Buffalo Medicine Read Free

hour, Owl presented himself before the lodge of White Buffalo, and called out his presence. The old woman smiled and beckoned him inside. He could feel his heart beating rapidly as he stood before the medicine man. White Buffalo, grim and scowling as ever, motioned him to sit. After a long pause, the old man began to speak.
    â€œI have searched for a vision, my son. I have seen shadows of things to come.” The piercing old eyes seemed to bore completely through the boy. Owl felt that the medicine man was examining his very spirit, the secret part where he lived, hidden from all others. The boy repressed
a sudden urge to retreat, to escape from the powerful presence of the old man.
    â€œYou will travel far, and see strong medicines,” the hypnotic, droning voice continued. “You will find the tribe of your father.”
    Owl was startled. Did the medicine man know that he only yesterday had formed that ambition?
    â€œYou can become a great medicine man,” White Buffalo went on, “but the trail is steep and rocky.” He paused a long time. “Are you ready for the hard work that is needed?”
    Owl nodded eagerly. “Yes, Uncle, I have thought much of this through the night. I am ready.”
    By evening, the entire village was aware that Owl had apprenticed himself to the medicine man. His parents were pleased and encouraging. Owl had decided not to mention his quest for his father’s tribe, or White Buffalo’s strange vision concerning it.
    Eagle was interested, but primarily curious, as an older brother inquiring about the activities of the younger.
    Coyote found occasion to draw his grandson aside to congratulate him.
    â€œYou have chosen well, my son. There are few men who could teach you as much as White Buffalo. He would not take you as his helper unless he saw your strength and wisdom. But it will be hard!”
    The boys of Owl’s own age were overawed at the step he had taken. Most were congratulatory, but some were true to form.
    â€œOwl still thinks he is better than others,” scoffed Two Dogs. His envy now seemed to be more biting than ever. He attempted to start trouble repeatedly, but Owl resisted all taunts. Somehow, it would not seem appropriate for the medicine man’s assistant to be brawling in the dirt like other youths.
    Besides, Owl found immediately, he had very little
time for frivolous pursuits. He was kept busy helping White Buffalo with the implements of his profession. Owl carried and fetched, helped to dig roots, pick leaves, flowers, and seeds of various herbs, and prepare them for storage. At the same time he was required to learn identification and use, and how to look for likely spots where the desired plants might grow.
    Sometimes, for no apparent reason, White Buffalo would rouse his young assistant at odd hours. The two would climb the hills, Owl laboring under the load of the medicine man’s pack. He would sit and doze while the old man would dance and chant to the rising moon.
    Eventually, Owl moved into the medicine man’s lodge, to be more readily available. The cooking of Crow Woman, he decided, was not up to the standards of his mother. However, she was a pleasant, kindly old woman, who now gave to Owl the affection she had never been able to bestow on a child of her own. Owl came to love the old couple as family. He still spent much of his infrequent spare time in the lodge of his parents, however.
    When the grass began to green the following year, White Buffalo carefully instructed his assistant in the burning of the prairie. It was necessary, he pointed out, to watch, almost daily, the growth of certain of the grasses. When they became so tall, he indicated on a gnarled forefinger, it was time to burn. Too early, there would be no proper greening. Too late, it would burn poorly and destroy much new growth. Then the buffalo would not come.
    Owl was impressed by the awesome responsibility for the decision. He had