Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-339) and index.

The offering of the pipe -- Early boyhood -- The great vision -- The bison hunt -- At the soldier's town -- HIgh Horse's courting -- Wasichus in the hills -- The fight with Three Stars -- The rubbing out of Long Hair -- Walking the black road -- The killing of Crazy Horse -- Grandmother's land -- The compelling fear -- The horse dance -- The dog vision -- Heyoka ceremony -- The first cure -- The powers of the bison and the elk -- Across the Big Water -- The spirit journey -- The messiah -- Visions of the other world -- Bad trouble coming -- The butchering at Wounded Knee -- The end of the dream -- Author's postscript -- Transcript of letter from John G. Neihardt to Julius House, August 10, 1930 -- Gallery of the drawings by Standing Bear, Black Elk's friend -- Transcript of letter from John G. Neihardt to Nick Black Elk, 6 November 1930 --"A Great Indian Poet" from Of Making Many Books, June 20, 1931 -- "John G. Neihardt and Nicholas Black Elk" / by Raymond J. DeMallie -- "John G. Neihardt beyond Black Elk" / by Alexis N. Petri -- "Neihardt and Black Elk" / by Lori Utecht -- Comparison of the transcript and draft of "Origin of the Peace Pipe" -- Lakota words used in the text.