Adventures of an Indian Brave
by Andrew Lang · from The Orange Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, a young hunter lived with his father. They got ready for winter. The father made bows and arrows. He made warm clothes too.
The young hunter went to find food. He kicked a big tree. Warm fire came out! It was magic. They found many animals. He was the best hunter.
The hunter was lazy. He left his food by the river. He told his father to get it.
The old father went to the river. He slipped into the water. He turned into a piece of wood. The wood floated away.
A kind woman found the wood. She put food on it. The food disappeared! She threw the wood away. A baby appeared.
The baby grew very fast. In four days, he was a man. He went back to his old home.
The man saw his son. He felt sad. He cried. His tears became pretty birds. "Look at the pretty birds," he said. He pointed to a tall tree. The son climbed up to see.
The son climbed higher and higher. He reached a sky country.
In the sky, he found two old women. They could not see. He found a magic plant. He healed their eyes. They could see again.
The son used his hair. It became a long line. He caught fish in the river.
The old women said, "It is time to go home." They gave him a basket. "Cover your head," they said. "Do not look."
The son went down in the basket. He peeked. The basket went back up! He tried again. This time, he listened.
He heard a crow. He got out. He saw his wife and his little boy. They were so happy.
The family was together again. The young hunter said, "I learned to help and listen."
Original Story
Adventures of an Indian Brave
A long, long way off, right away in the west of America, there once
lived an old man who had one son. The country round was covered with
forests, in which dwelt all kinds of wild beasts, and the young man and
his companions used to spend whole days in hunting them, and he was the
finest hunter of all the tribe.
One morning, when winter was coming on, the youth and his companions
set off as usual to bring back some of the mountain goats and deer to
be salted down, as he was afraid of a snow-storm; and if the wind blew
and the snow drifted the forest might be impassable for some weeks.
The old man and the wife, however, would not go out, but remained in
the wigwam making bows and arrows.
It soon grew so cold in the forest that at last one of the men declared
they could walk no more, unless they could manage to warm themselves.
‘That is easily done,’ said the leader, giving a kick to a large tree.
Flames broke out in the trunk, and before it had burnt up they were as
hot as if it had been summer. Then they started off to the place where
the goats and deer were to be found in the greatest numbers, and soon
had killed as many as they wanted. But the leader killed most, as he
was the best shot.
‘Now we must cut up the game and divide it,’ said he; and so they did,
each one taking his own share; and, walking one behind the other, set
out for the village. But when they reached a great river the young man
did not want the trouble of carrying his pack any further, and left it
on the bank.
‘I am going home another way,’ he told his companions. And taking
another road he reached the village long before they did.
‘Have you returned with empty hands?’ asked the old man, as his son
opened the door.
‘Have I ever done that, that you put me such a question?’ asked the
youth. ‘No; I have slain enough to feast us for many moons, but it was
heavy, and I left the pack on the bank of the great river. Give me the
arrows, I will finish making them, and you can go to the river and
bring home the pack!’
So the old man rose and went, and strapped the meat on his shoulder;
but as he was crossing the ford the strap broke and the pack fell into
the river. He stooped to catch it, but it swirled past him. He
clutched again; but in doing so he over- balanced himself and was
hurried into some rapids, where he was knocked against some rocks, and
he sank and was drowned, and his body was carried down the stream into
smoother water when it rose to the surface again. But by this time it
had lost all likeness to a man, and was changed into a piece of wood.
The wood floated on, and the river got bigger and bigger and entered a
new country. There it was borne by the current close to the shore, and
a woman who was down there washing her clothes caught it as it passed,
and drew it out, saying to herself: ‘What a nice smooth plank! I will
use it as a table to put my food upon.’ And gathering up her clothes
she took the plank with her into her hut.
When her supper time came she stretched the board across two strings
which hung from the roof, and set upon it the pot containing a stew
that smelt very good. The woman had been working hard all day and was
very hungry, so she took her biggest spoon and plunged it into the pot.
But what was her astonishment and disgust when both pot and food
vanished instantly before her!
‘Oh, you horrid plank, you have brought me ill-luck!’ she cried. And
taking it up she flung it away from her.
