THE BOY AND THE TURTLES

 

 

 

 

A boy went on a turtle hunt, and after following the different

streams for hours, finally came to the conclusion that the only

place he would find any turtles would be at the little lake, where

the tribe always hunted them.

So, leaving the stream he had been following, he cut across country

to the lake. On drawing near the lake he crawled on his hands and

knees in order not to be seen by the turtles, who were very

watchful, as they had been hunted so much. Peeping over the rock

he saw a great many out on the shore sunning themselves, so he very

cautiously undressed, so he could leap into the water and catch

them before they secreted themselves. But on pulling off his

shirt one of his hands was held up so high that the turtles saw it

and jumped into the lake with a great splash.

The boy ran to the shore, but saw only bubbles coming up from the

bottom. Directly the boy saw something coming to the surface, and

soon it came up into sight. It was a little man, and soon others,

by the hundreds, came up and swam about, splashing the water up

into the air to a great height. So scared was the boy that he

never stopped to gather up his clothes but ran home naked and fell

into his grandmother's tent door.

"What is the trouble, grandchild," cried the old woman. But the

boy could not answer. "Did you see anything unnatural?" He shook

his head, "no." He made signs to the grandmother that his lungs

were pressing so hard against his sides that he could not

talk. He kept beating his side with his clenched hands. The

grandmother got out her medicine bag, made a prayer to the Great

Spirit to drive out the evil spirit that had entered her grandson's

body, and after she had applied the medicine, the prayer must have

been heard and answered, as the boy commenced telling her what he

had heard and seen.

The grandmother went to the chief's tent and told what her grandson

had seen. The chief sent two brave warriors to the lake to

ascertain whether it was true or not. The two warriors crept to

the little hill close to the lake, and there, sure enough, the lake

was swarming with little men swimming about, splashing the water

high up into the air. The warriors, too, were scared and hurried

home, and in the council called on their return told what they had

seen. The boy was brought to the council and given the seat of

honor (opposite the door), and was named "Wankan Wanyanka" (sees

holy).

The lake had formerly borne the name of Truth Lake, but from this

time on was called "Wicasa-bde"--Man Lake.