "namôya wîhkâc kahkiyaw sâkaskinêwak otâpânâskwak, êkwa ôki nikotwâsik otâpânâskwak kahkiyaw kâ-sâkaskinêcik." "êkwa nânitaw nîsitanaw otâpânâskwak ta-sipwêhtêyân kahkiyaw nika-pêtân tahto kâ-ayâcik mîciwin ahtaya mîna."

(63) “Perhaps twenty sleds will be filled. There is much meat, grease, and fat. No doubt you will think it a great deal for one man to give you in fur and various kinds of food. He has grown rich, all by himself with his wife. The firewood where they live looks like a town, as one approaches. Never are all the sleds full, and there are the six sleds all loaded. If I go off with some twenty sleds, I can bring all the meat they have and the furs.”

(64) "hâ, êkosi ê-isi-wâpahtaman?"

(64) “So that is the way you fared?”

(65) "êha."

(65) “Yes.”

(66) "nîsitanaw otâpânâskwak ka-sipwêhtahâwâwak." "kîspin sâkaskinêci, kahkiyaw sâkaskinêtwâwi, tâpiskôc mihcêt ôtênawa ê-wâpahtamân nika-itêyihtên." "hâw, sipwêhtêk."

(66) “You will go off with twenty sleds. When they are all full, I shall think I am beholding many villages. Very well, be off.”

(67) êkwa sipwêhtêwak nîsitanaw otâpânâskwak.

(67) So twenty sleds started out.

(68) "kahkiyaw pêtâyiw pôsihtâyêko ta-pê-sipwêhtêwak."⁴

"mahti nika-wâpamimâwa owîkimâkana mistahi kâ-atoskêyit."

(68) “When you have loaded it all, let them set out and come here. I should like to see his wife who does so much work.”

(69) takosinwak; êkwa kahkiyaw otâpânâskwak sâkaskinahêwak. êkwa awa otêma atimwa awa opwâsîmôw ayinânêw kahkiyaw otâpahêw, atâwâkana ê-pôsihât, ê-otâpêyit. namôya sêmâk sipwêhtêw. ê-kî-nisto-kîsikâyik sipwêhtêw; otihtam wâskahikana. nam-êskwa kîsi-masinahikêwak, ê-akihtahkik wiyâs pimiya kâhkêwakwa wiyinwa atâwâkana, iyikohk ê-ispayiyik. ê-takosihk, kêyâpic atoskêyiwa. ê-takosihk, ohpâpêkipitamwân kiskiwêhon. pê-nakiskâk, ê-wî-ati-pîhtokêt iskwâhtêmihk, ê-atamiskawât ôhi nâpêwa êkwa ôhi iskwêwa. ê-atamiskawât, êkoyikohk kâ-matwêwêyik misi-pâskisikan.

(69) They arrived; and all the sleds were loaded full. In addition the Stony hitched up all his eight dogs and loaded the sled with fur and took it. He did not set out right away. After three days he set out; he came to the trading-post. They had not yet done writing as they counted the amount of the meat, grease, dried meat, fat, and pelts. When he arrived, they were still at work. When he reached the place, they hoisted the flag for him. They came to meet him, and as he entered the door, he shook hands with the man and his wife. As he shook hands with them, the cannon was fired.

(70) êkosi, "ay, êkwa kêkway kinitawêyihtên?" itik.

(70) Then, “Well, and what do you wish for?” he was asked.

(71) "hâ, kiya kitayiwinisa nêwo ayiwinisa ayîsiyiniwak ta-postiskahkik ê-kaskitêwâki." "êkwa, kîspin kitayâwâw, pêyak misatim." "êkotôwahk ê-nitawêyimakik."

(71) “Of your clothes, four suits for men to wear, black suits. And, if you have one, a horse. That is what I want.”

(72) "êha, nitayâwâw pêyak," itik ôhi okimâwa; "wâpahki ta-pêsiwâwak."

(72) “Very well, I have one,” the agent told him; “tomorrow they will be brought.”

