--- title: Little Friend Coyote — The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian S… · full text with trees description: Little Friend Coyote, «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: It was in the summer, when the Blackfoot and Piegan tribes were camped together, that the Blackfoot Front Wolf --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/18/) [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/) / Little Friend Coyote # Little Friend Coyote Little Friend Coyote of «The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories» by George Bird Grinnell: the whole text, 156 sentences and 3703 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/18/page/2/) It was in the summer, when the Blackfoot and Piegan tribes were camped together, that the Blackfoot Front Wolf first noticed Su-yé-sai-pi, a Piegan girl, and liked her, and determined to make her his wife.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") She was young and handsome and of good family, and her parents were well-to-do, for her father was a leading warrior of his tribe.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Front Wolf was himself a noted warrior, and had grown rich from his forays on the camps of the enemy, so when he asked for the young woman her parents were pleased—pleased to give their daughter to such a strong young man, and pleased to accept the thirty horses he sent them with the request.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") In those days, in the long ago, such inter-tribal marriages were common, for the two great camps often travelled together in quest of the buffalo, sometimes for a whole winter and summer, and thus the young people became acquainted with each other.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Again they would be separated by hundreds of miles of rolling plain.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") After their marriage the young couple continued to live in the Piegan camp, for Front Wolf had many friends there of his own age, who begged him to remain with them.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") They liked to go on raids under his leadership better than with any one else.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") It seemed to his wife as if he were always away on some expedition, so seldom was he at home, and as she had learned to respect and love him, she was very lonely during these long absences.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") One summer, only two or three days after his return from a successful war-journey against the Crows, he said to his wife: “It is a long time since I have seen my parents.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Now I think it time for me to visit them and give them some horses.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") If you have any little things you wish to send them, hurry and make them ready, so that I may take them.”[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have some pretty moccasins for your father,” said Su-yé-sai-pi, “and a fine buckskin dress for your mother; but I am not going to send them.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") I want to go with you and present them myself.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It seems as if you do not care at all for me.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Here you are just home from a long journey, and yet you would start right out again, without thinking about me at all.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “No,” Front Wolf replied, “it is not that I do not love you; you may go with me if you insist on it.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") I did not like to ask you to make the trip, for the distance is great, and there is danger on the way.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Su-yé-sai-pi was happy.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") She began her preparations at once, and only laughed at her parents when they urged her to remain with them, telling her that the plains swarmed with war parties in search of scalps and plunder, and that she would surely be killed.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") At this time the Piegans were hunting on the Lower Milk River, but the morning that Front Wolf and his wife started away the whole camp moved too, for the chiefs wished to pass the hot season along the foot-hills of the great mountains.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") At the last moment five young Blackfeet, visitors in the camp, decided that they too would return home, so they set forth with the couple, and helped drive the little herd of horses that Front Wolf intended to give his relatives.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The northern tribe was thought to be summering on the Red Deer River, and a course was roughly taken for the place where it joins the Saskatchewan.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") This brought the little party, after three or four days’ travel, to the Cypress Hills, or, as they were named by the Indians, the Gap-in-the-Middle Hills.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") They reached the southern slopes of the low buttes one morning, after being without water all the preceding day, and prepared to camp and rest at the edge of a little grove, close to which a large, clear spring bubbled up from a pile of sunken bowlders.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") They did not know that a large camp of Kutenais was just behind the hills where they stopped, and that one of their hunters, seeing them coming, had hurried home and spread the news.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Su-yé-sai-pi had scarcely started a fire when the warriors from the camp were seen to be approaching the little party from all directions, completely hemming them in.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Although these two tribes, the Blackfeet and Kutenais, had once been very friendly to each other, they were now at war.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") When the strangers approached, one of them, the chief, who had learned Blackfoot in other days, called out, “Don’t fire; we are friends; we will not harm you.”[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Front Wolf and his friends had drawn the covers from their guns, prepared to fight and to sell their lives dearly, but when Front Wolf heard this, and saw that the strangers made no motions to shoot, he lowered his rifle and said: “They intend to make peace with us; I guess they are tired of being at war with our people.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Do not be afraid; they will not harm us.”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief came up first, and shook hands with Front Wolf and the rest, saying: “I am glad to meet you.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Our camp is near.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Come over to my lodge, and we will feast and smoke.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") These were kind words.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The little party of Blackfeet did not doubt that they were sincere.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") They packed up again, mounted their horses, and rode around the hill to the lodges.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief invited them to stop with him, and they rode towards the big lodge in the centre of the village, where many people were gathered.