🧚 Thunder Maker and Cold Maker · page 2

The next day the wind changed to the north, and there came a light fall of snow; no hunting was done.72 The following morning Plover Call’s husband again started out with his bow and arrows, and, as before, as soon as he left it thundered for a long time.73 The fears of the little family were again aroused, and when at night the young man returned after a long rumbling of thunder, they were all frightened, and feared that something dreadful was about to happen.74 The hunter had brought in another deer and told how he had killed it, and where he had been hunting.75

“Why,” said Low Wolf, “I was out there, too, this morning; it is strange I did not see you.76 I should have seen your tracks anyhow.”77

They learned the next day that he made no tracks.78 When he started out they watched him; he took four steps from the lodge door, and then suddenly vanished, the thunder beginning again and rumbling away into the distance.79 As he disappeared, a strange-looking bird was seen flying the way the thunder was muttering.80 Then they knew that this person was really the thunder bird, and their hearts were filled with a great fear.81

Four times the strange husband went hunting, always disappearing at the lodge door in his mysterious way, always accompanied by thunder, going and coming, never leaving any footprints beyond the lodge.82 Yet when at home he was just like any other young man, light-hearted, sociable, and kind to his wife.83 The morning after his fourth hunt he said that he must go and visit his people.84

“It is a very long distance that I must travel,” he said to them, “and I may be away many moons; but do not worry, for I shall return as soon as I can.”85 With that he left the lodge, and peering through the folds of the doorway, they saw him vanish as before, and as the thunder rolled, saw the bird flying out across the valley, over the rim of the plain towards the south.86

The moons came, grew, and went, but Plover Call’s husband did not return.87 She was glad of it, and so were her parents, for they all feared his terrible, mysterious ways.88

One evening the young woman was again chopping wood by the river, and, again looking up, she saw a man standing near her, wearing his robe hair side out.89 Again she thought it was her father, but when she addressed him he turned around, and she saw it was a stranger.90 At first she was sure it was her husband, but as he lowered his robe she saw that he was dark-faced and black-haired like herself.91 “Who are you?” she asked.92 “Why are you here?”93

“I am of your race,” he said, “but from a far-away tribe.94 I am seeking a wife; will you marry me?”95

Plover Call would not answer his question, but told him to go with her to her parents’ lodge.96 Low Wolf decided that she might marry the stranger at once.97 “The other one,” he said, “that Thunder Maker, has been gone a long time, and I am sure he will never return.98 We need another drawer of the bow in case of attack, so put up your lodge again and try to live happily.”99

Although he had appeared rather strangely, and, like the Thunder Maker, had said he came from a far country, there was nothing that seemed either odd or mysterious about Plover Call’s new husband.100 He hunted with her father, prayed to Nápi, the creator, as she did, and in no respect was different from any young Blackfoot she knew.101 He was very kind and gentle, and the girl soon loved him with all her heart.102 They lived together very happily.103 One day, as he sat in the lodge making some arrows, the distant rumbling of thunder was heard.104

“Go!” his wife cried.105 “Leave here at once; the man I told you of is returning.”106

“I will not leave this lodge,” said he, calmly, “for the Thunder person, nor any one else.”107

“But you must,” she replied; “he will be angry; and oh, I fear him.108 Listen! he is coming nearer.109 Hurry away before it is too late.”110

“Ah,” said her husband, “you do not love me, or you would not ask this.”111

“It is because I do love you that I want to have you go.”112

“Say no more,” he replied; “now that I know you love me, I shall surely stay.113 I do not fear him.”114

Suddenly the curtain of the doorway was thrown back and the Thunder Maker bounded into the lodge.115 He was very angry.116 Streams of lightning flashed continuously from his eyes.117 Sheets of ill-smelling smoke, mingled with blue flame, rolled in waves from his body.118 Plover Call shut her eyes, nearly fainting at the dreadful sight, and her heart stood still from fear.119

“What are you doing here?” he cried to the man calmly scraping his arrows.120 “What are you doing here in my lodge?121 Go at once, or I will kill you where you sit.”122

“Do you go yourself,” the other replied, “or it will be the worse for you.123 This is my house, and this woman whom you deserted is my wife.”124

Thunder Maker sprang into the air in fury, and more fearfully than ever the lightning flashed from his eyes.125 Raising his hand to strike, he stepped suddenly towards his enemy, but the man as quickly held up some soft, white, downy eagle feathers, and blew them from his hand, and a terrible cold, biting wind filled the lodge.126 Thunder Maker fell back.127 The wind increased, and the lodge shook as if it would be blown away.128 Fine, sharp, stinging frost-flakes hissed in through the doorway and from under the edges of the lodge skins.129 Colder and colder it grew; and, trembling, quivering, his lips blue, his teeth chattering, Thunder Maker staggered to a bed and fell upon it.130

“You have beaten me; your power is greater than mine,” he cried.131 “Oh, Cold Maker, have pity!”132

For Plover Call’s new husband was Cold Maker, he who brings the fierce storms, the biting wind, and drifting, whirling snow from out the north.133 And now, as he saw his enemy gasping, shaking, and begging for mercy, as he lay on the bed, he laughed.134 “Will you promise never to return; never to trouble us again?” he asked.135 “I will go, I will go,” groaned the other.136 “You promise?137 Then go, and be sure you keep your word.”138

The cold wind and the hazy frost ceased as suddenly as they had come.139 Thunder Maker staggered to his feet.140 He reeled out of the lodge.141 Lightning no longer flashed from his eyes.142 The blue flame and stifling smoke no longer rolled from his person.143 He looked very poor and sick as he disappeared.144

Now that Plover Call knew who her new husband really was, she was not at all afraid of him, although he was one of the deathless ones, who, for the time, had taken the form of man.145 They continued to live happily together, and when summer came he went with her and her parents, and joined the great camp of the Blackfeet.146

Often Cold Maker said to her people that he could not remain with them always, but he never told them when he should go away.147 “After I have gone,” he said once, “I will try to warn you of the approach of a cold storm.148 When you see a raven flying about in the winter, and crying its loud notes, look out, for the cold storm will be near.”149

After many years Plover Call died of old age, and Cold Maker mourned.150 “He will leave us now,” the people said.151 They were right.152 One day he disappeared and was seen no more.153 But his words were not forgotten.154 Since that time they have named the raven after him.155 Even to this day the raven comes to give warning of an approaching storm.156