XML version dated February 14, 2024. © Douglas R. Parks, Indiana University.

28

Young Hawk and the Power He Lost

Alfred Morsette

wah koxtunaaʾít tsu niinatuuxItkáʾU niinatuutIt- kookUxuúʾA niiNIštaaʾiiwaátIhu.
Now I'll tell a story, but what I heard what I used to hear when they told stories.
wekohniiNAtkoókuʾ kuNAhúx – natuuxItkawookUxúku – niiNIštaaʾiiwaawaátI.
Maybe it has been heard old men – ones I used to hear – when they used to tell stories.
wetiraáʾiitUxtaaNIhuúʾU wenaraaʾiitUxtaanunáhAs.
There are many stories stories that have been lost.

wah wetatunaaʾiitíštA wiináxtš weniitapsiwaáhnu nooxíniʾ na šíhUx –
Now I am going to tell it a boy his having winters fifteen, –
nooxíniʾ na čiitíʾIš – NAhkuwaawanú.
fourteen – when he went around.
číkuʾ kanawiteeraanaasštáʾIt číkuʾ naawiinakuúnuʾ číkuʾ 
He was not interested in anything, any (on) the warpath just
AhnooNAhkuutaweétA a číkuʾ NAhkutakaraáhNA číkuʾ NAhkuraa- wiinátA.
to go with the party, or to even go hunting, to go hunting at all.
kaakaraanaasštáʾIt.
He was not inter- ested in things.
wiiteešútš NAhkuwanú aahnoo- witipAhiíʾIt
The young man as he went around he was just quiet
wešinehkuhnaaʾiitaWIhú taanikutuúta.
when they would tell him: "This is what one does.
taanikutatohnaakUhuunaawaanuuxuúkuʾ wiítA.
This is the way we do things men.
wiiteešútš weta- ʾaanúʾ číkuʾakuraanaáhNA čeešú wenaRAxáhAt.
A young man you are becoming to have some'way' yourself as you grow up."
kanunaanaasíhtš tinaákUx wiináxtš.
He did not pay attention this boy.

wah niikohnóʾ AhnaraaWIsátA witiwaákoʾ naa- wiinakuúnuʾ koxtíʾAt.
Now whatever it was its happening, then he said: "(On) the warpath I will go."

wewitiraáNAt.
They had already gone.

koxtitatatáʾAt.
"I will follow behind."

witiwaákoʾ hiʾáxtiʾ nawáh waaxtóh tunaahé.
He said his father: "Now certainly it is good.
šikananehkuuNUxtaawiraʾaáhuʾ.
Don't let them get the best of you.
niinakUsaáhNA na niku- tuutaánuʾ čeésuʾ.
Whatever they do, you'll do that yourself."

noowitiiniWIškáwatAt.
Then the war party left the village.
– naawiinakuúnuʾ – wehnaraanátA tsu tinaákUx wiináxtš
– (On) the warpath – after they had gone, but this boy
nootíʾAt wehnuutAhtatataátA.
then he went his following them.

na niinuutaánu a číkuʾ aahnooʾuutaawaanúʾ.
And what he was doing and he just never did anything.
číkuʾ weNAhkuRAhWIsátA– noowitIhaakawáʾAs.
Whenever they arrived– then he would eat.
číkuʾ nuukuwitaahkoo- haáhkakUx.
He sat over there somewhere on the prairie.
witaahkoohaahkaʾá NAhkureewaawatíRA.
He walked on the prairie at a distance as he looked all around.
nikuwituutaánuʾ.
That is what he was doing.

uu a čiišaahkatariíʾI tinaákUx wiináxtš.
Oh, and here he was fleet this boy!

noowitiinakAhíroʾ čiričeeríšuʾ.
Then they picked them out scouts.
weNAhkuRAhkawátAt hináxtIt čiričeeríšuʾ–
When they got out early in the morning the scouts–
weNAhkUxiRAxwaawáNA – na číkuʾ aahnooWIšitiiteéRIt.
when each went here and there in the lead, – and then they just saw something.
– aahnoowiteéʾaʾ.
– Then it just came.
– tinaákUx wiináxtš wenehkuʾá noowitiwáčiʾ Axtóh šitAsiišuunáwaʾ.
– This boy when he came (toward them) then they said: "Surely we left him behind.
Axtóh šitAsiišuunáwaʾ.
Truly we left him behind.
áWAx siinó tuusá wenataraačiričeeRIšá.
A left behind yet he was lying down when we came scouting."

