Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-10-18

never destroy the evil spirit IN his own
home. Draw him away TO your home,
for there you fight with greatest
strength. Persuade all the people 70
accompany you to the locality Of your
own lodge. The evil spirit in his wrath
will seek to follow them and will pillow
his way under the ground that he may
get to them again.
Eagle Feather persuaded all the
people to accompany him TO his home.
When the wicked spirit saw that the
people were leaving he became very
angry and dashed his tail about in
furious manner. To this day may be
seen the deep cracks and creViceS in
the earth which he made in the To-
cality from which the people took their
departure.
Journey Of Many Days
The long journey TO the home OF
Eagle Feather required many days be-
cause of the sickness Of the people.
One old man, when he saw that ne
could not survive the journey, request
ed that he be taken to the top Of a
nearby mountain and be permitted to
die. Eagle Feather gave directions that
the old mans wish be granted When
those who carried him reached the
summit, they laid him down with his
face turned toward the sky, and there
he may yet be seen by those who travel
over the trail leading past the noun
tain. POINTED out near Helena)
There was much rejoicing when the
travellers finally reached their destina-
ton. The people Of Eagle Feather made
the weary company comfortable and II
was not long until all the sick were
well again
~ win now continue my courtship
Of Running Fawn, thought Eagle
nut sr.fan hn 70
lodge, he found her downcast. Why is
your heart sad?' he asked.
You have brought me away from
the clear waters where once I raced
and given me lodge by a muddy
stream. / thirst for the sweet waters
Of Mi-tsi-a-do-zi we left behind
Eagle Feather reminded her that
the people were all now well, having
been delivered from the fire breath
Of the evil spirit
Yes. replied the maiden. but you
have not yet destroyed the evil spirit
and I greatly fear that If he seeks us
out that he may do my people further
harm
Recalls Totem's Words
Eagle Feather left her lodge heavy
hearted. He recalled the words OF his
totem and how the evil spirit would
pillow his way under the ground in his
pursuit OF the fleeing people. He re-
called the assurance that his own best |
fighting strength was on his own
ground. Notwithstanding however, he |
experienced some dread at the thought |
of meeting so great an antagonist.
"One day all the people were fright |
ened by great rumbling noise. There |
was a trembling Of the earth that |
fairly Jared the people off their feet /
Eagle Feather knew at once that
it was the evil spirit and that he was
boring his way through the ground.
A shrek from the skies just then
turned his eyes upward and there he
saw his totem. Quickly Black Eagle
plucked feather from his body and |
said:
This Is the feather of mighty |
magic Watch where it falls, for there |
the evil spirit will come up out OF the /
ground There be ready TO meet him /
for there the battle must be fought /
and that spot will mark the testing /
place Of your love. Touch your eyes /
with the feather that you may be sure /
to see the spirit. Otherwise you will I
not be able to behold him. Shoot ar
rows into his body to weaken him.
only keep this feather for the last
arrow, for the magic feather will carry
1t to the mortal spot of your an
tagonist
IF you fail in your fight, the evil
spirit will return into the ground
through the hole from which 1t came,
and will continue TO bring plague TO /
the people, but If you win In the fight
will purify the course underground /
through which the spirit came by the
clear waters for which your lover signs,
and they shall continue to flow as an
evidence of your lasting devotion Not
until your love dies viii the water
cease to flow
Eagle Feather watched the course
Of the magic feather as 1t slowly flut-
tered down. Hardly had 1t touched the
ground until he was at the spot with
bow and arrows. Quickly he fitted the
feather to one Of the arrows. AS he
did so he felt the ground giving way
him. He stepped to affirm
er foothold, but he began TO sink into
the ground. He then recalled what the
totem had said about touching his
eyes with the feather. He did so and
Immediately saw rising before him the
form of the evil spirit. He
trembled In fear at the appearance Of
such a form, but finding a firm place
on which to stand, began to shoot ar
rows into its body. Larger and larger
It became as it continued TO Wriggle
from the hole at the feet OF Eagle
Feather.
THE people, standing at a distance.
watched the course of the battle. They
could not see the evil spirit, but from
5he struggles Of Eagle Feather, they
Knew it was a powerful demon with
which he was contending.
Occasionally Eagle Feather would
weaken, but gather new strength as
he looked upon the sympathetic face
Of Running Fawn. Now he knew that
she loved him, and with an arm made
strong In the thought Of her love, he
drew his final arrow fitted with the
magic feather BY this time the evil
spirit had completely emerged from the
opening in the ground. AS the magic
feather shot from his bow he watched
It's course until he saw 1t pierce the
mortal spot of the evil spirit
Evil Spirit Conquered
There was great noise coming as
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