Atondido Stories
the youth a very wondrous belt to fasten around his waist.
The animals and birds, one after the other, gave him gladly of
their power. Porcupine gave him quills with which to decorate
his leather belt and his bonnet, and he said, "I too will aid you,
and when you make war I will be near you. I can make my ene-
mies as weak as children, and they always flee when I approach,
for they fear the shooting of my quills. When you meet your foes
you will always overcome them, for I give you power as it was
given to me."
And Bear said, "I will give you my toughness and my
strength, and a strip of fur for your leather belt and your coat.
And when you are in danger, I will not be far away."
Then Deer said, "I give you my swiftness so that you may be
fleet of foot. And when you pursue your enemies you will al-
ways overtake them, and should you flee from them, you will al-
ways out-run them in the race."
Then the birds spoke again, and Crane said, "I give you a
bone from my wing to make a war-whistle to frighten your ene-
mies away or to summon your people to your assistance when
you need them. And I give you my wings for your head-dress."
The giant Eagle then spoke and said, "Oh, youth, I will be with
you wherever you go, and I will give you my strength and my
power in war. And even as I do, you will always see your ene-
mies from afar, and you can always escape them if you so de-
sire." And he gave him a large bunch of wonderful eagle feathers
to tie in his hair as a token of his fidelity.
And finally, Wild-Cat said, "I give you my power to crawl
stealthily through the grass and the underbrush and to spring
unexpectedly on your foes and take them unawares. And I give
you too my power of hiding from my enemies." And he gave
him strips of his fur to decorate his clothing in token of his
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