Old Indian Legends · Chapter
The Tree-Bound explained
Iktomi tricks the young avenger, who possesses a magic arrow, into climbing a tree and then uses a charm to glue him to the bark.
What happens
Iktomi tricks the young avenger, who possesses a magic arrow, into climbing a tree and then uses a charm to glue him to the bark. Stealing the avenger's arrow and buckskins, Iktomi plans to kill the red eagle and win the chieftain's daughter. A young woman later frees the tree-bound brave, who departs with a gesture of gratitude.
Themes in this chapter
Trickery and Consequence
Iktomi's deceitful charm binds the avenger to the tree, leading to theft of the magic arrow and buckskins, but the avenger is eventually freed.
Transformation and Identity
The avenger is transformed into 'bark of the tree' by Iktomi's magic, and Iktomi impersonates the avenger by wearing his buckskins and carrying his arrow.
Justice and Retribution
The young woman's act of freeing the tree-bound brave restores justice after Iktomi's trickery, and the avenger's gratitude is shown through a gesture.
Characters to notice
- Iktomi
Tricks the avenger into climbing a tree, then uses a charm to bind him to the bark and steals his magic arrow and buckskins.
- Manštin
The young avenger with the magic arrow, who is tricked by Iktomi and becomes tree-bound until freed by a young woman.
- The Stranger
The avenger is referred to as a stranger by the hunters and the chieftain's messengers; he is the one with the sacred arrow.
- The Dakotas
The people of the village who live in fear of the red eagle and await the avenger's arrival.
- Dakota
The tree-bound brave is identified as a Dakota; the bird sings 'Koda Ni Dakota!' meaning 'Friend, you're a Dakota!'
Key passages
“Grow fast, grow fast to the bark of the tree... Before the brave could leap from the tree he became tight-grown to the bark.”
Iktomi chants a charm that causes the avenger to become stuck to the tree trunk as if he were part of the bark.
This is the pivotal moment of Iktomi's trickery, leading to the theft of the magic arrow.
“Oh, Iktomi, set me free!... But Iktomi's ears were like the fungus on a tree. He did not hear with them.”
The trapped avenger begs for release, but Iktomi ignores him, pretending not to hear.
Highlights Iktomi's callousness and the theme of trickery.
“With her stone axe she hurried to the tree. There before her astonished eyes clung a young brave close to the tree... she cut loose the whole bark.”
A young woman uses her stone axe to cut the bark free, releasing the avenger from the tree.
This act of kindness reverses Iktomi's trick and restores the avenger's freedom.