The Red Cloud chief., 1894-01-19
THE LITTLE RED MAN.
An Interesting Legend Current Among the
Dlegsr Indiana.

-" so8V"e " -
digger Indians.
The legend Of the Little Red Man
Is, like the most Of the stories Of the
Diggers, somewhat Incomplete, but IL
resembles SO closely the stories that
have been handed down by u own
Juvenile writer's OF the past, I have
thought IL best TO relate IL in my own
way, as the pigeon English OF the In
dian is not easily understood.
Many long years ago the captain Of
the Pamblo tribe lay very sick in his
wickiup. In vain did the medicine
a brew his herbs. and apply his
lamentations, beat his tOmtOm and
make his rattle. The fever could not
be checked, and the old man steadily
sank. All the tribe mourned, and
there was much feasting and self-tOr-
ture, but the bad spirit that had sent
the fever could not be a%ppeased.
One night the captains youngest
daughter had a dream; there ap-
pesred to her the little red man, who
told her that he was the bad spirit
who had sent the fever, but that II
she would follow him he would give
her an herb which, when stepped in
water, would heal the sick. She
arose and followed him, and after .
great many hours Of tramping across
the hills and valleys they came to q
mighty gorge where the wonderful
''fever plant" grew. The little red
man plucked the herbs from the
rocks, gave them to her and told her
to hasten back to her father.
1t was only a dream, but the girl
could not forget IL. and't the next day
she left the camp and e%ndeavored to
find the gorge where grew the heal
ing herbs. For several days she
sought in vain, and then as she was
about to return she heard q voice
whisper Follow" and saw the foot
prints Of a man forming in the sand
before her, She obeyed the voice
and followed, and her invisible guide
led her to the gorge where grew the
healing herbs. She put forth her
hand to pluck them, when q voice
cried '.Stop!" and the little red man
stood before her.
you must not touch the herbs
now" he said, .'but follow me. This
is the second time you have seer me.
Now you shall see the home OF the
bad spirit. Follow"
Again she followed, for she feared
the little red man and was anious to
please him. They entered the gloomy
gorge, where all was as silent "a
| death; here the birds and bees and
flowers were OF stone, and came to Q
mighty cavern, the walls and roof Of
which were covered with %glittering
crystals that flashed forth all the col
Ors OF the rainbow. In one corner OF
this lonely cavern was q little spring
that sparkled and sang with entrano-
ing melody. The little red man
turned to her and said:
This is the home Of the bad spirit
that sem the fever to your father. I
am he. q save your fathers life.
but you must promise that when you
have taken the herbs to him you will
return to me, drink Of the singing
spring and remain with me forever"
But the captains daughter was
frightened. The little red man was
old and hideous, and q very bad
spirit. She fed from him and re-
turned to her home, and as she en-
tered her fathers teepee the old cap
tain turned his face to the wall and
died. And unto this day the Diggers
believe that the little red nan lives
in a wonderful cavern somewhere in
the Coast range, and sends sickness
upon them because De captains
daughter would not drink Of the sing
spring and remain with him forever.