hawá štoh nikuwituúta weNAhkuraanátA.
Also again that's what he did when they went.
tinaaríčI wiináxtš – witítka – weNAhkuraanátA – čiričeeríšuʾ –
This boy – he slept – when they went – the scouts, –
čiitíʾIš wiiteešútš weNAhkuraaniriwátAt wenehkučiričeeRIšátA nehkureewaawatíRA.
four the young men when they got out, when they went scouting when they looked all around.
na noowiteéʾaʾ wenehkuʾá.
And then he came, as he came to them.
na inoó nikuwítiʾ anináʾU wiináxtš.
And there he was the one that boy.
wewitiinaakIsšičiwiniitaánuʾ wešiniiteériku.
They were wondering (ie were bewildered) when they saw him.

wah witiwaákoʾ– wetiihíʾ teškúNIt.– tiweniitúnaah- kUx.
Now he said:– "It is located close by.– Here is a big village.
uu tiituNIhuúʾU.
Oh, it is a big village!"

wah nikuwewitunaaʾiitíhuʾ – natsú – tinawaaríčI wekaakihnaaʾeéRIt.
Now that is what he was now telling – but – these they did not see it (the village).

nooteeRAhkaaʾiíšaʾ.
Then they came back (to the camp).

witiwáčiʾ tiweniitúnaahkUx.
One of them said: "There is a big village here."

wah kaakihneesiíšuʾ.
Now they did not know it.
tinaákUx wiináxtš nikuwe- witiitAhnaaʾiitáWI.
This boy that is what he told them.

witiwaákoʾ tiweniitúnaahkUx.
He said: "There is a large village.
uu tiituNI- huúʾU.
Oh, it is a large village!
wekaakihnaaʾeeríkuʾ tinawaaríčI.
They did not see it these.
wetehčeešaanúʾ niitinatuuxItkáʾU.
They were lying what I heard here."

tinaákUx wiináxtš noowitiwaákoʾ štaNAhnaaninátA wah
This boy then he said: "When you stop to camp, now
nikuʾaaxinaakIsiíšU xaawaarúxtiʾ – wah – šuxtaa- kičinaanuúʾU.
if you prefer (to steal) those horses, – now – make haste!
na parúNIt.
And quickly!"

tinaakUx wiináxtš nootiihuununáhAs.
This boy then he vanished quickly.
kAšiniiteérikuʾ.
They didn't see him.

noowitiraáNAt.
Then they went.
noowitiinákAhu.
Then they got up and went.

teškúNIt wewitiihíʾ.
Close by it was.

noowitiwaákoʾ aniweniitúnaahkUx.
Then he said: "There is the village now.
– uu – tiituNIhuúʾU.
– Oh, – it is a large village."

wah noowitiinakAhíroʾ xaataʾuútuʾ nii-
Now then they picked them out the horse stealers the
šinehkunuutIsštAhkáWI nikukooxíʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ číkuʾ NIhkuranitaawátAt
ones whom they esteemed: "He will be the one horses to pick out some."

tsu wewitiinakAhíroʾ.
But they picked them out.
wewiwitiinawíreehAs.
Now they were ready.

