Atondido Stories
miraculous power. They were very kind to the youth and treated
him with great courtesy.
At last the dancing ceased and the talking stopped, and one
who seemed to be the Chief stood up at the end of the room and
said, "Oh, young stranger, the Great Spirit has heard your pray-
ers, and because of your magic wand we have been sent to you
in these shapes. The creatures you see here are the animals and
birds of the world. I am the Dog, whom the Great Spirit loves
well. I have much power, and my power I shall give to you, and
I shall always protect you and guard you. And even if you
should treat me with cruelty I shall never be unfaithful to you,
nor shall I ever be unkind. But you must take this Dance home
with you and teach it to your people and they must celebrate the
Dance once a year." Then he taught the youth the secrets of their
Dance.
When the youth had learned the Dance, the Chief turned to
his companions and said, "My comrades and brothers, I have
taught the young stranger the secrets of the Dance. I have given
him my own power. Will you not have pity on a creature from
earth and give him some of the power of which you too are pos-
sessed?"
For a long time no one spoke, but at last Owl arose and said,
"I too will help him. I have power to see far in the darkness, and
to hunt by night. When he goes out at night I will be near him
and he shall see a great distance. I give him these feathers to fas-
ten in his hair." And the Owl gave him a bunch of feathers,
which the youth tied to his head.
Then Buffalo came forward and said, "I too will help him. I
will give him my endurance and my strength, and my power to
trample my enemies underfoot. And I give him this belt of
tanned buffalo-hide to wear when he goes to war." And he gave
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