The woman had been surprised before at the disappearance of her food,
but she was more astonished still when, instead of the plank, she
beheld a baby. However, she was fond of children and had none of her
own, so she made up her mind that she would keep it and take care of
it. The baby grew and throve as no baby in that country had ever done,
and in four days he was a man, and as tall and strong as any brave of
the tribe.
‘You have treated me well,’ he said, ‘and meat shall never fail to your
house. But now I must go, for I have much work to do.’
Then he set out for his home.
It took him many days to get there, and when he saw his son sitting in
his place his anger was kindled, and his heart was stirred to take
vengeance upon him. So he went out quickly into the forest and shed
tears, and each tear became a bird. ‘Stay there till I want you,’ said
he; and he returned to the hut.
‘I saw some pretty new birds, high up in a tree yonder,’ he remarked.
And the son answered: ‘Show me the way and I will get them for dinner.’
The two went out together, and after walking for about half an hour
they old man stopped. ‘That is the tree,’ he said. And the son began
to climb it.
Now a strange thing happened. The higher the young man climbed the
higher the birds seemed to be, and when he looked down the earth below
appeared no bigger than a star. Sill he tried to go back, but he could
not, and though he could not see the birds any longer he felt as if
something were dragging him up and up.
He thought that he had been climbing that tree for days, and perhaps he
had, for suddenly a beautiful country, yellow with fields of maize,
stretched before him, and he gladly left the top of the tree and
entered it. He walked through the maize without knowing where he was
going, when he heard a sound of knocking, and saw two old blind women
crushing their food between two stones. He crept up to them on tiptoe,
and when one old woman passed her dinner to the other he held out his
hand and took it and ate if for himself.
‘How slow you are kneading that cake,’ cried the other old woman at
last.
‘Why, I have given you your dinner, and what more do you want?’ replied
the second.
‘You didn’t; at least I never got it,’ said the other.
‘I certainly thought you took it from me; but here is some more.’ And
again the young man stretched out his hand; and the two old women fell
to quarrelling afresh. But when it happened for the third time the old
women suspected some trick, and one of them exclaimed:
‘I am sure there is a man here; tell me, are you not my grandson?’
‘Yes,’ answered the young man, who wished to please her, ‘and in return
for your good dinner I will see if I cannot restore your sight; for I
was taught in the art of healing by the best medicine man in the
tribe.’ And with that he left them, and wandered about till he found
the herb which he wanted. Then he hastened back to the old women, and
begging them to boil him some water, he threw the herb in. As soon as
the pot began to sing he took off the lid, and sprinkled the eyes of
the women, and sight came back to them once more.
There was no night in that country, so, instead of going to bed very
early, as he would have done in his own hut, the young man took another
walk. A splashing noise near by drew him down to a valley through
which ran a large river, and up a waterfall some salmon were leaping.
How their silver sides glistened in the light, and how he longed to
catch some of the great fellows! But how could he do it? He had
beheld no one except the old women, and it was not very likely that
they would be able to help him. So with a sigh he turned away and went
back to them, but, as he walked, a thought struck him. He pulled out
one of his hairs which hung nearly to his waist, and it instantly
became a strong line, nearly a mile in length.
‘Weave me a net that I may catch some salmon,’ said he. And they wove
him the net he asked for, and for many weeks he watched by the river,
only going back to the old women when he wanted a fish cooked.
At last, one day, when he was eating his dinner, the old woman who
always spoke first, said to him:
‘We have been very glad to see you, grandson, but now it is time that
you went home.’ And pushing aside a rock, he saw a deep hole, so deep
that he could not see to the bottom. Then they dragged a basket out of
the house, and tied a rope to it. ‘Get in, and wrap this blanket round
your head,’ said they; ‘and, whatever happens, don’t uncover it till
you get to the bottom.’ Then they bade him farewell, and he curled
himself up in the basket.
Down, down, down he went; would he ever stop going? But when the
basket did stop, the young man forgot what he had been told, and put
his head out to see what was the matter. In an instant the basket
moved, but, to his horror, instead of going down, he felt himself being
drawn upwards, and shortly after he beheld the faces of the old women.
‘You will never see your wife and son if you will not do as you are
bid,’ said they. ‘Now get in, and do not stir till you hear a crow
calling.’
