🧚 Thunder Maker and Cold Maker

In ancient times, before horses had come from the south and been taught to bear burdens, the people did not move camp often, but remained in one place so long as sufficient game could be found to furnish food.1 They shrank from taking down their lodges and travelling over the prairie to fresh hunting-grounds, for their dogs could not pack everything, and they themselves were forced to carry heavy loads on their backs.2 One season they had hunted on a little stream in the foot-hills since early spring.3 The summer passed, the leaves began to fall, and with the approach of winter the great herds of buffalo slowly grazed out on the plains, and finally disappeared to the eastward.4 Hardy and warmly furred as they were they feared the deep snow and the cold of the mountain country.5

When the last of the buffalo had gone, a great hunter named Low Wolf thought that it was also time for him to move.6 He said to the chiefs: “Come, now, the buffalo have gone; they are our food; let us too move away from the mountains and follow them.”7

But the chiefs said they would not break camp for a while.8 “Snow will not fall for one or two moons,” they said, “and there are still plenty of elk, deer, moose, and other small game close by.9 Do not be impatient.10 Let us wait.”11

Low Wolf would not listen to them.12 “No,” he said, “I am not a hunter of small game.13 The buffalo are my living, and to-morrow I shall follow them, even if I go alone.”14

The people thought that he was joking; but the next morning they learned that he meant what he said, for when they arose they saw that already his lodge had been taken down, and his wife and daughter were busy packing the dogs and lashing the travois on them.15

“Hold on,” said the chiefs, coming up; “why all this hurry?16 It is not safe for you to go alone.17 It is not right for you to take your wife and daughter out on the lonely plains.18 Think of all the dangers.19 Wait until we are ready to move.”20

“What the Low Wolf has said cannot be unsaid,” he replied.21 “I told you that to-day I should start after the buffalo, and now I am going.”22

For several days the little family travelled eastward along the valley of the evergrowing stream, but found no buffalo.23 Then they turned northeast, and after four nights on the wide prairie saw before them another valley.24 Buffalo were all around them now, and Low Wolf said that if they could find plenty of timber and water he would be content to stay in this place until spring.25 There was a large river flowing through the valley, and along its banks grew groves of large cotton-woods and willows.26 At the edge of one of these groves the dogs were unpacked and the lodge put up where it was protected from the wind.27 That night, as the little family sat about the fire eating fat buffalo ribs, Low Wolf said: “Ah, how foolish were the people not to come with me; here we have a fine sheltered camp, plenty of wood, and on all sides the buffalo darken the prairie.28 Besides, down here it is still summer weather, while up there where they are it is already freezing at night.”29

The days passed happily.30 Every morning Low Wolf went out to hunt, and his wife and daughter dried the meat that he brought in, tanned soft robes for sleeping and for covering, and cut great piles of fire-wood against the cold of approaching winter.31

One evening, Plover Call, the daughter, went out to gather the night’s wood, and while she was lashing a pile of it to carry in she happened to look up, and saw standing near a man wearing his robe hair side out.32 He was facing the river, his back towards her, but she supposed it was her father, although it seemed strange that he should follow her out into the timber, as there were no signs of any enemy about.33

“What are you doing there?” she asked.34 “Come, I have gathered my wood; let us go home.”35

The man turned towards her and lowered his robe from his face, and she saw that he was a stranger—a handsome young man, with light-colored hair and a white face.36 Strangely enough she was not afraid of him, for he had a kind face, and his blue eyes looked pleasant.37

“Ah,” he said, as he slowly drew near where she stood, “I have come from a far land.38 I have left my people, for something told me to go in search of a wife.39 When I saw you I knew that you were the one I was meant to find.40 Let us live together.”41

Plover Call forgot her wood as she looked at him.42 “Come with me to our lodge,” she said at last, “and I will find out if it may be as you ask.”43 When they came to it she told him to stand outside for a little.44

“Father, mother,” she said, as she entered the doorway, “I have found a young man out in the woods who wishes to marry me; are you willing that he should?”45

“Is he strong and active?” asked Low Wolf.46

“Is he well clothed and good-looking?” the mother inquired.47

“Oh,” said the girl, “he is everything you ask, and more; he is even strange-looking, for he has a white face, and his hair is the color of last year’s prairie grass.”48

“Well,” said Low Wolf, “it matters not about his looks, so long as he is an active man; yet it is strange that he is so different from us.49 Tell him to come in.”50

Plover Call went to the doorway and beckoned to the young man, and when he had entered, her father and mother motioned him to a seat, and soon began to talk to him, asking many questions.51 The young man replied readily to all of them, so after he had considered for a time, Low Wolf concluded to give him his daughter.52 The next day she and her mother began to make a new lodge, and as soon as it was finished, put up and stored with robes and clothing, food and other things, the two were married.53

“I am glad that you came,” the father said to the young man, “and glad to give you my good daughter.54 We will not be so lonely now, and if the enemy should come there will be two of us to fight them.”55

The fourth day after the young couple were married and had moved into the new lodge, the stranger arose early, and after a hurried meal told Plover Call that he intended to go hunting.56 His wife was pleased, and said that he must bring in a deer, for she wished to tan the skin and make him some moccasins.57

He picked up his bow-case and quiver, slung it on his back and started, and shortly after he left the lodge, low, continuous rumbling of thunder was heard, beginning quite near the lodges, and finally dying away in the distance.58 Plover Call and her parents came out of their lodges, looked around, and were surprised to see that there was not a cloud in the sky; and again it was the wrong time of year for thunder.59 Moreover, the young man was not to be seen in any direction, although he had gone but a moment before.60 It was all very strange.61

Evening came; the sun had gone down, and the shadow of night covered the valley, when again thunder was heard, this time far away at first, and then coming nearer.62 Then presently Plover Call heard something heavy fall by the doorway, and her husband entering, said: “Well, I got the deer for you.63 There it lies just outside.”64

The young woman was uneasy; she went over and consulted her father.65

“Surely mysterious things are happening about here,” said Low Wolf, “and I suspect your husband is not what he seems to be.66 Anyhow, it is well to be on the safe side; do not eat any of the deer he brought in.”67

The young woman went back to her lodge, cut some meat from the deer, and cooked it for her husband.68 While he was eating she skinned the animal, cut it into quarters, and hung it out on a near-by bush.69 After the evening meal was over her father came in, and the two men talked for a long time about hunting and war, and her husband told interesting stories about his people.70 Listening to him, both Plover Call and her father were ashamed of their fears, and resolved to make amends by treating the young man as kindly as they knew how.71