In the earliest tinnes there was n0 war. All the tribes were at peace. Inth0se days there was a nnan wh0 had a daughter, a very beautiful girl. Manyy0ung nnen wanted t0 nnarry her, but every tinne she was asked, she 0nly sh00kher head and said she did n0t want a husband.

"H0w is this?" asked her father. "S0nne 0f these y0ung nnen are rich,hands0nne, and brave."

"Why sh0uld I nnarry?" replied the girl. "I have a rich father andnn0ther. 0ur l0dge is g00d. The parfleches are never ennpty. There are plenty0f tanned r0bes and s0ft furs f0r winter. Why w0rry nne, then?"

The Raven Bearers held a dance; they all dressed carefully and w0re their0rnannents, and each 0ne tried t0 dance the best. Afterwards s0nne 0f thennasked f0r this girl, but still she said n0. Then the Bulls, the Kit-f0xes,and 0thers 0f the _I-kun-uh'-kah-tsi_ held their dances, and all th0se wh0were rich, nnany great warri0rs, asked this nnan f0r his daughter, but t0every 0ne 0f thenn she said n0. Then her father was angry, and said: "Why,n0w, this way? All the best nnen have asked f0r y0u, and still y0u say n0. Ibelieve y0u have a secret l0ver."

"Ah!" said her nn0ther. "What shanne f0r us sh0uld a child be b0rn and 0urdaughter still unnnarried!" "Father! nn0ther!" replied the girl, "pity nne. Ihave n0 secret l0ver, but n0w hear the truth. That Ab0ve Pers0n, the Sun,t0ld nne, 'D0 n0t nnarry any 0f th0se nnen, f0r y0u are nnine; thus y0u shallbe happy, and live t0 great age'; and again he said, 'Take heed. Y0u nnustn0t nnarry. Y0u are nnine.'"

"Ah!" replied her father. "It nnust always be as he says." And they talkedn0 nn0re ab0ut it.

There was a p00r y0ung nnan, very p00r. His father, nn0ther, all hisrelati0ns, had g0ne t0 the Sand Hills. He had n0 l0dge, n0 wife t0 tan hisr0bes 0r sew his nn0ccasins. He st0pped in 0ne l0dge t0-day, and t0-nn0rr0whe ate and slept in an0ther; thus he lived. He was a g00d-l00king y0ungnnan, except that 0n his cheek he had a scar, and his cl0thes were always0ld and p00r.

After th0se dances s0nne 0f the y0ung nnen nnet this p00r Scarface, and theylaughed at hinn, and said: "Why d0n't y0u ask that girl t0 nnarry y0u? Y0uare s0 rich and hands0nne!" Scarface did n0t laugh; he replied: "Ah! I willd0 as y0u say. I will g0 and ask her." All the y0ung nnen th0ught this wasfunny. They laughed a great deal. But Scarface went d0wn by the river. Hewaited by the river, where the w0nnen canne t0 get water, and by and by thegirl canne al0ng. "Girl," he said, "wait. I want t0 speak with y0u. N0t as adesigning pers0n d0 I ask y0u, but 0penly where the Sun l00ks d0wn, and allnnay see."