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

43

The Eagle Trappers

Alfred Morsette

wetatunaaʾiitíštA sinoó – nuuxitUhčituúʾU –
Now I am going to tell a story yet – when it was a combined village –
niihéʾ sAhkAhaáhniniʾ AhnuxtaaNIhuúNU tinaraanoótA sáhniš
there "in the village" when there were many these Arikaras,
wiitatshaánuʾ na káNIt.
Hidatsas, and Mandans.
tuuxitUhčituúʾU niiháʾ nuuNAhuukatAhuúNU.
It was a combined village there across the river.
kaakíʾ nakuhnaaʾeéRIt tiíNI.
It cannot be seen today.
wetuhnaa- huunuuʾiruútIt.
Everything is now under water.
šeéNIt wekaakiíhiʾ niiʾaNAsuuxa- koóčI niiʾAhnuuxakaawaáWI.
Clearly it now is not how things were there where the lodges were.

nikuwitúxkUx niihéʾ anuuNAhuukatA- huúNU niiʾAhneetUhpakútkUx.
That was where he was living there on the other side of the river where the old village was.
nikutišwačeehUxuúkuʾ.
That was what they used to say.

wah wiiteešútš noowitiraáNAt.
Now young men so they went.
witihpiʾaananíkUx.
They were trapping eagles.
noowitiraanuukatáʾAt nuunatskatAhkáʾU niitinátkUx
Then they went across there on the other side of the water here where I live
tiNAhunaanoótA hunaanapsíniʾ.
this land south.
nuuwitiihíʾ čéstIt niiwenaraanátA.
It was there far where they went.

noowitiwáčiʾ taanikutIhunaáʾA hunaahkaWAhaánuʾ neétAhkas
Then they said: "This is the land the fortunate land eagles
niinakUhunuuwaáWIhu tiihéʾ.
where they always fly around here."

noowitiinaaheéRIt.
Then they fixed a place.
noowitiinakánoʾ aka- naanuútuʾ.
Then they built a lodge a hunt- ing lodge.
witiroohuNIhuúʾU wehnaRAhkaáWI.
It was sufficiently large when they were inside.
taanikukooxtooxUhuunaahnaanúʾAt.
"This is where we will stay for awhile!"

noowitiinakAhkároʾ – hunaaníniʾ – wešohnihnunaahnata- waawíhA.
Then they build lodges – in the ground – their digging holes in the ground.
noowitiNAhčitaatút.
Then they laid poles on top.
na witsaapaaNIš- teéWA wehninaaNAhuuWIsátA
And they finished doing it as they got everything ready,
wehninaaheerikú niiNAhkuRAhkaawaáWI.
as they fixed things up where they would each be inside.

na noowitiwaákoʾ áxkUx wiítA niišakiRAxaáhNA -- kuwiteešaáʾA
And then he said one man the one who was leader -- he was named
kuúNUx tunaaWIhkhuúNAx na AhnuuxAxaáʾA tawaáx -- na
Bear Charges In The Woods, and he was named Scabby -- and
noowitiwaákoʾ wah nakuraawireéhAs niina- kuúkUx niinakUsuutUhwiʾuúʾA.
then he said: Now get things ready here he will sit where the wind faces.
šuxtaahnaaneewaáhAs.
Get everything ready!"

wah noowitiraáNAt.
Now then they went.
taanikuwitAxunaahé.
"This must be a good place."
witi- raáhWA.
They went off in different directions.
noowitiinaahiwaáRIt wehnihnunaahnatawaawíhA áxkUx nakuúkUx.
Then they fixed everything up when they dug the holes one to sit.
Ahnoowitiíʾot áxkUx niiNAhkuúkUx na uunaákUx witiihíʾ
It was quite a ways one where he would be, and the other he was
čéstIt wehnaraanawáNA.
far when they were in a line.
kaakíʾ AhnooʾiiRAsačirúxkUx.
They could not be just bunched up.

wah – áxkUx tinaákUx wiiteešútš – nikunoowituúta wehnakaáWI.
Now – one this young man – then that is what he did when he was inside.
na niikohnuuxawé AhnuxtaanoótA.
And it is not known how many days passed their staying.
– tákuʾ kaakuhtaaʾiitáWI niikoNUsuusakunaánuʾ AhnuxtaanoótA wehnihpiʾaananíkUx.
– No one told it however many days it was their staying when they were trapping eagles.