(73) êkwa ê-wâpaniyik mênikanihk pîhtokêtisahomâwa pôti mihcêt misatimwa.

(73) And in the morning, there, into the paddock were driven a great many horses.

(74) "awa," itik, "âstam," itik okimâwa; "pê-wâpam awa misatim," itik.

(74) “Well,” said the other to him, “Come here,” said the agent; “Come and look at this horse,” he said.

(75) itohtêw; wâpamêw pôti mihcêt misatimwa. "êkwa awa okimâw ayinânêw ayâwêw atimwa," itêyihtam, "awa okimâw."

(75) He went there; there he saw many horses. “So the chief has eight horses,” thought he.

(76) "â," itik, "ôki misatimwak têpakohp kika-otinâwak."

(76) “There,” he told him, “you may take seven of these horses.”

(77) êkwa otinêw; têpakohp misatimwa êkwa otinêw êwakoni.

(77) He took them; he took seven of those horses.

(78) "haw, pêyak kâ-nitomat misatim, wiyâs kâ-miyiyan." "êkoyikohk têpipayiw wiyâs, ôki misatimwak kâ-otinacik." "hâw, kitatamiskâtin; niya nitêm kimiyitin, ê-atamiskâtân," itêw; "mistahi kitôtên, tâpiskôc niyânan ôtênawa ê-otihtamân, iyikohk kâ-miyiyan mîciwin ahtayak mîna." "êwako ohci namôya kika-nêpêwisin, têkosiniyin ôta." "kiya nîkân kika-atamiskâtin, namôya kotak awiyak, kiya piko." "pêyak okimâwayân kimiyitin. pêyak kiskiwêhon kimiyitin." "êwako kita-ohci-atamiskâtân." "â, êkosi." "êkwa kîkway wâh-otinaman ayiwinisa?"

(78) “Now you asked for one horse for the meat you gave me. That meat pays for these horses you have just taken. And now I want to make you a present; I give you my own horse as a present,” he told him; “You have done great things; as if I came to five villages is the amount of the food and the pelts you have given me. Therefore you shall not need to be bashful when you come here. I shall greet you first of all, no one else, only you. A chief's coat I shall give you, and a flag; these I give you as presents. So much for that. And now, what will you take in the way of clothes?”

(79) "nêwo ayîsiyiniwak ta-postiskahkik." "êkwa kiya kiminihkwêwin." "êkwa mihkwêkin nêwinisk êkwa kaskitêwêkin nêwinisk." "êkwa cistêmâw." "êkwa pâskisikêwin." "êkwa nanâtohk kêkway, wâpamona, oyamanak." "êko-tahto ê-ayihtik."

(79) “Suits for four men. Also some of your liquor. Also four fathoms of red flannel, and four of black broadcloth. Also some tobacco. Also ammunition. Also various things, such as mirrors and paint. That is the number of things.”

(80) kahkiyaw miyâw. nâtakâm itohtêw, ê-nitawi-kîskikahahk apasoya. pêyakotipiskwêw kâwi takosin; mitâtaht ayiwâk têpakohp pêtâw apasoya, ê-kî-pêtât êkwa kâ-miyiht ayiwinisa tahto kâ-nitotahk, cistêmâwa, mîna kahkiyaw kêkway kâ-miyiht awa kâ-kitimâkisit. kîwêw; otihtam wîkiwâw.

(80) He was given all of it. He went into the forest and cut tent-sticks. After one night he came back; he brought seventeen tentpoles along with the things he had been given, the clothes he had asked for, the tobacco, and all the things he had been given, that poor man. He went home; he reached their dwelling.

(81) âsay iyihtêyiw; miyoskamiyiw. êkwa tâpwê êkwa nôcihêw mostoswa. kiyipa nipahêw. nîsosâp êkwa osîhtâw awa iskwêw pahkêkinwa; kîsihtâw. êkwa kaskikwâtamwak, mîkiwâhp ê-osîhtâcik. âsay nîpiya nôkwaniyiwa; êkwa mânokêwak; êkwa cîkâskwahpitamwak ôma mihkwêkin mîna ôma kaskitêwêkin. êkwa otâkosiniyiw; êkoyikohk kîsi-nahastâsôw. êkwa ê-pîhtokêcik apiwak.

