After it had alighted they all jumped out and began to dance in the circle and sing as they danced.

One of them was very beautiful, and it seemed to the young brave that he must have her for his very own. Watching as she came to the side of the circle where he was concealed, he leapt out and tried to catch her, but quick as he was, they were the quicker, and all leapt into the basket singing and the basket went up into the sky.

The young brave reached up, and shouted his love until long after he knew that they were out of hearing, and prehaps it was imagination, but he thought he saw the one head leaning over and looking down, until it passed from the range of his vision.

The next day he came and the next day, and each day the basket came down and the maidens danced, and each day he tried to catch the one of his attachment, but in vain. Finally he made him a covering of deer hide with head and all, and he ran into the circle,

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

and leaped into the basket. Immediately all the maidens vanished and twelve deer bounded over the prairie toward the pine clad hills.

After a time he left the basket, and the circle ; and the deer came running back, and they disappeared, and twelve maidens jumped out of the grass and into the basket and were gone.