na witiRAsawéʾ – číkuʾ pítkUx –
And there were ones among them – perhaps two –
wešiNIhkuutuuníkUt neétAhkas.
ones who had caught them (du) eagles.
na wititawéʾ áxkUx číkuʾ NAhkuutuuníkUt.
And he was among them one for him to catch it.
na wituxtawéʾ áxkUx wiiteešútš.
And there was among them one young man.
ahnoowitunaa- čiteeʾaanúʾ.
It was just get- ting difficult for him.
číkuʾ kanawitoxkUxaáhuʾ niiʾAhnúxkUx.
None flew his way where he sat.
číkuʾ kanawitUsuuxuuníkUt neétAhkas niiʾAhnakaáWI.
He did not catch any eagle where he was inside.

noowitiwáčiʾ – tinaákUx – niišakiRAxaáhNA
Then one of them said – this one – the one who was leader:
wetiroohuúʾU nataakuraakaaʾišwó.
"It is now time for us to go home.
toxtaakawíreehAs.
Let's get ready!"

wehnaaheešá noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx číkuʾ kanaNUsuu-
When morning came then he said this one the one who did
xuuníkUt neétAhkas waxtóh kunoxtuNUhúhkUx.
not catch any eagles: "Now certainly I will remain awhile.
číkuʾ naahtAhkuutuuníkUt.
Perhaps I might catch one.
číkuʾ nuhnaawiʾúxtA aatuxkaaʾiišátA.
It is not going to be the way that I should go home.
atípaʾ – tatsuxwakuNAxéʾ – číkuʾ NItkuhniWIsátA neétAhkas.
My grandfather – I promised him – that I would bring one for him an eagle.
na weneekunaačiteeʾá.
And now it is difficult for me!
wah tsu nee- túxkUx.
Now but let me stay!
– šuxtaakaaʾišwóʾ.
– Go home!
šuxtaahnaáNAt.
Go on!
– čiitíʾIš niiha- weéNA číkuʾ nookananiiraakaWAhaanaáNA na
– Four when days pass if I do not have any good fortune, and
neetaahkaaʾiíšAt na ItwísAt.
I will go home and I'll get there.
čiitíʾIš niihaweéNA nikukoo- xUsakunaánuʾ
Four after the nights pass that will be the number of days
tuuxUhúhkUx skána.
that I will stay awhile alone!"

wah nooWIšitihnuunáwaʾ.
Now then they left him.
noowiteeRAhkaaʾiíšaʾ uunaraa- noótA tsu tinaákUx wiiteešútš nookaakeéʾaʾ.
Then they came home those others, but this young man then he did not come.

noowitiroočiwiníhnoʾ niiʾAhnakaáWI witohnuuta- kanáʾU.
Then he changed his way where he was inside after he made himself a lodge
– witiroočíWI.
– It was different.
witiraaNAhuuwísAt.
He finished it.
– skaná wehnakaáWI tinaákUx wiiteešútš noowitikatistatateétIt.
– Alone when he was in it this young man, then it became dark.
číkuʾ tehnakawátAt na nohnaáNAt niiʾAhnanuunakaáWI.
He must have got out and then he went where his lodge was.

a či wešitehnuhnuníkUx sanánat.
And here they were waiting for him Sioux!
nooWIši- tiinaʾíwaahAt.
Then they were blocking his way.
– nooWIšitiNAhwanuuxítIt.
– Then they began to fight him.
– nooWI- šitihkoótIt.
– Then they killed him.
witihkoótIt wiiteešútš.
He was killed the young man.

nawáh tsu uunaraanoótA witaRAhkaaʾiíšaʾ.
Now but those others they came home.
witaRAhwísaʾ.
They arrived.

wah inaániʾ skaná wiítA kuwituuxAxaáʾA.
Now his brother Only Brave he was named.
inaániʾ čukú náʾAt wehnaRAxwé inaániʾ.
"My brother where did he go?" when he looked for him his brother.