This time the young man was wiser, and though the basket often stopped,
and strange creatures seemed to rest on him and to pluck at his
blanket, he held it tight till he heard the crow calling. Then he
flung off the blanket and sprang out, while the basket vanished in the
sky.
He walked on quickly down the track that led to the hut, when, before
him, he saw his wife with his little son on her back.
‘Oh! there is father at last,’ cried the boy; but the mother bade him
cease from idle talking.
‘But, mother, it is true; father is coming!’ repeated the child. And,
to satisfy him, the woman turned round and perceived her husband.
Oh, how glad they all were to be together again! And when the wind
whistled through the forest, and the snow stood in great banks round
the door, the father used to take the little boy on his knee and tell
him how he caught salmon in the Land of the Sun.
[From the Journal of the Anthropological Institute.]
Story DNA
Moral
Disrespect and thoughtlessness can lead to dire consequences, but perseverance and humility can lead to redemption and reunion.
Plot Summary
A skilled but lazy young hunter leaves his game for his old father to retrieve, leading to the father's accidental drowning and magical transformation into a piece of wood. This wood transforms into a rapidly aging baby, who becomes a man and seeks revenge on his son by luring him up an endlessly tall tree to a sky country. There, the son encounters and heals two blind old women, learns to fish magically, and eventually attempts to return home via a magical basket. After an initial failure due to disobedience, he successfully returns, reunited with his family, a wiser and more responsible man.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to humility to reunion
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is presented as a 'Journal of the Anthropological Institute' extract, suggesting it was collected as an ethnographic record of a specific Native American oral tradition, though the specific tribe is not named in this version. The term 'Indian' is a colonial-era term for indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Plot Beats (14)
- A young, skilled hunter and his old father prepare for winter.
- The hunter and companions hunt, and the hunter magically creates fire from a tree.
- The hunter, lazy, leaves his kill by a river for his father to fetch.
- The father drowns retrieving the game, transforms into a piece of wood, and floats away.
- A woman finds the wood, which magically consumes her food, then transforms into a rapidly growing baby.
- The baby grows into a man (the transformed father) in four days and sets out for his old home.
- The transformed father sees his son, sheds tears that become birds, and lures his son up a magical tree.
- The son climbs endlessly, eventually reaching a sky country.
- In the sky country, the son tricks and then heals two blind old women.
- The son uses his hair to create a fishing line and fishes for weeks.
- The old women tell the son it's time to go home and instruct him to get into a basket, warning him not to uncover his head.
- The son disobeys, peeks, and is pulled back up, forcing him to re-enter the basket and obey the instructions.
- The son successfully descends, hears a crow, and finds his wife and child.
- The family is joyfully reunited, and the father tells stories of his adventures.
Characters
The Indian Brave ★ protagonist
Finest hunter of the tribe, tall and strong
Attire: Leather tunic, leggings, moccasins, possibly adorned with feathers or beads
Skilled, initially selfish and disrespectful, later resourceful and grateful
Image Prompt & Upload
A young Native American man in his early twenties with long, dark hair braided and adorned with a single eagle feather. He has a strong, determined expression, with high cheekbones and tanned skin. He wears traditional attire: a fringed buckskin shirt with intricate beadwork, leather leggings, and moccasins. Around his neck is a bone choker. He stands tall and proud, holding a wooden bow in one hand, his posture confident and ready. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Man ⚔ antagonist
Old and frail, but capable of magic
Attire: Simple, worn clothing appropriate for an elderly Native American man
Vengeful, resentful, and cunning
Image Prompt & Upload
Elderly man with a gaunt, angular face and deep-set eyes that gleam with malice. He has a thin, cruel smile, and long, straggly white hair. He is dressed in a dark, tattered robe with a high collar, and he leans heavily on a twisted, black wooden staff. His posture is hunched yet predatory, one bony hand gripping the staff while the other is extended with fingers curled like claws. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Woman ◆ supporting
Strong and hardworking
Attire: Simple, practical clothing for working and washing clothes
Kind, nurturing, and initially lonely
Image Prompt & Upload