šiišiiNAhniwísaʾ.
"Drive them here!
niineetohnaáka.
We'll do that."

anináʾU wiináxtš noowitiwaákoʾ wah wetiraaneehaáʾAs.
That boy then he said: "Now all is ready.
štápo noowetiwaáRIt teškúNIt.
When you go they are there close by.
xaawaarúxtiʾ neešiišii- NAhnáʾ.
The horses you drive them here!
neešiiséhNAt.
Then we'll drive them.
tinaraahNAhčituuʾaáNA nuu neeširaápoʾ.
When you (pl) get together there then we'll go."

tiwešohniNAhnátA uu xaawaarúxtiʾ tiraaNIhuúʾU.
While they drove them, oh, horses there were many.
WIšitiinaakaʾíwaahAt – niiʾAhnaraanoótA– niiʾAhniinakuníkUx
They herded them in a group – where they were– where they waited
AhniitAhnaanawaʾuuníkUt – xaawaarúxtiʾ – NAhkiičitawiítIt
while they each caught them – a horse – for each one to ride
niinakuhneéRA xaawaarúxtiʾ.
a handsome one horse.

noowitiwaákoʾ ka číkuʾ kananaaxičitawiitíštA čeésuʾ.
Then one said: "Aren't you going to ride any yourself?"

noowitiwaákoʾ wiináxtš kaakíʾ.
Then he said the boy: "No.
niišuxtaapóʾ parúNIt.
You go on quickly!
tuukiišuxtaapóʾ skaweéraaʾuʾ.
Go over there west!
axiraápoʾ hunaahkoohaáhkAt.
Don't go north!
tuukiišuxtaapóʾ skaweéraaʾuʾ.
Go over there west!
tatakuunaahnaaxíštA.
They are going to chase us.
tiraaNIhuúʾU naraána.
There are many when they come."

WIšitiiNAhnáʾAx xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They ran them off the horses.

nuu wenaraána tiihaahtiwiitikUxítIt.
There as they came it began to dawn.

noowitiwaákoʾ tinaaríčI wiináxtš niiháʾ tičiWAhaáhkUx.
Then he said this boy: "There it is a lake.
tičiWAhaaNIhuúʾU.
It is a big lake.
xaawaarúxtiʾ nikiišuxtaaNAhkawaričít hiš- tátkAt.
The horses scatter them in those in bulrushes!
tiwičeésIt.
They are tall.
xaawaarúxtiʾ nikukooxiRAhkAxá.
The horses they will be in those.
kooxeeraánaʾ tsu číkuʾ tuukukoxtuutaakIsiráxAt.
They (the enemy) will come, but I will lead them another way."

weWIšititčiríkUx.
Now they stared at him.

wah inoowitiičiWAhaáhkUx.
Now there there was a lake.
uu witičiWAhaaNIhuúʾU.
Oh, it was a large lake!
xaawaarúxtiʾ nikunoowitiNAhkaʾí.
The horses that is where they drove them.
WIšitiiNAhnitawi- raáWA xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They drove them down the horses.
witiraaninuuwaáWA wehnaRAhkawaáWI.
They (the men) sat in different places where the growth was.

noowiteehuNAhkatawaákaʾ.
Then it was the sound (of the enemy) coming on the ground.
uu wehnačitAhunuuwaáWI číkuʾ kanawitihnaaʾeeríkuʾ.
Oh, when they were going on (the land above), they did not see anything.
tsu tiwetiraanúʾAt.
But these were there.

nooWIšiteečitaʾiwáʾ – pítkUx.
Then they (du) came riding – two.
tsu tinaákUx– wiináxtš witikanítkUx nikuwewitikatákUx.
But this– boy there was a rock; that is where he now sat by it.
nooWIšiteeWIswáʾ niitiʾAh- nakanítkUx – šohnawaaWIhtikú
Then they (du) came to it where this rock was, – as they (du) were talking
sanánat – šohnuutIškUxuu- naawaanú.
Sioux – as they (du) were motioning.
atsú tiʾAhnaaweerákUx WIšituutIs- kačírikUx.
But here where he sat behind it he watched their (du) faces.
kanaWIšitiiteérikuʾ.
They did not see him.

