Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-02-27
LEGEND OF THE DELUGE.
Tive story ofth Flood Told by the South
western Indians.

Tive story or,h, Flood Told by the South
western Indians.
Traditions of a great deluge which at
one time covered the earth are found in
almost all ages and eli religions, says
the Brooklyn Eagle. 1t is the culmi-
nation of Rainarol Of the Morse Sagas
and of Wagner's Twilight of the
Gods.' The Algonquins believe that
the summit of Mount Washington was
the only portion of the world that was
not immersed in the flood and that it
was place of refuge for an Indian and
his wife, who became the Adam and
Eve of the Indian race. The following
legend of the Southwestern Indians
gives singular origin OF the flood and
is told in the simple and childish fash
ion peculiar to savage people. The in
cidents of the journey suggest the Brer
Rabbit and his contemporaries in negro
fable.
AS the Hare God slept one day the
sun burned his back, and waking in
wrath he set out to fight the aggres-
sor. On the way he became hungry
and took some corn, and when those
who had planted it found that it had
been stolen they set off in pursuit. The
Hare God burrowed into the ground
and when his pursuers shot their arrows
into the hole he turned them aside
with his magic breath. When they be-
gan to dig tor him he made his way by
secret passage to q gallery in rock
above, and when they had dug far down
he hurled his magic ball and caved the
earth in on their heads.
"You are buried in hole that you
dug for yourselves" he shouted.
Fighting is like eating to me. [ have
set out to kill. Every one meet will
be my enemy. Nobody shall escape my
wrath
Next day he saw two men heating
rocks and chipping arrow heads from
them. Let me help you,' he said, for
hot rocks can't burn me-" Would you
have us think that you are a ghost?"
they replied. NO, but / am a better
man than you. Hold me on these
rocks, and il don't burn you must let
me do the same to you"
The men complied, and heating the
stones to redness they placed him on
them, failingto see that by his magic
breath he kept current of air between
him and the surface. Rising unhurt he
demanded that they should submit to
the torture, and they did so. When
their flesh had been burned to the en-
trails aud they We're dead he sounded
his war-hoop and went on.
Next day he met two women picking
Ia l. = \
and thorns sinto his eyes. They did so,
but his magic breath saved his eye
balls. "You aye ghost" the women
cried. "No ghost" he answered, "but
common person. Leaves and thorns
can do no harm. Let me show you,'
and he pulled the thorns into their
faces and blinded them. "Aha, you are
caught with your own chat. am on
my way to kill the Sun. "This is good
practice" And he slew them, sounded
his war-hoop and went Oh.
Next day he saw two women making
water jugs Of willow baskets lined with
pitch and heard one of them say: "Here
comes that bad Hare God. How shall
We destroy him?" What were you say
ing?" asked the Hare God, coming up.
1--WE said: Here comes our grand
son." "a common form of endearment).
us that all? Let me get into the water
Jug. Now braid the neck" They
braided the neck very small and
laughed to think that they had en-
trapped him, but with his magic breath
he burst his prison and offered to braid
jugs about them to prove that while
they could hold water they could not
hold men and women.
They consented and when the Jugs
were finished he told them to jump out.
Try as they might they could not
break the willow withes, and he rolled
them about, laughing and deriding
them for their folly. "You are bottled
in your own jugs" said he. II am on
my way to Stay the Sun. In time shall
learn how" Then, killing them with
his magic ball, he sounded the war;
hoop and went on.
Next day he met the Bear, who was
digging hole to hide in, for he had
beard of the Hare God and was afraid.
Don't fear" said the Hare God; 81 am
not the man to hide from. How could
little fellow like me hurt so many
people?" And he helped the Bear to
dig his den, but when it was finished he
hid behind a rock and as the bear
thrust his head near him he launched
his ball at his face, and made an end of
him. Il was afraid Of this warrior,
but now he is dead in his own den"
said the Hare God, and, sounding the
war-whoop, he went on.
Next day he met the Tarantula, a
knowing fellow, who had a club that
would deal "a fatal blow to others, but
would not hurt himself, He began to
groan as the Hare God came near and
cried that he had pain, caused by an
evil spirit, Ill his head, and asked to
have it beaten out. The Hare God
took the weapon and whacked soundly,
but when the Tarantula shouted !:
Harder" he guessed that the club was
enchanted and changed it for his magic
bail, which finished the Tarantula at
once. "That is blow Of your own
seeking" remarked the slayer. Il am
on my way to kill the Sun. Now I
know 1 can do it." And sounding his
war-whoop he went on.
Next day he came to the edge of the
world and looked off into the space
whore thousands of careless people had
fallen, and there he passed the night