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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
hunt as usual。 Toward evening all had returned safely； save the brother
who went in search of the absent。 Again； the next older brother went to
look for the others； and he too returned no more。 All the young men
disap… peared one by one in this manner； leaving their sister alone。
〃The maiden's sorrow was very great。 She wan… dered everywhere；
weeping and looking for her brothers； but found no trace of them。 One
day she was walking beside a beautiful little stream； whose clear waters
went laughing and singing on their way。 She could see the gleaming
pebbles at the bottom； and one in particular seemed so lovely to her tear…
bedimmed eyes； that she stooped and picked it up； dropping it within her
skin garment into her bosom。 For the first time since her misfortunes she
had forgotten herself and her sorrow。
〃At last she went home； much happier than she had been； though she
could not have told the reason why。 On the following day she sought
again the place where she had found the pebble； and this time she fell
asleep on the banks of the stream； When she awoke； there lay a beautiful
babe in her bosom。
〃She took it up and kissed it many times。 And the child was a boy；
but it was heavy like a stone； so she called him a 'Little Stone Boy。' The
maiden cried no more； for she was very happy with her baby。 The child
was unusually knowing； and walked almost from its birth。
〃One day Stone Boy discovered the bow and arrows of one of his
uncles； and desired to have them； but his mother cried； and said：
〃'Wait； my son； until you are a young man。' 〃She made him some little
ones； and with these he soon learned to hunt； and killed small game
enough to support them both。 When he had grown to be a big boy； he
insisted upon knowing whose were the ten bows that still hung upon the
walls of his mother's lodge。
〃At last she was obliged to tell him the sad story of her loss。
〃'Mother； I shall go in search of my uncles；' exclaimed the Stone Boy。
〃'But you will be lost like them；' she replied； 'and then I shall die of
grief。'
〃'No； I shall not be lost。 I shall bring your ten brothers back to you。
Look； I will give you a sign。 I will take a pillow； and place it upon end。
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Watch this； for as long as I am living the pillow will stay as I put it。
Mother； give me some food and some moccasins with which to travel！'
〃Taking the bow of one of his uncles； with its quiver full of arrows； the
Stone Boy departed。 As he journeyed through the forest he spoke to
every animal he met； asking for news of his lost uncles。 Sometimes he
called to them at the top of his voice。 Once he thought he heard an
answer； so he walked in the direction of the sound。 But it was only a
great grizzly bear who had wantonly mimicked the boy's call。 Then
Stone Boy was greatly provoked。
〃'Was it you who answered my call； you long… face？' he exclaimed。
〃Upon this the latter growled and said：
〃'You had better be careful how you address me； or you may be sorry
for what you say！'
〃'Who cares for you； you red…eyes； you ugly thing！' the boy replied；
whereupon the grizzly immediately set upon him。
〃But the boy's flesh became as hard as stone； and the bear's great teeth
and claws made no im… pression upon it。 Then he was so dreadfully
heavy； and he kept laughing all the time as if he were being tickled； which
greatly aggravated the bear。 Finally Stone Boy pushed him aside and
sent an arrow to his heart。
〃He walked on for some distance until he came to a huge fallen pine
tree； which had evi… dently been killed by lightning。 The ground near by
bore marks of a struggle； and Stone Boy picked up several arrows exactly
like those of his uncles； which he himself carried。
〃While he was examining these things； he heard a sound like that of a
whirlwind； far up in the heavens。 He looked up and saw a black speck
which grew rapidly larger until it became a dense cloud。 Out of it came a
flash and then a thunderbolt。 The boy was obliged to wink； and when he
opened his eyes； behold！ a stately man stood before him and challenged
him to single combat。
〃Stone Boy accepted the challenge and they grappled with one another。
The man from the clouds was gigantic in stature and very powerful。 But
Stone Boy was both strong and unnaturally heavy and hard to hold。 The
great warrior from the sky sweated from his exertions； and there came a
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
heavy shower。 Again and again the lightnings flashed about them as the
two strug… gled there。 At last Stone Boy threw his oppo… nent； who lay
motionless。 There was a murmur… ing sound throughout the heavens and
the clouds rolled swiftly away。
〃'Now；' thought the hero； 'this man must have slain all my uncles。 I
shall go to his home and find out what has become of them。' With this he
un… fastened from the dead man's scalp…lock a beauti… ful bit of scarlet
down。 He breathed gently upon it； and as it floated upward he followed
into the blue heavens。
〃Away went Stone Boy to the country of the Thunder Birds。 It was a
beautiful land； with lakes； rivers； plains and mountains。 The young
adventurer found himself looking down from the top of a high mountain；
and the country appeared to be very populous； for he saw lodges all about
him as far as the eye could reach。 He particu… larly noticed a majestic
tree which towered above all the others； and in its bushy top bore an enor…
mous nest。 Stone Boy descended from the moun… tain and soon arrived
at the foot of the tree； but there were no limbs except those at the top and
it was so tall that he did not attempt to climb it。 He simply took out his
bit of down； breathed upon it and floated gently upward。
〃When he was able to look into the nest he saw there innumerable
eggs of various sizes； and all of a remarkable red color。 He was nothing
but a boy after all； and had all a boy's curiosity and reck… lessness。 As he
was handling the eggs carelessly； his notice was attracted to a sudden
confusion in the little village below。 All of the people seemed to be
running toward the tree。 He mischievously threw an egg at them； and in
the instant that it broke he saw one of the men drop dead。 Then all began
to cry out pitifully； 'Give me my heart！'
〃'Ah；' exclaimed Stone Boy； exulting；' so these are the hearts of the
people who destroyed my uncles！ I shall break them all！'
〃And he really did break all of the eggs but four small ones which he
took in his hand。 Then he descended the tree； and wandered among the
silent and deserted lodges in search of some trace of his lost uncles。 He
found four little boys； the sole survivors of their race； and these he com…
manded to tel