--- title: The Ants That Pushed on the Sky — The man who married the moon, and other Pueblo I… · full text with trees description: The Ants That Pushed on the Sky, «The man who married the moon, and other Pueblo Indian folk-stories» by Charles Fletcher Lummis: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: A VERY ancient and characteristic story about the origin of Isleta is based on the h --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/24/) [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 man who married the moon, and othe…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/) / The Ants That Pushed on the Sky # The Ants That Pushed on the Sky The Ants That Pushed on the Sky of «The man who married the moon, and other Pueblo Indian folk-stories» by Charles Fletcher Lummis: the whole text, 155 sentences and 2894 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/pg77804/24/page/2/) A VERY ancient and characteristic story about the origin of Isleta is based on the historic fact that part of its founders came from east of the Manzano Mountains, from one of the prehistoric pueblos whose ruins are now barely visible in those broad plains.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Once upon a time there lived in one of those villages (so runs the story) a young Indian named Kahp-too-óo-yoo, the Corn-stalk Young Man.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") He was not only a famous hunter and a brave warrior against the raiding Comanches, but a great wizard; and to him the Trues had given the power of the clouds.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") When Kahp-too-óo-yoo willed it, the glad rains fell, and made the dry fields laugh in green; and without him no one could bring water from the sky.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") His father was Old-Black-Cane, his mother was Corn-Woman, and his two sisters were Yellow-Corn-Maiden, and Blue-Corn-Maiden.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahp-too-óo-yoo had a friend, a young man of about the same age.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") But, as is often true, the friend was of a false heart, and was really a witch, though Kahp-too-óo-yoo never dreamed of such a thing.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The two young men used to go together to the mountains to get wood, and always carried their bows and arrows, to kill deer and antelopes, or whatever game they might find.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") One day the false friend came to Kahp-too-óo-yoo, and said:[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “Friend, let us go to-morrow for wood, and to hunt.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") They agreed that so they would do.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Next day they started before sunrise, and came presently to the spot where they gathered wood.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Just there they started a herd of deer.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahp-too-óo-yoo followed part of the herd, which fled to the northwest, and the friend pursued those that went southwest.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") After a long, hard chase, Kahp-too-óo-yoo killed a deer with his swift arrows, and brought it on his strong back to the place where they had separated.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Presently came the friend, very hot and tired, and with empty hands; and seeing the deer, he was pinched with jealousy.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") “Come, friend,” said Kahp-too-óo-yoo.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is well for brothers to share with brothers.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Take of this deer and cook and eat; and carry a part to your house, as if you had killed it yourself.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “Thank you,” answered the other coldly, as one who will not; but he did not accept.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") When they had gathered each a load of wood, and lashed it with rawhide thongs in bundles upon their shoulders, they trudged home--Kahp-too-óo-yoo carrying the deer on top of his wood.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") His sisters received him with joy, praising him as a hunter; and the friend went away to his house, with a heavy face.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Several different days when they went to the mountain together, the very same thing came to pass.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahp-too-óo-yoo killed each time a deer; and each time the friend came home with nothing, refusing all offers to share as brothers.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") And he grew more jealous and more sullen every day.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") At last he came again to invite Kahp-too-óo-yoo to go; but this time it was with an evil purpose that he asked.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Then again the same things happened.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Again the unsuccessful friend refused to take a share of Kahp-too-óo-yoo’s deer; and when he had sat long without a word, he said:[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Friend Kahp-too-óo-yoo, now I will prove you if you are truly my friend, for I do not think it.”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely,” said Kahp-too-óo-yoo, “if there is any way to prove myself, I will do it gladly, for truly I am your friend.”[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") “Then come, and we will play a game together, and with that I will prove you.”[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is well\![32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") But what game shall we play, for here we have nothing?”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Near them stood a broken pine-tree, with one great arm from its twisted body.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") And looking at it, the false friend said:[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “I see nothing but to play the \_gallo\_ race; and because we have no horses\[81\] we will ride this arm of the pine-tree--first I will ride, and then you.”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") \[81\] This mention of the horse is, of course, modern.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") I think it is an interpolation.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") The rest of the story bears traces of great antiquity.