wah kaakaáʾ.
"Now he did not come.
skaná tiíkUx.
Alone he remained.
tiwaákoʾ čiitíʾIš niihaweéNA koxtikaaʾiíšAt.
He said: 'Four after it is days I will go home.'
číkuʾ kaakUsuuxuu- níkUt neétAhkas.
He did not catch any an eagle.
tunaačiteeʾá.
It was hard for him.
na štoh witiinuuteštoósI čiitíʾIš.
And again he added days for himself four.
na neetaahkaaʾiíšAt.
'And then I will go home.'"

na wewitiraačeéʾA kanaahneeWIsAhú.
And it was now a while later his not coming back.
na wewitIsakunaaNUhtáʾAt čiitíʾIš.
And now the days had passed four.

na noowitiwaákoʾ tinaákUx wiítA wetiraačeenaá- NIš.
And then he said this man: "It has truly been a long time.
číkuʾ naahkuúʾUt.
Perhaps something is wrong.
čiraátoʾ itaraápoʾ.
Let us go."

na wiiteešútš noowitohniNAsačipí číkuʾ niiko- NUsuxtaánuʾ.
And young men then they gathered together, however many there were.
– na štoh nootiraáNAt.
– And again then they went.
– nootiRAhwísAt.
– Then they arrived.

na šeenoowituúʾUt iiʾAhnanúxkUx.
And then it was apparent where he had sat.
číkuʾ kanaWI- šitiiteéRIt wešiniNAxwé.
They did not see anyone when they looked for him.
šikaakihnunáx.
They did not find him.

wah šitehnihkoótIt.
"Now they must have killed him."

na nooteeRAhkaaʾiíšaʾ štoh.
And then they came home again.
teeRAhwísaʾ.
They arrived.

weteNAhúnahAs čiwakiihániʾ.
"He must be dead Young Fox.
šitehnihkoótIt.
They must have killed him."

na noowitiwaákoʾ inaániʾ wah nooNUsuuxuúʾUt.
And then he said his brother: "Now let us wait!
štoh naawiRIstaʾaáNA koxteeraapóʾ.
Again when it is summer we will go.
šikoosiiNAxwéʾ.
We will look for him.
koxtoohnaahneésiš niikohnuutAxítIt.
We will find out what happened to him."

a tiwenapsiʾátA štoh witaawiRIstaʾá.
And when winter went, again it became summer.
niikoh- nuxtaawiiʾoóčiʾ.
It is not known how long it was.
toxtaapóʾ.
"Let's go!
toxtaapiʾaananikúxAt.
Let's go eagle trapping!
šiisištAxwéʾ wiináxtš.
Let's look for him the boy!
tičé nuutAxítIt.
Let's see what happened."

na noowitiraáNAt.
And then they went.
štoh nuuwitiRAhwísAt niiʾAhnux- taanoótA.
Again they arrived there where they had been.
witinaahiwaawaáRIt štoh.
They fixed everything up again.

na noowitiwaákoʾ inaániʾ skaná wiítA na inaániʾ
And then he said his brother Only Brave: "And my brother
niiʾAhnuxkaáWI nikukoxtíka.
where he was inside, that is where I will stay inside.
koxtíwiitIt.
I will sit down."

wehniinaahiwaaríkA niiNAhunaahnatawaáWI AhnišpiʾaananíkUx
When they fixed them where the holes were where they had caught eagles,
tsu tinaákUx wiináxtš skaná wiítA nikunoowitikaáʾAt nii
but this boy Only Brave he went in that one where
inaániʾ niiʾAhnuxpiʾaananíkUx.
his brother where he had trapped eagles.
nohnuutAxáWI.
He set the trap.

wah niikohniihawé pítkUx táWIt weʾAhnaweéNA
Now it is not known how many days; two, three after days had passed
nuu wehnaakaaʾiišá – tinaákUx – wiináxtš – skaná wiítA –
there when he came home – this – the boy – Only Brave, –
wehnaaʾá noowituuteéRIt.
as he came then he saw him.
inaániʾ AhnoowitiíʾAt.
His brother there he was just going.

