Native American Legends
Iktomi and the Turtle
A Lakota Legend
The huntsman Patkasha (turtle) stood bent over a newly slain deer.
The red-tipped arrow he drew from the wounded deer was unlike the
arrows in his own quiver. Another's stray shot had killed the deer.
Patkasha had hunted all the morning without so much as spying an
ordinary blackbird. At last returning homeward, tired and heavy-hearted
that he had no meat for the hungry mouths in his wigwam, he walked
slowly with downcast eyes.
Kind ghosts pitied the unhappy hunter and led him to the newly
slain deer, that his children should not cry for food. When Patkasha
stumbled upon the deer in his path, he exclaimed: "Good spirits
have pushed me hither! "Thus he leaned long over the gift of
the friendly ghosts.
"Hau, my friend!" said a voice behind his ear, and a
hand fell on his shoulder. It was not a spirit this time. It was
old Iktomi.
"Hau, Iktomi!" answered Patkasha, still stooping over
the deer.
"My friend, you are a skilled hunter," began Iktomi,
smiling a thin smile which spread from one ear to the other.
Suddenly raising up his head Patkasha's black eyes twinkled as
he asked: "Oh, you really say so?"
"Yes, my friend, you are a skillful fellow. Now let us have
a little contest. Let us see who can jump over the deer without
touching a hair on his hide," suggested Iktomi.
"Oh, I fear I cannot do it!" cried Patkasha, rubbing
his funny, thick palms together.
"Have no coward's doubt, Patkasha. I say you are a skillful
fellow who finds nothing hard to do." With these words Iktomi
led Patkasha a short distance away. In little puffs Patkasha laughed
uneasily. "Now, you may jump first," said Iktomi.
Patkasha, with doubled fists, swung his fat arms to and fro, all
the while biting hard his under lip.
Just before the run and leap Iktomi put in: "Let the winner
have the deer to eat! "It was too late now to say no. Patkasha
was more afraid of being called a coward than of losing the deer.
"Ho-wo," he replied, still working his short arms. At
length he started off on the run. So quick and small were his steps
that he seemed to be kicking the ground only. Then the leap!
But Patkasha tripped upon a stick and fell hard against the side
of the deer.
"He-he-he!" exclaimed Iktomi, pretending disappointment
that his friend had fallen. Lifting him to his feet, he said: "Now
it is my turn to try the high jump!" Hardly was the last word
spoken than Iktomi gave a leap high above the deer. "The game
is mine!" laughed he, patting the sullen Patkasha on the back.
"My friend, watch the deer while I go to bring my children,"
said Iktomi, darting lightly through the tall grass. Patkasha was
always ready to believe the words of scheming people and to do the
little favors any one asked of him.
However, on this occasion, he did not answer "Yes, my friend."
He realized that Iktomi's flattering tongue had made him foolish.
He turned up his nose at Iktomi, now almost out of sight, as much
as to say: "Oh, no, Iktomi; I do not hear your words!"
Soon there came a murmur of voices. The sound of laughter grew
louder and louder. All of a sudden it became hushed. Old Iktomi
led his young Iktomi brood to the place where he had left the turtle,
but it was vacant. Nowhere was there any sign of Patkasha or the
deer.
Then the babes did howl!
"Be still!" said father Iktomi to his children. "I
know where Patkasha lives. Follow me. I shall take you to the turtle's
dwelling."
He ran along a narrow footpath toward the creek nearby. Close upon
his heels came his children with tear-streaked faces.
"There!" said Iktomi in a loud whisper as he gathered
his little ones on the bank. "There is Patkasha broiling venison!
There is his tipi, and the savory fire is in his front yard! "The
young Iktomi stretched their necks and rolled their round black
eyes like newly hatched birds.
They peered into the water. "Now, I will cool Patkasha's fire.
I shall bring you the broiled venison. Watch closely. When you see
the black coals rise to the surface of the water, clap your hands
and shout aloud, for soon after that sign I shall return to you
with some tender meat."
Thus saying Iktomi plunged into the creek.
Splash! Splash!
The water leaped upward into spray. Scarcely had it become leveled
and smooth than there bubbled up many black spots. The creek was
seething with the dancing of round black things.
"The cooled fire! The coals!" laughed the brood of Iktomi.
Clapping together their little hands, they chased one another along
the edge of the creek. They shouted and hooted with great glee.
"Alas!" said a gruff voice across the water. It was Patkasha.
In a large willow tree leaning far over the water he sat upon a
large limb.
On the very same branch was a bright burning fire over which Patkasha
broiled the venison. By this time the water was calm again. No more
danced those black spots on its surface, for they were the toes
of old Iktomi.
He was drowned. The Iktomi children hurried away from the creek,
crying and calling for their water-dead father.
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