When Mika’pi had come to the Great Place of Falling Water,[A] it began to rain hard, and, looking about for a place to sleep, he saw a hole in the rocks and crept in and lay down at the farther end.  The rain did not stop, and when it grew dark he could not travel because of the darkness and the storm, so he lay down to sleep again; but before he had fallen asleep he heard something at the mouth of the cave, and then something creeping toward him.  Then soon something touched his breast, and he put out his hand and felt a person.  Then he sat up.

     [Footnote A:  The Great Falls of the Missouri.]

Mika’pi stretched out his hand and put its palm on the person’s breast and moved his hand quickly from side to side, and then touched the person with the point of his finger, which in sign language means, “Who are you?” The stranger took Mika’pi’s hand and made him feel of his own right hand.  The thumb and fingers were closed except the forefinger, which was extended.  When Mika’pi’s hand was on the stranger’s hand the person moved his hand forward with a zigzag motion, meaning Snake.

Mika’pi was glad.  Here had come to him one of the tribe he was seeking, yet he thought it better to wait for a time before fighting him; so when, in signs, the Snake asked Mika’pi who he was he replied, by making the sign for paddling a canoe, that he was a River person, for he knew that the Snakes and the River people, or Pend d’Oreilles, were at peace.  Then the two lay down for the night, but Mika’pi did not sleep.  Through the long night he watched for the first light, so that he might kill his enemy; and just at daybreak Mika’pi, without noise, strung his bow, fitted an arrow to the string, and sent the thin shaft through his enemy’s heart.  The Snake half rose up and fell back dead.  Mika’pi scalped him, took his bow and arrows and his bundle of moccasins, and went out of the cave and looked all about.  Daylight had come, but no one was in sight.  Perhaps, like himself, the Snake had gone to war alone.  Mika’pi did not forget to be careful because he had been fortunate.  He travelled only a little way, and then hid himself and waited for night before going on.  After drinking from the river he ate and, climbing up on a high rock wall, he slept.

He dreamed that he fought with strange people and was wounded.  He felt blood trickling from his wounds, and when he awoke he knew that he had been warned to turn back.  Other signs were bad.  He saw an eagle rising carrying a snake, which dropped from its claws.  The setting sun too was painted, a sure warning that danger was near.  In spite of all these things Mika’pi determined to go on.  He thought of the poor widows mourning; he thought of welcome of the people if he should return with scalps; he thought also of two young sisters whom he wished to marry.  If he could return with proof of brave deeds, they would think well of him.

Mika’pi travelled onward.