Part 7 (1/2)
She believed that her influence had helped to regulate and develop the characters of her sons to the height of savage nobility and strength of e that Uncheedah intended to give a feast in honor of her grandchild's first sacrificial offering
This was hted old woman had determined to keep this part of theshould be co that the ”Great Mystery” should beinto the lodge, followed by his dog Ohitika agging his tail promiscuously, as if to say: ”Master and I are really hunters!”
Hakadah breathlessly gave a descriptive narrative of the killing of each bird and squirrel as he pulled therandmother
”This blunt-headed arrow,” said he, ”actually had eyes this e around the tree it strikes hiround, my Ohitika is upon him”
He knelt upon one knee as he talked, his black eyes shi+ning like evening stars
”Sit down here,” said Uncheedah to the boy; ”I have so to say to you You see that you are now alhtbefore you will leave reat a his people
”You randfather,” she went on
”They arriors and feast-makers But it is not the poor hunter who end of the Feast-Maker,'
who gave forty feasts in twelve otten the story of the warrior who sought the will of the Great Mystery? To-day you willsentence fairly dilated the eyes of the young hunter, for he felt that a great event was about to occur, in which he would be the principal actor But Uncheedah resus-whichever is dearest to you--for this is to be a sacrificial offering”
This somewhat confused the boy; not that he was selfish, but rather uncertain as to ould be the ive Then, too, he supposed that his grands only So he volunteered:
”I can give up my best bow and arrows, and all the paints I have, and--and rands dearest to you?” she demanded
”Not the bow and arrows, but the paints will be very hard to get, for there are no white people near; and the necklace--it is not easy to get one like it again I will also give up h”
”But think,that will be a pleasant offering to the Great Mystery”
The boy looked into the wo else as good as those things I have narandmother, unless it is my spotted pony; and I am sure that the Great Mystery will not require a little boy to ave three otter-skins and five eagle-feathers for hi while, if the Blackfeet or the Crows do not steal him”
Uncheedah was not fully satisfied with the boy's free offerings Perhaps it had not occurred to him what she really wanted But Uncheedah knehere his affection was vested His faithful dog, his pet and co beast
She was sure that it would be difficult to obtain his consent to sacrifice the animal, but she ventured upon a final appeal
”Youyou will call upon him who looks at you from every creation In the wind you hear hiives his hoop in the thunder He watches you by day with his eye, the sun; at night, he gazes upon your sleeping countenance through the moon In short, it is the Mystery of Mysteries, who controls all things to who By this act, you will ask hiranted to few reat warrior and hunter I am not prepared to see my Hakadah show any cowardice, for the love of possessions is a wo this speech, the boy had been completely aroused to the spirit of ive up anything he had--even his pony! But he was un! So, scarcely had Uncheedah finished speaking, when he alive up any ofto the Great Mystery! Youto him”
There were two silent spectators of this little dialogue One was Wahchewin; the other was Ohitika The wohbor The dog, by force of habit, had taken up his usual position by the side of hisa muscle, save those of his eyes, he had been a very close observer of what passed
Had the dog but moved once to attract the attention of his little friend, he ht have been dissuaded froive up any of my possessions!”
It was hard for Uncheedah to tell the boy that he , but she was equal to the situation
”Hakadah,” she proceeded cautiously, ”you are a young brave I know, though young, your heart is strong and your courage is great You will be pleased to give up the dearest thing you have for your first offering You ive up Ohitika He is brave; and you, too, are brave He will not fear death; you will bear his loss bravely