Hero with the Horned Snakes

In ancient times, there lived some
very large snakes that glittered nearly
as bright as the sun. They had two horns
on their heads, and they possessed a magic
power of attraction. To see one of these
snakes was always a bad omen. Whoever tried
to escape from one instead ran directly toward
the snake and was devoured.
Only a highly skilled medicine man or hunter
could kill a two-horned snake. It required a
very special medicine or power. The hunter
had to shoot his arrow into the seventh stripe
of the snake’s skin.

One day a Shawnee Indian youth was held
captive by the Cherokees. He was promised his
freedom if he could find and kill a horned snake.
He hunted for many, many days in caves,
over wild mountains, and at last found one
high in the Tennessee mountains.

The Shawnee youth made a large circle of fire
by burning pine cones. Then he walked toward
the two-horned snake. When it saw the hunter,
the snake slowly raised its head.
The Shawnee youth shouted, “freedom or death!”

He then aimed carefully and shot his arrow through
the seventh stripe of the horned snake’s skin.
Turning quickly, he jumped into the center of the
ring of fire, where he felt safe from the snake.

A stream of poison flowed from the snake,
but was stopped by the fire.
Because of the Shawnee youth’s bravery,
the grateful Cherokees granted him his
freedom as they had promised.

Four days later, some of the Cherokees went
to the spot where the youth had killed the
horned snake. They gathered fragments of
snake bones and skin, tying them into a
sacred bundle. These they kept carefully
for their children and grandchildren,
because they believed the sacred bundle
would bring good fortune to their tribe.

Also on the same spot, a small lake formed
containing black water. Into this water the
Cherokee women dipped their twigs used in their
basket making. This is how they learned to dye
their baskets black, along with other colors.