Once more the smell of roasting meat.  The children played.  They talked and laughed who had so long been silent.  They ate plenty and lay down and slept.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sun rose, they took down their lodge, packed up, and started for the strange camp.  They found it was a wonderful place.  There by the pis’kun, and far up and down the valley were the lodges of meat-eaters.  They could not see them all, but close by they saw the lodges of the Bear band, the Fox band, and the Badger band.  The father of the young man who had given them meat was chief of the Wolf band, and by that band they pitched their lodge.  Ah!  That was a happy place.  Food there was plenty.  All day people shouted out for feasts, and everywhere was heard the sound of drums and song and dancing.

The new-comers went to the pis’kun for meat, and one of the children found an arrow lying on the ground.  It was a beautiful arrow, the stone point long and sharp, the shaft round and straight.  All around the people were busy; no one was looking.  The boy picked up the arrow and hid it under his robe.  Then there was a fearful noise.  All the animals howled and growled, and ran toward him.  But the chief Wolf said:  “Hold!  We will let him go this time; for he is young yet, and not of good sense.”  So they let him go.

When night came, some one shouted out for a feast, saying:  “Wo’-ka-hit!  Wo’-ka-hit!  Mah-kwe’-i-ke-tum-ok-ah-wah-hit.  Ke-t[)u]k’-ka-p[)u]k’-si-pim." ("Listen!  Listen!  Wolf, you are to feast.  Enter with your friend.”) “We are asked,” said the chief Wolf to his new friend, and together they went to the lodge.

Within, the fire burned brightly, and many men were already there, the old and wise of the Raven band.  Hanging behind the seats were the writings[1] of many deeds.  Food was placed before them,—­pemmican of berries and dried back fat; and when they had eaten, a pipe was lighted.  Then spoke the Raven chief:  “Now, Wolf, I am going to give our new friend a present.  What say you?”

[Footnote 1:  That is, the painting on cowskin of the various battles and adventures in which the owner of the lodge had taken part.]

“It is as you say,” replied the Wolf.  “Our new friend will be glad.”

Then the Raven chief took from the long parfleche sack a slender stick, beautifully dressed with many colored feathers; and on the end of it was fastened the skin of a raven, head, wings, feet, and all.  “We,” he said, “are the Mas-to-pah’-ta-kiks (Raven carriers, or those who bear the Raven).  Of all the above animals, of all the flyers, where is one so smart?  None.  The Raven’s eyes are sharp.  His wings are strong.  He is a great hunter and never hungry.  Far, far off on the prairie he sees his food, and deep hidden in the pines it does not escape his eye.  Now the song and the dance.”