WIšititaaWAtwaáhAt.
They (du) got away from it.
anuú kunooWI- šitíWA.
There they (du) went (in an- other direction).
wewitunaahuníkUx.
He was waiting.
saxtš witikatistatateétIt wah parúNIt šiišuuxaáhNAt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
As soo n as it became dark, "Now quickly drive them the horses!
siíno tatakuhnaah- niraánaʾ.
Yet they are chasing us.
koxtakuhnaakunaawísAt.
They will catch up with us."

witaraánaʾ.
They came.
WIšitiNAhnikaruuwátAt – xaawaaruxtiʾ – weh- naaraána.
They drove them out – the horses – as they came.

wewitiihaahtawiitíkuʾ na wewitiitakunaawísaʾ.
It was now dawning and they (the enemy) overtook them.

noowitiwaákoʾ šuxtaakičinaanuúna.
Then he said: "Hurry!
šuxtaNAsáʾIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Whip (lit hit) them the horses!"

noowiteekawikaáʾ anináʾU wiináxtš.
Then he came last the one boy.
noowituuNAsaʾiítAx.
There it trotted.

sanánat tuuʾAhnaraána noowiteewakaahtáʾ hee weši-
The Sioux those coming then they hollered: "Hey, we
tsihkootíštA tinaátA.
are going to kill him this one (going).
kaneetehniičitawirii- wáʾux.
He must not know how to ride."
nikuwitiwaawačiʾaáhuʾ.
That is what they were each saying.

tsu tuunawaaríčI noowitiNAsáʾIt xaawaarúxtiʾ wehniinanaáxI.
But those others then they whipped them the horses as they ran.

anináʾU wiináxtš tsu tuukunoowitiihUhkoohaáh- kaʾAt.
The one boy but then he ran over there on the prairie.
witeewikaskawaawíhuʾ.
He was glancing back repeatedly.

nooWIšitiináʾAx wešinihwániku.
Then they chased after him as they were shooting at him.
číkuʾ kanawitíʾ šiNIhkuwaasakú wešinihniraanátA.
They could not wound him as they chased him.

noowitikUxtawiraáʾAt wehnakUxuhčitaátA tinawaaríčI tinaraaničitáWI.
Then he ran down (a hill) as they rode on top these these riding.
nuuʾAhnahUshaahkatAhkáʾU nuu nuukuwitaahtáʾAt.
There on the other side of the creek valley there there he went up in the distance.

hawá štoh nooWIšitiináʾAx.
Also again then they ran after him.
weWIšitiitunaa- wísAt na wewitikUxtawiraáʾAt weNAhkuʾiišátA.
Now they were over- taking him and now he ran down the hill as he disappeared.

Axtóh tiikohnáʾAt.
"Certainly he must be going here.
šikoosiinawiruuwíhuʾ NAhkuxčitaátA.
We will run him down when he goes up."

anuú – AhnawaakatAhkáʾU – na inoó nuuku-
There – on the other side of the hill, – and there he went
witaahtáʾAt štoh.
up over there in the distance again.

hUhtiísuʾ noowitiraanawíʾAt ninaaničitáWI.
Finally then they became tired the horses.
aa číkuʾ tehnuúʾUt.
"Ah, something must be wrong.
Axtóh kaneeteeNUtkatariihčiraʾá.
Surely he must be so fast!"
noowituhnaanapitaawaáhAt.
Then they turned around.

atsú tuunaraanátA xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiinanáʾAx.
But those others the horses then they ran with them.

noowitiinaakIsšoóxIt.
Then they gave up.
noowituhnaanapitaáwaahAt.
Then they turned around (ie back).

wehnaaraána nuu noowitIhaahteetúʾAt.
Where they were coming there there was a line of woods.
WIšitiiNAhnikaʾiíšAt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They drove them into the woods the horses.

a noowitihwáčiʾ aa wačéh wiináxtš wešikoh- nihkoótIt.
And then they said: "Ah, poor thing, the boy they must have killed him.
nuukunoonakoótA.
So he should not have gone over there.
nuukuneeníʾAt.
He went over there.
wačéh šikohništAhwanúʾ.
Poor thing, they must have run him down.
šikohnihkoótIt.
They must have killed him."

aahnoowiteečeswaátaʾ.
Then he just came out of the brush.