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") There they dismounted, when suddenly their arms were taken from them by the surrounding crowd, and they were pushed into the big lodge.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a very hot day, and all around the skin lodge-covering had been raised to allow the cool breeze to pass beneath it, so the prisoners could see all that was happening without.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Their little band of horses was quickly divided and led away; and then the chief and all the men had a long talk.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently the chief came inside and sat down in his accustomed place at the back of the lodge.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Following him four warriors entered, and seizing the young Blackfoot who sat nearest the door, led him out some little distance from the lodge, where one of them brained him with a war-club, and then every one tried to get a piece of his scalp or to plunge a knife into his body.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") In a moment his hands, feet, and head were severed, and women were pushing and kicking and pounding the mutilated parts here and there, singing as they did so the shrill song of revenge.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The Blackfeet looked on at this terrible butchery of their friend with horror, but in stolid silence, all save Su-yé-sai-pi, who gave a frightened cry when she saw the poor fellow struck down, and, clasping her husband by the arm, buried her face in his breast.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief smiled, but did not speak.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently another one of the young Blackfeet was led out, and met the fate of the first one.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") One after another, when his turn came, each arose and accompanied his captors without struggle or cry, and met his death as a warrior should.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") At last all had been killed except Front Wolf and his wife, and presently they came for him.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Su-yé-sai-pi clung to him and cried and begged, but her husband himself put her from him and went out, saying to her a last kind word.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do not cry,” he said.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") “Take courage.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Take courage.”[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") As he neared the place of butchery he began to sing his war-song, and the poor wife, looking on, saw him smile as the great stone club descended, and he fell forward lifeless to the ground.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The woman now thought that her turn had come, but the executioners did not return.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") She wished that they would not delay; she wished to have the dreadful ordeal over with, so that her shadow might overtake her husband’s as it travelled along on the road to the Sandhills—home of the departed Blackfeet.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") All the Kutenais, even the women and children, had now painted their faces black, and were dancing the scalp-dance, carrying before them the scalps, stretched on long, forked willows.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") “Come,” said the chief to Su-yé-sai-pi, offering her the scalp from Front Wolf’s head—“come, join us in this dance and be happy.”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") “You may kill me,” the woman replied, “but you cannot make me dance.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") I beg you to kill me, so I may join my husband.”[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") The Kutenai laughed.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are too young to die yet,” he said; “and, besides, we do not kill women.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Before long we are going to make peace with the Blackfeet and Piegans, and when that time comes we will give you back to your people.”[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Of course it was a lie, for he had no thought of making peace, but intended to keep the woman.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Su-yé-sai-pi was very sad.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") If she sat in the lodge, the scalp-song rang in her ears; if she stepped outside, the bodies of her husband and friends greeted her eyes.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") She could do nothing but cry and wish for death to take her.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Several days passed, and the rejoicings of the camp still continued.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") One afternoon an old widow woman called her into a poor little lodge and said: “I have great pity for you, and will do what I can to help you.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") I do not know what the chief has decided to do with you, but, whatever it is, I would save you from it.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Your only chance is to try to get away from here in the night and seek your people.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") I will fill a good big pouch with dried meat and pemmican, and some moccasins, and as soon as it is dark I will place it behind my lodge.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") When the people are all asleep, and the evening fire has died out, leave your bed as quietly as you can, pick up the pouch, and hurry away in the direction from which you came.”[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Su-yé-sai-pi burst out crying.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") No one had been kind to her before, and kindness made her cry.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") She kissed her new friend, and when she could speak she said that she would try to get away that night.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") It seemed as if night would never come, and then as if the people would never stop talking and feasting and go to bed.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") But at last everything was quiet in the camp, and in the chief’s lodge the fire of small willows had died down, and the deep breathing of the occupants showed that they were asleep.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") The captive cautiously arose from her couch near the door and stole outside.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") She stood and listened a moment, and then coughed once or twice.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") No one moved inside; so, feeling sure that no one was watching her, or had noticed her come out, she went to the widow’s lodge, and found the pouch behind it, and quickly but noiselessly left the camp.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/18/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Beaver Stick](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/17/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/18/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The Punishment of the Stingy, and Other Indian Stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66596/)