Chapter V: Stories by the Scout’s Mother-In-Law

One day Two-Bear-Woman, mother of the scout’s wife, came to our ranch. She pitched her lodge in the meadow, not far from my bed on the river bank. After dark I watched it, glowing with yellow light from an inside fire. And, when the dying fire made shadows dance on the lodge wall, there was an air of mystery about her tepee. At night I heard the old woman praying and chanting weird songs of old days, in a quavering voice and beating on a tom-tom. The sound was mournful and made me feel sad; I lay awake and listened until late in the night.

Two-Bear-Woman was the widow of a famous medicine man named Four Bears. She was said to have occult powers and was looked upon as a wise woman. She could see visions, dream dreams, doctor, and do mysterious things. She was something of a shrew, with sharp tongue and quick temper, but industrious and skilled in all the arts of Indian women—tanning, making clothes and lodges, and the knowledge of herbs and plants.

The scout never went near the lodge of his mother-in-law, nor could she visit her daughter while her son-in-law was at home, according to tribal custom. A mother-in-law had no dealings with her son-in-law, nor could they even speak to each other.

So I went with White Antelope to call upon the old woman. One evening by her lodge-fire she talked about her husband. She said he was a man of influence and stood high in the tribe. When danger threatened, the chiefs used to call upon him for help. As head medicine man it was his custom to officiate at tribal meetings and ceremonies. He was mediator between the Great Spirit and his people. He fasted and prayed and helped the tribe by means of his supernatural power. He was both prophet and priest. Besides being a man of mystery, he had a reputation as a doctor. His power to heal came from the buffalo through a vision, after long fasting and prayer. When he doctored, he wore an old buffalo robe decorated with a yellow buffalo head. He carried a medicine drum which was painted yellow, also his body, with a crescent on his forehead for the moon and marks over his temples for sun dogs. He wore a wonderful belt which had supernatural power, an otter-skin to keep him young and an eagle feather to ward off danger in battle. The old woman said that after the death of her husband his ghost had come every night to protect her from harm.

Then, as we sat and smoked and the fire burned low, Two-Bear-Woman told legends and stories. She liked blood-curdling tales and gloated over one of a warrior who went mad.

THE WARRIOR WHO ATE HIS FOOT

“Long ago, two warriors named Arrow Top and Black Horse went to war
against their enemies the Crow Indians. They left home in the early
summer and did not start back until it was time for snow in the
autumn. They had a hard time; the weather was bad and their food
gave out. One evening at dark, they came to two old shelters made
of willow branches, which stood close together. It was snowing and
cold, and they were tired and hungry. They had no food, so each
crawled into a shelter and lay down to sleep.

“In the night Arrow Top was wakened by a queer sound—his friend was
hacking with his knife. Then he smacked his lips and drew in his
breath, saying: ‘Mmmmmm, this foot is fine, it is tender and juicy
and has a good taste.’

“He shouted: ‘Hai there! Arrow Top! Come and eat. I have plenty of
meat. This leg is tender and juicy; I have a good slice for you.’

“Then Arrow Top peeped into the other shelter and saw a terrible
sight. His friend was covered with blood. He had cut off his own
foot and was roasting a piece of the flesh over a fire. Then he
hacked at his leg, and when there was nothing left but the bone, he
began digging out the marrow with his knife.

“Again he called, and getting no answer he shouted: ‘Arrow Top, I
say, come and join in my feast; I have saved a fine piece of juicy
meat for you.’

“By this time day was beginning to dawn and Arrow Top tried to run
away. But Black Horse saw him and followed; it was a cold night and
the blood of his wounded leg froze. He ran on his mangled stump,
shouting for his friend to wait. He begged him not to go and leave
him alone.

“Arrow Top was so frightened he climbed a tree and tried to hide in
the branches. But Black Horse saw him. He was so mad he foamed at
the mouth. He came to the tree and shouted:

“‘You dog-face, I see you there. I asked you to come and eat with
me, but you ran away and left me to die. You can’t escape me. I am
going to catch you now and kill you.’

“He struck at Arrow Top with his knife and tried to climb the tree.
He fell down because of his mangled leg; he got so mad he ran at
the tree. He kicked the trunk with the sharp bone of his leg, until
it stuck fast in a crack. He wept and raved; he twisted and turned
and tried to tear himself loose.

“Then Arrow Top jumped from the tree and struck out for home. He
did not stop running until he came to the camp. He told his story
to the head men and they took a band of warriors. They found Black
Horse dead, with the sharp bone of his leg still fast in the crack
of the tree.”