šitikuusuxtiRAhwanúʾ.
"They were running me down.
xaawaarúxtiʾ neeniiNAhnaa- nawíʾAt tinaraaničitáWI.
Horses they tired theirs out the ones they rode."

nooWIšitihkaanúnoʾ.
Then they fed him.

noowitiwaákoʾ saxtš ItkaniwaáhAs a nuukunooxi- raápoʾ.
Then he said: "As so on as I have eaten and you'll go on there.
nuukunooxiraápoʾ parúNIt.
You'll go on there quickly.
wekutUtkUxuúnuʾ hináxtIt IštápIswo tsu – koxtíʾAt
You'll run at the same speed in the morning when you go, but – I will go
nátkAt – saxtš ItkaniwaáhAs.
later – as soon as I have eaten."

nawáh noowitinaaničitawiítIt.
Now, then they mounted.
noowitiNAsáʾIt xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Then they whipped them the horses.

siinó witiwaawaʾá tinaákUx wiináxtš.
Yet he ate a meal this boy.
witikani- waáhAs.
He ate up every- thing.
noowiteéʾaʾ.
Then he came on.
nuu – awít – witawísaʾ siíno.
There – first – he arrived. Yet
witaraánaʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ šineeNAhnáʾa.
they came on horses the ones driving them.

witIhuúkAt.
He entered.
witohníʾus iiʾAhnaanunuhkUxaáhkUx.
He lay down where his bed was.

noowitiwaákoʾ šáxtiʾ haa kuNAhúx takohnáʾU tAhuúkaʾ.
Then she said his mother: "Hey, old man, someone he has entered.
tAhuúkaʾ a nuukunootíʾAt iinanuhkUxaáhkUx– wiináxtš.
He has entered, and he has gone over there where his bed is– the boy.
kaakAxkahIhníkuʾ– čiraátoʾ tačé noʾ.
Make a fire– to see who it is."

haa wačéh wekohnaawíʾAt.
"Ha, poor thing, he must be tired.
kananiiniiwaawaʾúx nakuwaawanú naawiinakuúnuʾ.
They don't know how to go around (on) the warpath!
wekooNUsakuunawíʾAt.
Maybe ours is tired."

noowitikAhíNIt.
Then he made a fire.

aa inoowitiišá anináʾU wiináxtš AhnačitáxA niiʾAhnaanunuhkUxaáNU.
Ah, there he lay the one boy as he lay on top where his bed was.

čee či weNAxihwísaʾ.
"Why, here you have come back!"

wah tičé nuutAxítIt.
"Now what happened?"

noowitiwaákoʾ wiináxtš anuú wešiteeNAhnáʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ tsu neeneetiínaʾ.
Then he said the boy: "There they are bringing them horses, but I came on.
kooxeeRAhwísaʾ.
They will arrive here.
šitee- NAhnáʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ.
They are bringing them horses."

ka číkuʾ kananaaxirá.
"Don't you have any?"

Axtóh číkuʾ šikooxeéʾu.
"Surely they will give you something."

witAheéšaʾ.
Morning came.
wewitIhunaaNUhaahtawiitíkuʾ.
It was dawning over the land.
WIšitiiNAh- neesAhkaʾiíšaʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ xaaNAhkúsuʾ.
They drove them into the village the horses a large herd of horses.
witinaawiinúkukuʾ.
They were singing a praising song.
nikuWIšitihtaraʾóʾ anináʾU nikutawikUsiihániʾ.
They were telling of him the one Young Hawk.
wah taanikutuúta.
"Now this is what he did.
nikutikunuhnaáka šohnihnaawiinúkuku niiwehnuutaawaáNA wehnuxtaʾiwaawanú.
This is what he did for us," as they sang the praising song the things he did as he went among them.

na wačéh kuNAhúx wewitiraanikačíš.
And, poor thing, the old man he was happy over it.
a či naraahukoóʾUs seehnáʾU.
"And here he is valorous ours!
a či aniwešiniiničiriWAh- tiíkuʾ šinihnaawiinúhkuku niiwehnuutaawaáNA.
And here they are proclaiming his deeds their singing a praising song what he did!"

noowitihwáčiʾ nawáh šiisuxkáxaʾ hiʾáxtiʾ.
Then they said: "Now call him his father!
číkuʾ nux- tAsaáWAt – xaawaarúxtiʾ.
Let him choose some – horses!
nikuwetuhnáʾA – wiináxtš tiwenuutaáNA
That one is the cause – the boy what he did."