wehNUtčiríkUx noowitiwískaʾ nikutAxíʾ sináNI.
While he watched him then he thought: "You are the one my brother."
noowitIhaahkaʾiíšAt.
Then he went out of sight in a depression.

tinaákUx skaná wiítA nootuúNAx.
This Only Brave then he ran.
nootiihUhčitáʾAt.
Then he ran on top.
číkuʾ kanawituuteéRIt.
He did not see anything.

naahnawaraákUx nuu noowitíʾAt.
And where a stand of trees was there then he went.
noowitiičiš- karós.
There there was a skeleton lying in the brush.
– inoowitiikAxá.
– There he lay in the brush
– wah či taani- kUšitAxihkoótIt.
– "Now here this is where you must have been killed!"

noowitiroosánax xaawaarúxtiʾ niiʾaNAsuxtAsaa- kAháku.
It was rough (terrain) the horses where they had gone round and round.
tehnuxkaʾiíšAt.
He (Young Fox) must have gone into the brush.
šitehniškawiraaníkUx.
They must have attacked him in the brush.

wah – tipAxkúxIt – inaániʾ.
Now – he picked up the skull – his brother.
teeráʾ.
He brought it.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah – sináNI – wetatAhunáx.
Then he said: "Now, – brother, – I have found you.
a či weNAhunáhAs
And here he is dead."

nooteerikaaʾiíšaʾ.
Then he brought it back.
witariwísaʾ niiʾAhnaraa- noótA iiʾAhneenunuunakaáWI akanaanuútuʾ.
He brought it where they were staying where they had their lodge hunting lodge.
noowiti- waákoʾ wah inaániʾ wetatunáx.
Then he said: "Now, my brother I have found him.
tiweneékUx.
Here he is.
šitehnihkoótIt.
They must have killed him.
šitehniškawiraaníkUx číkuʾ.
They must have attacked him in the brush some."

noowitiroosánax niišohniškawiraaníkUx niišohnišwiraanuuwanú.
It was rough where they had attacked him in the brush, where they were going around fighting.

nawáh WIšitihnaaWIšUhaásAt.
Now they offered him (the skull) smoke.
WIšitiitanaxkúx wešinihkaanunáʾU.
They put food before him when they fed him.

nawáh– pítkUx– witiihé.
Now– two– it was days.
witihnaanawaʾuuníkUt neétAhkas wehniitakaapaatštíRA tinaákUx neksaánuʾ.
They caught them eagles after it blessed them this ghost.

wah – inaániʾ – skaná wiítA – áxkUx – witeéRIt.
Now – his brother – Only Brave – one – he stood there.
AhniišaakiRAxaáhNA – nikuwitíʾ – kuúNUx tikaʾiíšAt a
The one who led them – he was the on – Bear Goes Into The Woods, and
kuúNUx tuutapítaahAt – na noowitiwaákoʾ – kuúNUx tikaʾií- šAt
Bear Turns Around; – and then he said – Bear Goes In The Woods:
aráh tiíNI hináxtIt kanaaxtooxUhuunaapóʾ číkuʾ.
"Why, now in the morning we will not go anywhe re for a while!
kunoxtooxUhuunaahnaanúʾAt.
We will remain here for a while!
kaakIhútA.
It is not windy.
tsu nakUhutáWI nikutunaáhe neétAhkas nikutIhunuuwaawíhuʾ nakUhutáWI.
But when it is windy that is good: eagles that is when they fly around when it is windy."

na áxkUx wiiteešútš noowitikatáʾAt.
And one young man then he went up (a hill).
tuuxU- huneewaawátI.
"Let me look around for a while!
číkuʾ naahtAhkukoótWIt NAhnunáhtš.
Perhaps I might kill one a deer!"
noowitikatáʾAt hunaaníniʾ.
Then he went up on foot.
tehnahUsAhaanúʾAt.
There must have been a valley.