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") So he climbed the pine-tree, and sat astride the limb as upon a horse, and rode, reaching over to the ground as if to pick up the chicken.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") \[82\][41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") \[82\] In imitation of one of the most popular and exciting sports of the Southwestern Indians and Mexicans.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now you,” he said, coming down; and Kahp-too-óo-yoo climbed the tree and rode on the swinging branch.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") But the false friend bewitched the pine, and suddenly it grew in a moment to the very sky, carrying Kahp-too-óo-yoo.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “We do this to one another,” taunted the false friend, as the tree shot up; and taking the wood, and the deer which Kahp-too-óo-yoo had killed, he went to the village.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") There the sisters met him, and asked:[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “Where is our brother?”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") “Truly I know not, for he went northwest and I southwest; and though I waited long at the meeting-place, he did not come.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Probably he will soon return.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") But take of this deer which I killed, for sisters should share the labors of brothers.”[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") But the girls would take no meat, and went home sorrowful.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Time went on, and still there was no Kahp-too-óo-yoo.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") His sisters and his old parents wept always, and all the village was sad.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") And soon the crops grew yellow in the fields, and the springs failed, and the animals walked like weary shadows; for Kahp-too-óo-yoo, he who had the power of the clouds, was gone, and there was no rain.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") And then perished all that is green; the animals fell in the brown fields; and the gaunt people who sat to warm themselves in the sun began to die there where they sat. At last the poor old man said to his daughters:[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") “Little daughters, prepare food, for again we will go to look for your brother.”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") The girls made cakes of the blue corn-meal for the journey; and on the fourth day they started.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Old-Black-Cane hobbled to the south, his wife to the east, the elder girl to the north, and the younger to the west.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") For a great distance they traveled; and at last Blue-Corn-Maiden, who was in the north, heard a far, faint song.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") It was so little that she thought it must be imaginary; but she stopped to listen, and softly, softly it came again:[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Tó-ai-fóo-ni-hlóo-hlim, Eng-k’hai k’háhm; Eé-eh-bóori-kóon-hlee-oh, Ing-k’hai k’háhm.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah-ee-ái, ah-hee-ái, Aim\![62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") (Old-Black-Cane My father is called; Corn-Woman My mother is called.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") \_Ah-ee-ái, ah-hee-ái, Aim\![64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") When she heard this, Blue-Corn-Maiden ran until she came to her sister, and cried:[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") “Sister\![66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Sister\![67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") I think I hear our brother somewhere in captivity.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Listen!”[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Trembling, they listened; and again the song came floating to them, so soft, so sad that they wept--as to this day their people weep when a white-haired old man, filled with the memories of Kahp-too-óo-yoo, sings that plaintive melody.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely it is our brother!” they cried; and off they went running to find their parents.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") And when all listened together, again they heard the song.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, my son!” cried the poor old woman, “in what captivity do you find yourself?[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") True it is that your father is Old-Black-Cane, and I, your mother, am called Corn-Woman.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") But why do you sing thus?”[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Then all four of them began to follow the song, and at last they came to the foot of the sky-reaching pine; but they could see nothing of Kahp-too-óo-yoo, nor could their cries reach him.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") There, on the ground, were his bow and arrows, with strings and feathers eaten away by time; and there was his pack of wood, tied with the rawhide thong, ready to be taken home.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") But after they had searched everywhere, they could not find Kahp-too-óo-yoo; and finally they went home heavy at heart.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") At last it happened that P’ah-whá-yoo-óo-deh, the Little Black Ant, took a journey and went up the bewitched pine, even to its top in the sky.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") When he found Kahp-too-óo-yoo there a prisoner, the Little Black Ant was astonished, and said:[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") “Great \_Kah-báy-deh\_ \[Man of Power\], how comes it that you are up here in such a condition, while your people at home are suffering and dying for rain, and few are left to meet you if you return?[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Are you here of your free will?”[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/24/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Drowning of Pecos](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/23/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/24/page/2/) - ↑ back to [The man who married the moon, and other Pueblo Indian folk-stories](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77804/)