A mature woman in her late 40s with kind, crow's feet at the corners of her warm brown eyes. Her hair is streaked with silver and pulled back into a practical, low bun. She wears a simple, long-sleeved dress of undyed linen, covered by a sturdy, earth-brown wool apron. Her posture is straight but relaxed, standing with her hands gently clasped before her. Her expression is one of calm attentiveness and quiet strength. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Son ○ minor
Small and innocent
Attire: Small version of traditional Native American clothing
Innocent, trusting, and observant
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy around ten years old with messy, chestnut-brown hair and bright, curious eyes. He wears a simple, slightly oversized linen tunic of undyed cream, belted at the waist, with brown trousers and worn leather boots. His expression is a mix of wonder and a hint of mischief, standing with a relaxed posture, hands casually in his pockets. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Blind Old Women ◆ supporting
Blind and frail, but possessing magical abilities
Attire: Simple, worn clothing
Quarrelsome, but ultimately helpful and wise
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly woman with deep wrinkles and a gentle, knowing expression. Her hair is long, silver-white, and braided simply. Her eyes are a milky, pale blue, gazing softly into the distance. She wears a modest, earth-toned peasant dress with a long apron, the fabric slightly worn. Her posture is slightly hunched but dignified, with one weathered hand resting on a simple wooden cane. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Forest Hunting Grounds
A vast forest filled with mountain goats and deer, where the tribe hunts for food before winter. Trees are large enough to contain fire within their trunks.
Mood: dangerous, cold, practical
The brave and his companions hunt and divide the game, foreshadowing the brave's selfishness.
Image Prompt & Upload
Expansive forest hunting grounds at autumn dusk, colossal ancient trees with smoldering fires within their massive hollow trunks, mist weaving through towering trunks, dappled golden light piercing the canopy, herds of mountain goats on distant slopes, deer grazing in a clearing, fallen leaves in hues of amber and crimson, crisp pre-winter air, rich palette of deep greens, fiery oranges, and earthy browns, serene yet wild atmosphere, edge-to-edge illustration, no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Great River Bank and Ford
A wide, fast-flowing river with a ford for crossing. The river has rapids and rocks.
Mood: treacherous, fateful
The old man drowns while trying to retrieve the meat, setting the stage for his transformation and revenge.
Image Prompt & Upload
At dawn, a wide, fast-flowing river rushes over a rocky ford. Silver mist clings to the water's surface, swirling around moss-covered boulders and jagged rocks that break the current into white, churning rapids. The far bank is a steep, earthy cliff draped in ferns and ancient, gnarled roots. On the near side, smooth, water-worn stones form a shallow crossing path. The light is soft and grey, with the first hints of pink touching the misty sky, reflecting faintly on the wet surfaces of the rocks and the turbulent, deep green water. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Woman's Hut
A simple hut where a woman lives alone. It contains strings hanging from the roof and a cooking pot.
Mood: lonely, humble, magical
The plank transforms into a baby, who rapidly grows into the old man, reborn.
Image Prompt & Upload
A simple, mossy thatched hut sits in a clearing at twilight, surrounded by a dense, misty forest of birch and pine. A worn dirt path leads to its open wooden door, from which a warm, flickering orange glow spills out. Inside, visible through the doorway, a small iron cooking pot hangs over a low hearth fire, steam rising gently. Dried herbs, roots, and bundles of twine hang in thick, orderly strings from the dark wooden rafters, casting long, dancing shadows. The air is cool and still, with fireflies beginning to blink in the deep blue shadows of the trees. The overall palette is deep greens, earthy browns, and the inviting warm gold of the firelight. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Land of the Sun
A beautiful, perpetually sunny country with yellow fields of maize and a river with leaping salmon. There is a valley with a waterfall.
Mood: magical, abundant, otherworldly
The son learns about healing and fishing, preparing him for his return home.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vibrant landscape under a bright, sunny sky at high noon in the Land of the Sun. Expansive golden-yellow maize fields cover rolling hills, swaying gently in a warm breeze. A crystal-clear river meanders through the valley, its waters sparkling with sunlight, where silvery salmon leap energetically above the surface. In the background, a majestic waterfall cascades down rugged cliffs into a misty pool below. The atmosphere is serene and luminous, with vivid colors: rich yellows, lush greens, and deep azure blues. Soft shadows accentuate the textures of the fields and flowing water, creating a peaceful, idyllic scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