Ahnawaraáwa niitiwehnaRAhkaáWI.
There were trees here where they were inside.
noowitIhunaaNIsánax.
The land was rough.

witičitaʾuuneéRIt.
He stopped on top.
noowiteehUhtawiraáʾ.
Then he ran down.
noowitiwaákoʾ aráh číkuʾ kútuuʾUt.
Then he said: "Why, there is something.
nootiraawiʾaánuʾ nakiíčI naa- koohtakúʾa na
It looks like there being their traveling in a line, and
neeraaniRAxá kaakíʾIt tanáhaʾ.
the ones in the lead they are not buffalos.
tiroočíWI tiwenaraána.
It is different these who are coming.
taatAsíš tíʾIt paatúh.
I think they are enemy."

naaniwiísuʾ nikuwewitiwaákoʾ witehwakaahtáʾ.
Immediately he had said that they hollered.
witUtkUxuh- taakáhAt.
They were circling around.
noowitinaNAhkawiraaniwiítIt.
Then they began attacking them.

áxkUx sanánat noowiteewakaraanúʾaʾ niitiʾAhnaRAhkaáWI.
One Sioux then he called out here where they were inside.
noowitiwaákoʾ – tačé NAxtaákIt.
Then he said: – "Who are you?
– ka NAxtaákIt wiitatshaánuʾ.
– Are you Hidatsas?
na – axanaakíčI káNIt na axanaakíčI – sáhniš.
Or – might you be Mandans? Or might you be – Arikaras?
tAhnapIskáʾ aatoohnaahneésš.
We want that we know."

na – áxkux wiiteešútš wituxtawéʾ – sáhniš.
And – one young man he was among them – the Arikaras.
witiwákoʾ sanánat.
He spoke it Sioux.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah tAhnaákIt sáhniš.
Then he said: "Now we are Arikaras.
tAhnaákIt sáhniš tiNAhnaNAhnaanoótA.
We are Arikaras we who are staying here.
tatištaahnaánaʾ.
We came.
šitatuxtAxwéʾ wiiteešútš.
We looked for him a young man.
šiteeNAxkoótIt na wešineetunáx.
You (pl) must have killed him, and we have found him."

uunaaríčI sanánat noowiteewakaraanúʾaʾ ka NAxíʾ sanánat.
The other one the Sioux then he called out: "Are you a Sioux?
tAxwaaWIhtiíkuʾ sanánat.
You are talking Sioux."

noowitiwaákoʾ kaakíʾ.
Then he said: "No.
– tatíʾ sáhniš.
– I am Arikara.
– tsu kUxtaweésuʾ skawáruʾ šitiisuxtehkUxuúkuʾ -- skawáruʾ
– But an in-law Lump Face they used to call him -- Lump Face
wiítA nikuti- kutkaákUx.
the man that one was my male in-law.
nikutiraačítA NAtwakáʾU sanánat.
He is the reason my speaking Sioux.
nikutikuriiʾuxíštoʾ NAtwaaWIhtikú sanánat sananaapIhíniʾ.
He was the one who taught me my talking Sioux, in Sioux."

noowitiwaákoʾ sanánat uunaaríčI Ahnawakaraanoóhu wah šíšaʾ.
Then he said Sioux that other the one calling out: "Now come!
šuxtaʾiítIt niitiNAhnapaaríčI.
Join us where we are!
tuxtaakawoótIt aninaRAhkaáWI.
Let's kill them those inside!
tičé nuhnaánuʾ.
How many are they?"

noowitiwaákoʾ – Axtóh kaakíʾ nikunakuútA.
Then he said: – "Certainly that cannot be.
– tatuhnaah- naánuʾ nooxíniʾ na šíhUx.
– We number fifteen.
kaneeníʾ nikuNAtkuutaáNA NAtkutaa- wátAt.
I cannot do that for me to get out from among them.
kutatuutaakIswaawiíšuʾ tinaRAh- kaáWI.
They are all my relatives these inside.
wah tsu teeNAxtaákIt wiítA.
Now but you (pl) must be men.
wetatískaʾ tiíNI niikoNAxuhnaakaaníštA wah suxtaaká tiíNI.
Now I want now whatever you (pl) are going to do, now do it now!
kaakatoonaahnínoʾ.
We are not afraid of you."

