--- title: Thunder Maker and Cold Maker — The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian S… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Thunder Maker and Cold Maker, «The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories» by George Bird Grinnell: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: In ancient times, before horses had come from the south and been taught to bear burdens, the people di --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/12/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Othe…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/) / Thunder Maker and Cold Maker # Thunder Maker and Cold Maker · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/12/) **2** The next day the wind changed to the north, and there came a light fall of snow; no hunting was done.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The following morning Plover Call’s husband again started out with his bow and arrows, and, as before, as soon as he left it thundered for a long time.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") The fears of the little family were again aroused, and when at night the young man returned after a long rumbling of thunder, they were all frightened, and feared that something dreadful was about to happen.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") The hunter had brought in another deer and told how he had killed it, and where he had been hunting.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why,” said Low Wolf, “I was out there, too, this morning; it is strange I did not see you.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") I should have seen your tracks anyhow.”[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") They learned the next day that he made no tracks.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") When he started out they watched him; he took four steps from the lodge door, and then suddenly vanished, the thunder beginning again and rumbling away into the distance.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") As he disappeared, a strange-looking bird was seen flying the way the thunder was muttering.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they knew that this person was really the thunder bird, and their hearts were filled with a great fear.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Four times the strange husband went hunting, always disappearing at the lodge door in his mysterious way, always accompanied by thunder, going and coming, never leaving any footprints beyond the lodge.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet when at home he was just like any other young man, light-hearted, sociable, and kind to his wife.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") The morning after his fourth hunt he said that he must go and visit his people.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is a very long distance that I must travel,” he said to them, “and I may be away many moons; but do not worry, for I shall return as soon as I can.”[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") With that he left the lodge, and peering through the folds of the doorway, they saw him vanish as before, and as the thunder rolled, saw the bird flying out across the valley, over the rim of the plain towards the south.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") The moons came, grew, and went, but Plover Call’s husband did not return.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") She was glad of it, and so were her parents, for they all feared his terrible, mysterious ways.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") One evening the young woman was again chopping wood by the river, and, again looking up, she saw a man standing near her, wearing his robe hair side out.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Again she thought it was her father, but when she addressed him he turned around, and she saw it was a stranger.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") At first she was sure it was her husband, but as he lowered his robe she saw that he was dark-faced and black-haired like herself.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who are you?” she asked.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why are you here?”[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am of your race,” he said, “but from a far-away tribe.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") I am seeking a wife; will you marry me?”[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Plover Call would not answer his question, but told him to go with her to her parents’ lodge.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Low Wolf decided that she might marry the stranger at once.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") “The other one,” he said, “that Thunder Maker, has been gone a long time, and I am sure he will never return.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") We need another drawer of the bow in case of attack, so put up your lodge again and try to live happily.”[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Although he had appeared rather strangely, and, like the Thunder Maker, had said he came from a far country, there was nothing that seemed either odd or mysterious about Plover Call’s new husband.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") He hunted with her father, prayed to Nápi, the creator, as she did, and in no respect was different from any young Blackfoot she knew.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very kind and gentle, and the girl soon loved him with all her heart.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") They lived together very happily.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") One day, as he sat in the lodge making some arrows, the distant rumbling of thunder was heard.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go!” his wife cried.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “Leave here at once; the man I told you of is returning.”[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will not leave this lodge,” said he, calmly, “for the Thunder person, nor any one else.”[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “But you must,” she replied; “he will be angry; and oh, I fear him.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Listen! he is coming nearer.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Hurry away before it is too late.”[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah,” said her husband, “you do not love me, or you would not ask this.”[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is because I do love you that I want to have you go.”[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") “Say no more,” he replied; “now that I know you love me, I shall surely stay.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") I do not fear him.”[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly the curtain of the doorway was thrown back and the Thunder Maker bounded into the lodge.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") He was very angry.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") Streams of lightning flashed continuously from his eyes.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") Sheets of ill-smelling smoke, mingled with blue flame, rolled in waves from his body.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Plover Call shut her eyes, nearly fainting at the dreadful sight, and her heart stood still from fear.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you doing here?” he cried to the man calmly scraping his arrows.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are you doing here in my lodge?[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Go at once, or I will kill you where you sit.”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do you go yourself,” the other replied, “or it will be the worse for you.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") This is my house, and this woman whom you deserted is my wife.”[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Thunder Maker sprang into the air in fury, and more fearfully than ever the lightning flashed from his eyes.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") Raising his hand to strike, he stepped suddenly towards his enemy, but the man as quickly held up some soft, white, downy eagle feathers, and blew them from his hand, and a terrible cold, biting wind filled the lodge.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Thunder Maker fell back.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") The wind increased, and the lodge shook as if it would be blown away.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Fine, sharp, stinging frost-flakes hissed in through the doorway and from under the edges of the lodge skins.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") Colder and colder it grew; and, trembling, quivering, his lips blue, his teeth chattering, Thunder Maker staggered to a bed and fell upon it.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") “You have beaten me; your power is greater than mine,” he cried.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, Cold Maker, have pity!”[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") For Plover Call’s new husband was Cold Maker, he who brings the fierce storms, the biting wind, and drifting, whirling snow from out the north.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") And now, as he saw his enemy gasping, shaking, and begging for mercy, as he lay on the bed, he laughed.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") “Will you promise never to return; never to trouble us again?” he asked.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will go, I will go,” groaned the other.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “You promise?[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Then go, and be sure you keep your word.”[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") The cold wind and the hazy frost ceased as suddenly as they had come.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Thunder Maker staggered to his feet.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") He reeled out of the lodge.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") Lightning no longer flashed from his eyes.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") The blue flame and stifling smoke no longer rolled from his person.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked very poor and sick as he disappeared.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") Now that Plover Call knew who her new husband really was, she was not at all afraid of him, although he was one of the deathless ones, who, for the time, had taken the form of man.[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") They continued to live happily together, and when summer came he went with her and her parents, and joined the great camp of the Blackfeet.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") Often Cold Maker said to her people that he could not remain with them always, but he never told them when he should go away.[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") “After I have gone,” he said once, “I will try to warn you of the approach of a cold storm.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") When you see a raven flying about in the winter, and crying its loud notes, look out, for the cold storm will be near.”[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") After many years Plover Call died of old age, and Cold Maker mourned.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") “He will leave us now,” the people said.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") They were right.[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") One day he disappeared and was seen no more.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") But his words were not forgotten.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Since that time they have named the raven after him.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") Even to this day the raven comes to give warning of an approaching storm.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/12/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/12/) - next →: [The Blindness of Pi-waṕ-ōk](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/13/) - ↑ back to [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/)