(81) It was already the time of thaw; spring had come. Then accordingly he hunted buffalo. Quickly did he kill them. Then the woman prepared twelve hides; she finished them. Then they sewed them, making a tent. The leaves were already budding when they set up their tent; they tied that red cloth and black cloth to the poles. When night fell, he had finished arranging his belongings. Then they went into the tent and sat there.

(83) "postayôwinisê," itêw owîkimâkana. postayôwinisêw awa iskwêw, awa mîna nâpêw. êkwa mîna minihkwêwak ôma iskotêwâpoy.

(83) “Put on your good clothes,” he told his wife. The woman dressed up, and so did the man. Then they drank that whiskey.

(84) kêkâc ê-wâpaniyik, "â, pôni-minihkwêtân," itêw owîkimâkana.

(84) When it was almost daybreak, “Now, let us stop drinking,” he said to his wife.

(85) ê-wâpaniyik, "â, êkwa ka-picinânaw; ka-nitonawânawak ayîsiyiniwak," itêw owîkimâkana.

(85) At daybreak, “There, now we shall move camp; we shall look for some people,” he said to her.

(86) êkwa piciwak. tahto-kîsikâw pimipiciwak. âskaw minahôw, mîciwin ê-osihtâcik pahkêkin mîna. kêtahtawê ê-kîsopwêyik wâpahtamwak mîkiwâhpa pôti.

(86) So they moved camp. All day long they marched. At times he killed game, and they prepared stored food and hides. Then, when the heat of the day had come, they saw some tents.

(87) "â, âywêpitân ôta," itêw wîwa awa kâ-kîhkitimâkisit.

(87) “Well, let us stop and rest here,” said he who had been poor to his wife.

(88) kîtahtawê kâ-wâpamâcik ê-têhtapiyit, ispatinâhk ê-ayâyit. wâpamon otinam ê-wâsâpiskinamawât. itohtêw awa oskinîkiw.

(88) Presently they saw a man on horseback, on a hill. He took a mirror and flashed signals to him. The young man approached.

(89) hâh, awa ê-takosihk awa oskinîkiw, ê-kitâpamât, "êwako awa kâ-kî-kitimâkisit," itêyihtam.

(89) When this young man looked at them, “This is he who once was poor,” was his thought.

(90) êkosi mâka êwako êkwa kakwêcimâw, "êkota cî ayâw ana kâ-kî-mani-wîkihkêmowak?"

(90) Thereupon that man asked him, “Is he over there with whom I used to stay?”

(91) "êha, êkota ayâw."

(91) “Yes, he is there.”

(92) "ana mâka atimwa kâ-kî-atâmak?"

(92) “And he from whom I bought the dogs?”

(93) "ahaq, êkota ayâw."

(93) “Yes, he is there.”

(94) "ana mâka mihkihkwana kâ-kî-atâmak okimâw?"

(94) “And the chief from whom I bought tanning implements?”

(95) "êha, êkota ayâw."

(95) “Yes, he is over there.”

(96) "ana mâka pâskisikan kâ-kî-atâmak okimâw?"

(96) “And the chief from whom I bought a gun?”

(97) "êkota ayâw." "kahkiyaw ayîsiyiniwak ayâwak êkota."

(97) “He is over there. All the people are over there.”

(98) "hâw, kîwêpayi." "êwakonik aniki nêwo aniki okimâwak kita-pê-itohtêwak ôta, ôma ita kâ-âywêpiyân."

(98) “Very well, ride back. Let those four chiefs come here where I am halting.”

(99) "êha."

(99) “Yes.”

(100) "êkâya mâka kotak awiyak kita-pê-itohtêw; êwakonik piko êkwa kiya," itêw.

(100) “But let no one else come here; only they and you,” he told him.

(101) "ahaq."

(101) “Yes.”

