There was an old woman in this camp who lived all alone, in a little lodge of her own.  She had some friends and relations, but she said she liked to live by herself.  She had heard that a Piegan had been captured, and went to the lodge where he was.  When she saw them pour the boiling water on him, she cried and felt badly.  This old woman had a very good heart.  She went home and lay down by her dog, and kept crying, she felt so sorry for this poor man.  Pretty soon she heard people shouting out the orders of the chief.  They said:  “Listen! listen!  To-morrow we move camp.  Get ready now and pack up everything.  Before we go, the Piegan man will be given to the Sun.”

Then the old woman knew what to do.  She tied a piece of buckskin around her dog’s mouth, so he could not bark, and then she took him way out in the timber and tied him where he could not be seen.  She also filled a small sack with pemmican, dried meat, and berries, and put it near the dog.

In the morning the people rose early.  They smoothed a cotton-wood tree, by taking off the bark, and painted it black.  Then they stood the Piegan up against it, and fastened him there with a great many ropes.  When they had tied him so he could not move, they painted his face black, and the chief Snake made a prayer, and gave him to the Sun.

Every one was now busy getting ready to move camp.  This old woman had lost her dog, and kept calling out for him and looking all around. “Tsis’-i!” she cried. “Tsis’-i! Come here.  Knock the dog on the head![1] Wait till I find him, and I’ll break his neck.”

[Footnote 1:  A Blackfoot curse.]

The people were now all packed up, and some had already started on the trail.  “Don’t wait for me,” the old woman said.  “Go on, I’ll look again for my dog, and catch up with you.”

When all were gone, the old woman went and untied her dog, and then, going up to where the Piegan was tied, she cut the ropes, and he was free.  But already the man was very weak, and he fell down on the ground.  She rubbed his limbs, and pretty soon he felt better.  The old woman was so sorry for him that she cried again, and kissed him.  Then the man cried, too.  He was so glad that some one pitied him.  By and by he ate some of the food the old woman had given him, and felt strong again.  He said to her in signs:  “I am not done.  I shall go back home now, but I will come again.  I will bring all the Piegans with me, and we will have revenge.”

“You say well,” signed the old woman.

“Help me,” again said the man.  “If, on the road you are travelling, this camp should separate, mark the trail my wife takes with a stick.  You, too, follow the party she goes with, and always put your lodge at the far end of the village.  When I return with my people, I will enter your lodge, and tell you what to do.”

“I take your speech,” replied the old woman.  “As you say, so it shall be.”  Then she kissed him again, and started on after her people.  The man went to the river, swam across, and started for the North.