The Kaw Indians never lived far from a river because they knew if the deer and antelope became scarce they could always depend on the river being full of fish. Food was so plentiful, the tribe was healthy, the women were beautiful, and the men were strong.
As strong and handsome as all the braves were, Winter Fox was taller and stronger and more handsome than all the rest. His lodge was filled with soft pelts and trade goods and there was no doubt that someday he would be the Chief.
All the young women in the tribe hoped they would be his wife and often made gifts of beadwork and moccasins and would prepare their finest food for him but with so many women to choose from, he could not make up his mind.
Bright Star was a very beautiful young woman; her beadwork was the finest of anyone in the tribe. Bluebird was also very beautiful and could make the best baskets.
Turtle Woman was not the most beautiful woman in the tribe. In fact, she was the least beautiful and because she knew she was not beautiful, she was shy and quiet. While the other young women gathered together every day to talk and chatter like squirrels, Turtle Woman would walk in the woods and sit by the river. She loved the small forest creatures and would bring them crumbs and ground corn.
When she sat on a rock by the river, the birds would land at her feet to peck at the crumbs. Squirrels wanted the other scraps she brought and would stand up and shake their tails at her until she tossed something their way.
One day she saw a turtle climbing over a rock but he fell off and landed on his back. His tiny feet clawed at the air but he could not turn himself over.
Turtle Woman felt sorry for him and picked him up because he would die if he stayed on his back.
“Hello little friend, I am Turtle Woman, we share the same name,” she said.
“You have saved my life and because we share the same name, someday I will give you the thing you want most in the world,” the turtle promised.
“You are very kind, but you cannot give me what I want most. I want to marry Winter Fox but he only sees the beautiful girls and he will marry Blue Bird or Bright Star,” she said.
“It is better to be clever than beautiful,” the turtle said. “If you will come to the river in the morning and do as I say, Winter Fox will choose you for his wife.”
The turtle told Turtle Woman his plan and the next day she invited Blue Bird, Bright Star and Winter Fox to the river.
“The River has told me that he will choose the right wife for Winter Fox. Each woman who wants to marry Winter Fox will pick up a rock and throw it into the river, if the rock sinks, she is not the right woman and Winter Fox will not marry her. However, when the right woman throws her rock into the river, the river will hold it up and the rock will not sink and Winter Fox will marry her.”
Many of the women stood on the bank of the river and threw rocks into the dark water and their rocks instantly sank out of sight and they turned away disappointed. Blue Bird threw her rock and it made a big splash and disappeared into the water. Bright Star smiled as she picked up a smooth stone. She would be the wife of Winter Fox because if she failed the only woman left was Turtle Woman and Winter Fox would never pick such a plain wife when he could have the beautiful Bright Star.
Bright Star tossed her rock into the river and like the others it sank.
Everyone turned to look at Turtle Woman. Surely River would not choose this shy, plain girl to be the wife of the future chief.
Turtle Woman picked up a rock the size of her fist and tossed it into the river. Her rock did not sink into the water but floated on the surface.
No one could believe their eyes. The rock floated for several moments and then very slowly floated away on the current.
Winter Fox reached out and took Turtle Woman’s hand. River had spoken and this was the right woman to be his wife.
Turtle Woman’s greatest wish had come true.
The turtle she had saved the day before had waited under the surface of the water and her rock had landed on his shell. Then he swam out of sight and crawled up onto the river bank and shook himself and the rock slid off his back.
Turtle Woman and Chief Winter Fox were happy together and had many children.
Sometimes it is better to be clever than beautiful.
Crying Wind is the author of Crying Wind and My Searching Heart, When the Stars Danced, and Thunder in Our Hearts, Lightning in Our Veins. All her books are available from Indian Life.