WIšititkáxaʾ.
They called him.

tsu iwitiišá wiináxtš.
But there he lay the boy.

hiʾáxtiʾ WIšitihnaaʾiitáWI tinawaaríčI xaawaarúxtiʾ cikiišuxtaáWAt.
His father they told him: "(Of) these horses choose some!
taanikuwetuutaáwa NAxihnaáʾU wešohninii- naaʾiitIhú.
This is what he did your son," as they were telling him.

wah niikohnuhnaánuʾ xaawaarúxtiʾ noowitiRAsaáWAt.
Now however many there were horses then he selected them.

nootiiríwatAt wiináxtš.
Then he got up the boy.

witiwaákoʾ– wah aniweneewaáRIt.
He said:– "Now there they are.
– wešitikuraánu.
– They have given them to me."

wah tičé nawáčiʾ.
"Now what did they say?"

witiwaákoʾ wah taanikuneewáčiʾ.
He said: "Now this is what they said."

heeʾ.
"Yes."

hawá štoh tičé náʾAt naawiinakuúnuʾ.
Also again he never did go (on) the warpath.
nikunoo- witiraahatúhkA.
Then that was the last time.

nuu tiwehnaatawiʾá noowitiʾá wiítA.
Then when he came among the people then he became a man.

na weNAhkutaroóku neéšuʾ WAhúx weNAhkutawaakaráʾU
And when they were picking it corn, squash when they picked things
hunaaneskúhtš wewitikaákUx.
in the fall now he was inside.

noowitikúxIt sAhuútš.
Then he took it a robe.
noowitiswaátAt AhnareewaawatíRA.
Then he went in sight his looking all around.

uu tuuháʾ áskAt – noowitičiškatawaáhnaʾ níkUs – wehnet- kAhtáʾa.
Oh, there above – then it whistled a bird – as the dust rose.
na – inoowiteéRIt – wiítA.
And – there he stood – a man.
kanawituutIsiíšuʾ.
He did not know him.

noowitiwaákoʾ Axtóh tAxčitAhíš.
Then he said: "Certainly you are stubborn.
tatuuxískaʾ wiítA iitároʾ.
I thought a man that I'd make of you.
atsú kaneeneešinaanaa- síštoʾ.
But you are not interested in things.
číkuʾ ahnoowekaakAxíʾAt.
You have never just gone off.
na nikunee- tuhnáʾA niiweNAxUsuuxaawaáNA – anuú – naraahiRAxaáhNA.
And I am the one who is the cause the things you did – there – when it was successful.

wah teeNAxwískaʾ aatakaapaačíšU.
"Now you must want 'that I be poor.'
wah kooxuuNUhuh- kaapaátš.
Now you will at last be poor."

noowitičiškatawaáhnaʾ nikutawikúsuʾ AhneeʾaáhNA.
Then it whistled the hawk as it flew around.

tinaaríčI wiítA noowiteečítstaʾ wehnačíkAt.
This man then he cried as he mourned.
wah Axtóh – kanatsuxteesiíšuʾ – a či nikuNAxíštA tiwenat-
"Now surely – I did not know, – and here you are the one these
suuxaawaáNA wenikuuxaáNA naahukoósuʾ.
things I did your being the cause (as) a warrior."

nawáh– witiwaákoʾ wah – taanikutikuutiitAxítIt.
Now,– he said: "No – this is what happened to me.
niku- tikuNUhuúnuʾ.
That is what happened to me.
áriišIt tatuhnáʾA.
Myself I am the cause."
nikutuuNUx- taaʾiitihUxuúkuʾ.
That is what he used to tell.

tiraaʾiítUx sčiíri.
It is a story Pawnee.
šikaakAseenaaʾiítUx sáhniš.
It is not our story Arikara.

wah tinaákUx – wiináxtš – číkuʾ Ahnookanawituxtaahunáx – štoh.
Now this – boy – he just never found a way (ie good fortune) – again.
číkuʾ AhnookanawituuxaananiwiítIt – na – noowitikaahikót
He just never married, – and – then he died of old age
anináʾU wiítA.
that man.