Long ago, a tribe of Cheyenne hunters lived at the
head of a rushing stream, which eventually emptied into a large cave.
Because of the great need for a new food supply for his people, the
Chief called a council meeting.
"We should explore the large cave," he told his people. "How many
brave hunters will offer to go on this venture? Of course, it may be
very dangerous, but we have brave hunters." No one responded to the
Chief's request.
Finally, one young brave painted himself for hunting and stepped
forth, replying to the Chief, "I will go and sacrifice myself for our
people." He arrived at the cave, and to his surprise, First Brave
found two other Cheyenne hunters near the opening, where the stream
rushed underground.
"Are they here to taunt me," First Brave wondered? "Will they only
pretend to jump when I do?"
But the other two braves assured him they would go.
"No, you are mistaken about us. We really do want to enter the cave
with you," they said.
First Brave then joined hands with them and together they jumped into
the huge opening of the cave. Because of the darkness, it took some
time for their eyes to adjust. They then discovered what looked like a
door. First Brave knocked, but there was no response. He knocked
again, louder.
"What do you want, my brave ones?" asked an old Indian grandmother as
she opened her door.
"Grandmother, we are searching for a new food supply for our tribe,"
First Brave replied. "Our people never seem to have enough food to
eat."
"Are you hungry now?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, kind Grandmother, we are very hungry," all three braves
answered.
The old grandmother opened her door wide, inviting the young braves to
enter.
"Look out there!" she pointed for them to look through her window.
A beautiful wide prairie stretched before their eyes. Great herds of
buffalo were grazing contentedly. The young hunters could hardly
believe what they saw!
The old grandmother brought each of them a stone pan full of buffalo
meat. How good it tasted, as they ate and ate until they were filled.
To their surprise, more buffalo meat remained in their stone pans!
"I want you to take your stone pans of buffalo meat back to your
people at your camp," said the old grandmother. "Tell them that soon I
will send some live buffalo."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, kind Grandmother," said the three
young Cheyenne braves.
When the young hunters returned to their tribe with the gifts of
buffalo meat, their people rejoiced over the new, good food. Their
entire tribe ate heartily from the old grandmother's three magic pans,
and were grateful.
When the Cheyenne woke at dawn the next day, herds of buffalo had
mysteriously appeared, surrounding their village! They were truly
thankful to the old Indian grandmother and to the Sky Spirits for
their good fortune.