noowitiwaákoʾ sanánat tinaaríčI Ahnawakaraanoóhu wah
Then he said Sioux this one calling out: "Now
nikutatskáʾ aatoohneésš.
that is what I wanted that I should find out.
wah tiíNI tiNAsaakaríčI wetiraahatúhkA.
Now right now today it is the last time.
kaakíʾ NAxkUsakuuneéRIt štoh naakUheešá.
You will not see a day again when morning comes.
wah wetAhunáhAs.
Now you will be dead."

na noowitiwaákoʾ anuú AhnawakuNAhkaáWI sanánat wah nikukooxuúʾUt.
And then he said there the one speaking inside Sioux: "Now it will be thus.
skaná kaakikUhunahAsíštA.
Alone I am not going to die.
tsu nikukoxtuúta čeésuʾ kooxeeraahnaanunáhAs čeésuʾ.
But this is what I will do too: you (pl) will die too.
tatuutaakIštaanaáhUt wiiteešútš.
I am holding their hands the young men.
koxtuutaaksiráxAt čeésuʾ.
I will take them too.
skaná kaakAxíʾ wiítA.
Alone you are not a man."

wah nootiraáNIš noowitUtkUxuhtaakáhAt niiʾAhnaRAh- kaáWI –
Now it was true then they ran around where they were inside –
wešiniinakAhwaníku wenihWIskáʾA – šiʾaasiiNAh- niikaruuwátAt
their shooting the lodge their thinking – 'that you all will come out,'
wehnihWIskáʾ šiʾaasiinakAhtakaa- ráhAt.
their thinking 'that we should knock the lodge down.'
tsu wituxtaakáxIš AhnaraanataáʾU.
But it was tough(ly constructed) its roof.
kanítš skataRAhíriš witíʾIt wehnaraanataáʾU.
Rocks pumice they were where the roof was.

noowitiWIskaaxítIt šiʾaasiinakAhnuuNIhníkA.
Then they began to think 'we ought to burn up the lodge.'
kanawitíʾ nakookAhnuúNIt.
The lodge would not burn.

natsú tuunakaáWI wiiteešútš kuúNUx tunaaWIhkhuúNAx
But the other one inside young man Bear Charges In The Woods
noowitiwaákoʾ wah niiNAxuhnaahnaanuúʾA nooxíniʾ na čiitíʾIš šiškuusuxtanoókuʾ.
then he said: "Now, all of you fourteen, you load it for me!
wah niitinátkUx wekaakatuunaNAhaa- núxtA.
Now here where I sit I am not going to be careful.
koxtikawoótIt aniNUtkUxuhtaakAháku.
I'll kill them those running around (the lodge.)"

na nikunoowitsá nooWIšitihnanookUxítIt.
And then that is what they did: then they began loading the gun for him.
saxtš we- NAhkuuNUhuníWIs hawá witiroohUhtákaahAt tiwehnaNAhnunuúWI.
As soo n as one appeared, also he knocked him off his doing it to them.

a či weešeeNIhtakUhuhwísaʾ.
And here they now arrived with their camping gear.
noowituNAsaakáwiitIt wehniinakAhkaráʾU wešohniinaNAhkawiraaníkUx.
Then they formed into a circle as they put up their lodges while they were attacking them in the brush.

áxkUx noowitikAxaahUxítIt wiítA.
One then he began to call out a man.
noowitiwaákoʾ wekaakatakunaaNIhuuNIšawíhAt.
Then he said: "They have killed a large number of us.
Axtóh nooNUsuuxuúʾUt tsu noonuxtAhká.
Surely let's let it be and let them be inside!
kooxiNAhniWAhteekót.
They will starve to death.
kunooxuNAhká tiihéʾ niinaRAhkaáWI.
They will re- main inside here where they are inside.
nuxtiWAhteekawót.
Let them starve to death!
niitaNAsox- tšítIt kooxiRAhkáwatAt.
When they get hungry, they will come out."
nikuwewitiwaakaáhuʾ.
That is what he was saying.

