The Badger and the Bear · page 21 2101There was one, however, who did not even smile.102He was the youngest cub.103His fur coat was not as black and glossy as those his elders wore.104The hair was dry and dingy.105It looked much more like kinky wool.106He was the ugly cub.107Poor little baby bear! he had always been laughed at by his older brothers.108He could not help being himself.109He could not change the differences between himself and his brothers.110Thus again, though the rest laughed aloud at the badger's fall, he did not see the joke.111His face was long and earnest.112In his heart he was sad to see the badgers crying and starving.113In his breast spread a burning desire to share his food with them.114“I shall not ask my father for meat to give away.115He would say 'No!'116Then my brothers would laugh at me,” said the ugly baby bear to himself.117In an instant, as if his good intention had passed from him, he was singing happily and skipping around his father at work.118Singing in his small high voice and dragging his feet in long strides after him, as if a prankish spirit oozed out from his heels, he strayed off through the tall grass.119He was ambling toward the small round hut.120When directly in front of the entrance way, he made a quick side kick with his left hind leg.121Lo! there fell into the badger's hut a piece of fresh meat.122It was tough meat, full of sinews, yet it was the only piece he could take without his father's notice.123Thus having given meat to the hungry badgers, the ugly baby bear ran quickly away to his father again.124On the following day the father badger came back once more.125He stood watching the big bear cutting thin slices of meat.126“Give--” he began, when the bear turning upon him with a growl, thrust him cruelly aside.127The badger fell on his hands.128He fell where the grass was wet with the blood of the newly carved buffalo.129His keen starving eyes caught sight of a little red clot lying bright upon the green.130Looking fearfully toward the bear and seeing his head was turned away, he snatched up the small thick blood.131Underneath his girdled blanket he hid it in his hand.132On his return to his family, he said within himself: “I'll pray the Great Spirit to bless it.”133Thus he built a small round lodge.134Sprinkling water upon the heated heap of sacred stones within, he made ready to purge his body.135“The buffalo blood, too, must be purified before I ask a blessing upon it,” thought the badger.136He carried it into the sacred vapor lodge.137After placing it near the sacred stones, he sat down beside it.138After a long silence, he muttered: “Great Spirit, bless this little buffalo blood.”139Then he arose, and with a quiet dignity stepped out of the lodge.140Close behind him some one followed.141The badger turned to look over his shoulder and to his great joy he beheld a Dakota brave in handsome buckskins.142In his hand he carried a magic arrow.143Across his back dangled a long fringed quiver.144In answer to the badger's prayer, the avenger had sprung from out the red globules.145“My son!” exclaimed the badger with extended right hand.146“How, father,” replied the brave; “I am your avenger!”147Immediately the badger told the sad story of his hungry little ones and the stingy bear.148Listening closely the young man stood looking steadily upon the ground.149At length the father badger moved away.150“Where?” queried the avenger.151“My son, we have no food.152I am going again to beg for meat,” answered the badger.153“Then I go with you,” replied the young brave.154This made the old badger happy.155He was proud of his son.156He was delighted to be called “father” by the first human creature.157The bear saw the badger coming in the distance.158He narrowed his eyes at the tall stranger walking beside him.159He spied the arrow.160At once he guessed it was the avenger of whom he had heard long, long ago.161As they approached, the bear stood erect with a hand on his thigh.162He smiled upon them.163“How, badger, my friend!164Here is my knife.165Cut your favorite pieces from the deer,” said he, holding out a long thin blade.166“How!” said the badger eagerly.167He wondered what had inspired the big bear to such a generous deed.168The young avenger waited till the badger took the long knife in his hand.169Gazing full into the black bear's face, he said: “I come to do justice.170You have returned only a knife to my poor father.checked by a teacher171Now return to him his dwelling.”172His voice was deep and powerful.173In his black eyes burned a steady fire.174The long strong teeth of the bear rattled against each other, and his shaggy body shook with fear.175“Ahow!” cried he, as if he had been shot.176Running into the dwelling he gasped, breathless and trembling, “Come out, all of you!checked by a teacher177This is the badger's dwelling.178We must flee to the forest for fear of the avenger who carries the magic arrow.”179Out they hurried, all the bears, and disappeared into the woods.180Singing and laughing, the badgers returned to their own dwelling.181Then the avenger left them.182“I go,” said he in parting, “over the earth.”1 2← previousIktomi and the Fawnnext →The Tree-bound↑ back to Old Indian LegendsThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg338/7/page/2/