(102) sipwêhtêw; kîwêpayiw; kahkiyaw nêwo nitomêw ôhi ayîsiyiniwa.

(102) He went away; he rode back; he called all four of those men.

(103) "nêma kâ-osêhcâk, kâ-awasitêk nêma, êkotê ê-ohci-nitomikawiyêk."

(103) “Yonder hill, just beyond it, that is from where the invitation comes to you.”

(104) hâ, êkosi têhtapiwak ê-ispayicik. otihtêwak ôhi kâ-kitimâkisiyit. mâmaskâtêwak.

(104) Accordingly they mounted and rode to that place. They came to that man who had been poor. They wondered at him.

(105) "mistahi ê-kî-kitimâkisit awa kâ-isinâkosit kâ-wêyôtisit," itêyihtamwak ôki okimâwak nêwo.

(105) “He who was so very poor, here he is looking like this, a wealthy man,” thought those four chiefs.

(106) otinam ayiwinisa.

(106) He took the clothes.

(107) "ôhi postayôwinisê," itêw ôhi okimâwa.

(107) “Do you wear these,” he said to that chief.

(108) êkwa pêyakonisk cistêmâw miyêw.

(108) He gave him also a fathom's length of twist tobacco.

(109) "awa pîhtwâkan." "kitatamihin ê-kî-miyiyan ôki atimwak," itêw.

(109) “Here is smoking-stuff. I thank you for having given me these dogs,” he said to him.

(110) êkwa kotak. ayiwinisa miyêw, mihkihkwana iskwêwi-âpacihcikana kâ-kî-atâmât.

(110) Then another. He gave him clothing from whom he had bought hide-scrapers and other women's utensils.

(111) "hâw, ôhi postayôwinisê," ê-miyât, êkwa pêyakonisk cistêmâw, "awa pîhtwâkan," itêw.

(111) “Now, take these to wear,” and he gave them to him, together with a fathom's length of tobacco; “Here is something to smoke,” he told him.

(112) êkwa kotaka otinam.

(112) Then he took some more.

(113) ôma pâskisikan kâ-kî-atâmât, "hâw, ôhi postayôwinisê," itêw; "awa mîna pîhtwâkan."

(113) To him from whom he had bought the gun, “There, do you wear these,” he said; “And here is smoking-stuff.”

(114) âcimostawêw tânisi kâ-tôtahk. "anohc kâ-piponiyik kî-kîsihtâwâw êwako ôma kê-wâpahtamêk ôhi êkwa kâ-miyitakok."⁵

⁶

"êkosi nititik, 'okimâw.'"

(114) He told them how he had done. “This winter I have paid him for all this which you see here, and these things which I have given you. He called me 'Chief.'”

(115) "êha, kika-okimâwin." "tahto kâ-tipêyihtamân mîkiwâhpa kahkiyaw kimiyitin, ta-tipêyihtaman," itik kahkiyaw ôhi nêwo okimâwa.

(115) “So be it; you shall be chief. As many tents as are under me, I give them all to you to command,” he was told by each of those four chiefs.

(116) êkwa ispiciw. ê-otihtahk ê-wîhkwêstêyiki mîkiwâhpa, pîhtêyask nitawi-mânokêyiwa ôhi okimâwa, ê-atoskâkot. osâm mistahi ê-kî-kitimâkisit mâskôc mistahi kâ-ôh-okimâwit, kâ-ôh-atoskêt.

(116) Then he moved camp to that place. When he came to where the tents stood in a circle, those chieftains set up a lodge in the center, doing the work for him. No doubt it was because he had been so poor, that he became chief, that he worked.

(117) êkosi kahkiyaw.

(117) That is all.

Footnotes

¹CHECK nah

²LB on tahpotêw: Probably takohtêw: “he came back to the house.”

³LB's translation merged into first sentence of next paragraph.

⁴LB on pêtâyiw: Probably an error.

⁵LB on kîh-kîsihtâwâw: Wrongly recorded; probably I overheard the prefix ni-: “I”.

⁶CHECK ?? kîsihtaw ?