tsu tinaákUx wiítA tuunakaáWI witetčiíšIt.
But this man this other one inside he understood.
tiwaakaáhuʾ iinawaaWIhtikú tiwaakaáhuʾ nuunuxtAhká.
"He is saying that one who is talking, he is saying: 'Let them be there inside!
kooxiriWAhteekawót.
They'll starve to death.
niitaNAsoxtšítIt kooxiRAhkáwatAt na atíštIt neeteeraakawoótIt.
When they get hungry they'll get out and well we will kill them.'
nikutiwaakaáhuʾ iinawaaWIhtíku.
That is what he is saying that one talking.
na kaneenuutáxtA.
And it is not going to be that way."

wewitiitúhkUx tsu tiwehnaRAhká hunaaníniʾ.
Now the camp was up, meanwhile they remained inside there in the ground.
witIhunuuwá wehnihnaasštáWI niiwehnaRAhkaáWI.
They were going about while they were watching where they were inside.

noowitikatistatateétIt.
Then it got dark.

híNAx wehniihiʾaáNA noowitiwaákoʾ áxkUx wiiteešútš tatuxteewaáta.
Nighttime when it became then he said one young man: "I looked.
niihéʾ niinataraačiraawiikUxúku tstoóxuʾ titawátU.
There where we usually dip water water it is an open space.
tiraaʾaanúʾ niiháʾ nakutawiraátA nootIhuukatáʾAt aninahUsAhaanoótA.
It appears there when one goes down, then he crosses it that creek.
tiwaraataaweeroó- ʾAt.
There is brush on the hillside.
nuunakukataátA nakučitaátA nooti- wiítIt.
When you climb up there when you go on top, then you sit down.
nikiitoosuxtaáka.
Let us do that!
neeteeraaNAhkawátAt.
Then we will get out of it."

noowitiwaákoʾ wah nikiišuuxiRAxá.
Then he said: "Now you be the one to take the lead!
koxtíʾAt.
I will go
– koxtIhiráxAt áwit.
– I will go in the lead first.
– noošinikuuteéRIt na šinikuuwaawáNIt.
– Then if they see me, and they can shoot at me.
šinikukoótIt.
They can kill me.
tsu kaneenuutáxtA.
But that is not going to be."

uu noowitikatistátAt naáNIt.
Oh, then it was dark really.
tsu AhnakawáʾIt wehnihkawahIhníkA sanánat wehneetúhkUx.
But there were fires all around where they had built fires all around the Sioux where the village was.

wah tinaákUx wiiteešútš šeeweniiraahúNAx.
Now this young man he clearly found the way.
číkuʾ  niikohnuuxAxaáʾA kaakatuhneesiíšuʾ.
What- ever his name was I do not know it.
– noowitikawátAt.
– Then he got out
– noowi- tišwaawitawiraáʾAt.
– Then he crawled down (the hill).
nuu noowitIhaahkaʾiíšAt.
There then he went to the bottom.
noowitičiraawít tstoóxuʾ.
Then he dipped it water.
noowitešwaawiʾáʾ štoh.
Then he came crawling back.

witAhuúkaʾ.
He came inside
– tiweneečiraáhkUx tstoóxuʾ.
– "Here is liquid water.
– tunaahé.
– It is good.
wah nikukoxtohnaáka.
Now that is what we will do.
wah štoh tuúxAt.
Now, again let me go!
uu ituukatáʾAt.
Oh, I'll cross.
anuunakUhuukaataʾiišátA tuukunootIhuukaatawiíʾAt skaweéraaʾuʾ.
When you go to the edge of the water you go there along the bank west.
– niiháʾ kaakitskátox.
– There it is narrow water
– nootIhuukatáʾAt.
– There you'll cross.
anuú – nootiikatáʾAt niitiNAtwaakAhú – naahwaraa- taaweerooʾátA.
There – then you go up (the hill) where I am saying – where the brush is on the hillside yonder
– nuutičitaʾuúkUt.
– You'll get on top there.
nootiwiítIt.
Then you'll sit down.
– koxtiwiítIt.
– I will sit down.
koxtoonaakuníkUx.
I will wait for you (pl).
áxkUx noowitiiwóʾ.
One (at a time) you be going there."

noowitiwaákoʾ skaná wiítA tsu kunoošikoxtIhatúhkA šinaatáNI.
Then he said Only Brave: "But he and I will be last my brother.
áwit šuxtaapóʾ.
First you (pl) go!
tsu – šinaatáNI – šikoxtíWA nátkAt.
But – my brother – he and I will go afterwards."

tiwehnaRAhwó wehnaRAhwó wehnaRAsawiraáwo noowituuniíWIs.
As they were going, their going when they were going down then he remained.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah – inaániʾ – wah wetsihkúxtA čeésuʾ.
Then he said: "Now, – my brother, – now you and I are going to stay too."

wah – wewitinanuhkáʾIt neétAhkas– nehkuutinikatákUx.
Now – they all had theirs eagles– their having them tucked under their arms.
čituúʾuʾ witiRAhkawátAt.
All they got out.
tsu tiiʾAhnakawáʾIt wititkatawaawaáRIt
But where the fires were all around they stood all around by the fires
sanánat AhnihnaasštáWI.
the Sioux their watching.

wah tsu tinaákUx wiiteešútš – skaná wiítA – noowiti-
Now but this young man – Only Brave – then he
kúxIt inaániʾ pAxčiíšuʾ.
picked him up his brother the skull.
noowitiwaákoʾ wah sináNI wetsíhWA.
Then he said: "Now, brother, we'll go.
atíštIt šikoxteekúx itaraapIswó iinataraakítAt.
Well we will place you when we arrive where our village is.
– atíʾAx atináʾ – šikooxooteéRIt.
– Our father, our mother – they (du) will see you."

hawá nootiikawátat čeésuʾ.– noowititawiraáʾAt.– noowi-
Also then he got out too.– Then he went down.– Then
tiRAhčítA šohnihnuníkUx.
they were on top their waiting for him.
wah witiwísAt.
Now he arrived there.
nawáh tiiʾAhnaahtehkuxtaapaáRIt.
"Now let's flee!
parúNIt toxtaapóʾ.
Quickly let's go!"

nootiinuuwáʾAx.
Then they ran off.
nooteeraánaʾ híNAx.
Then they came at night.
wewitiihaah- tawiitíkuʾ.
Now it was becoming daylight.
witaraanuukaataʾiíšaʾ tiiháʾ aninuuxitUh- nuukaatákUx
They came to the bank here where the village was on the bank
niiʾAhneetUhpakútkUx niiʾAhnatoxtaakítAt.
where the old village (Fishhook) was where we lived.
witiraanuukatáʾAt.
They crossed the river.

noowitiwaákoʾ skaná wiítA wah atíʾAx atináʾ tineékUx – šinaatáNI.
Then he said Only Brave: "Now, my father, my mother, here he is – my brother.
či – šinihkoótIt.
Her – they killed him!
tatunáx.
I found him.
nikuwenuhnáʾA tiwenatinaaNAhkaaʾiišá.
This one is the reason our coming home.
tikoxtaaNAh- kawiraaniwiítIt štoh na wekaneenuutAxítIt
They began to attack us in the brush again, and now it did not happen
niiʾAhniišIskáʾA koxtohnaáka.
what they thought: 'We will do it.'"

wah tsu aniweNAheešAhíšU sanánat noowituNAsaʾuúkUt niitinaakAhnaahkáWI.
Now but that (same) morning the Sioux then they went at it aggressively here where the lodge was at the base (of the hill).
číkuʾ kanawitiitakakaáxuʾ.
There were not any shots.
áxkUx wiítA noowitiraaWIhnuúkAt.
One man then he charged inside.
inoó tákuʾ kanawitiikaákUx.
There there was no one inside
pakúhtuʾ šaNAhkawátAt.
Long ago they had got out.

noowitikawátAt.
Then he got out.
noowitiwaákoʾ pakúhtuʾ číkuʾ tehna- raáNAt.
Then he said: "Long ago they must have gone somewhere.
tákuʾ kaakiikaákUx.
There is no one inside."

noowitiitUhčiwátAt.
Then they broke camp.
niikohnaahtakúwoʾ.
It is not known where they went.

tsu wewitaRAhwísaʾ nataraakíčI sáhniš.
But they came back ourselves Arikaras.
wešinee- niwísaʾ anináʾU wiiteešútš šohniškootíkA AhnišpiʾaananíkUx.
Then they brought him back that one young man the one whom they killed when they trapped eagles.