Part 3 (2/2)

”It is better to view animals unobserved I have been a witness to their courtshi+ps and their quarrels and have learned many of their secrets in this way I was once the unseen spectator of a thrilling battle between a pair of grizzly bears and three buffaloes--a rash act for the bears, for it was in the moon of strawberries, when the buffaloes sharpen and polish their horns for bloody contests a therizzly's den from the front, but to steal up behind and throw your blanket or a stone in front of the hole He does not usually rush for it, but first puts his head out and listens and then comes out very indifferently and sits on his haunches on the mound in front of the hole before hehimself in this fashi+on, aim at his heart Always be as cool as the anie beasts by teaching ,” he would resuuided by the habits of the animal you seek Rehor lake, for thirty to sixty days at a tia; it is then a very easy matter to find her with the fawn

Conceal yourself in a convenient place as soon as you observe any signs of the presence of either, and then call with your birchen doe-caller

”Whichever one hears you first will soon appear in your neighborhood

But you e wild-cat They understand the characteristic call of the doe perfectly well

”When you have any difficulty with a bear or a wild-cat--that is, if the creature shows signs of attacking you--you must make him fully understand that you have seen him and are aware of his intentions If you are not well equipped for a pitched battle, the only way tosharp-pointed pole for a spear and rush toward him No wild beast will face this unless he is cornered and already wounded, These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the coer ani and sharp, they dare not risk an open fight

”There is one exception to this rule--the grey ill attack fiercely when very hungry But their courage depends upon their numbers; in this they are like white men One wolf or till never attack a et at the calves; they will rush upon a herd of antelopes, for these are helpless; but they are always careful about attacking man”

Of this nature were the instructions of reatest hunters of his tribe

All boys were expected to endure hardshi+p without coall sorts of privations He o without food and water for two or three days without displaying any weakness, or to run for a day and a night without any rest He must be able to traverse a pathless and wild country without losing his way either in the day or night tis if he aspires to be a warrior

So and challenge e

We blackened our faces with charcoal, so that every boy in the village would know that I was fasting for the day Then the little tempters would make my life a misery until the merciful sun hid behind the western hills

I can scarcely recall the tiive sudden hoops overwhile I was sound asleep

He expected rasp a weapon of soive a shrill whoop in reply If I was sleepy or startled and hardly knehat I was about, he would ridicule me and say that I need never expect to sell my scalp dear

Often he would vary these tactics by shooting off his gun just outside of the lodge while I was yet asleep, at the sa yells After a time I became used to this

When Indians went upon the war-path, it was their custoement For instance, when they were near a hostile cao after the water and e

In accordance with this idea, my uncle used to send e place Perhaps the country was full of wild beasts, and, for aught I knew, therein that very neighborhood

Yet I never objected, for that would shoardice I picked h the woods, dipped my pail in the water and hurried back, always careful toonly a boy,or distant hooting of an owl, until, at last, I reached our teepee Then h warrior,” eo a second tiine how I felt! But I wished to be a brave reat lawyer or even President of the United States

Silently I would take the pail and endeavor to retrace my footsteps in the dark

With all this, our lected I was ed I was not allowed to join in their discussions, nor even to speak in their presence, unless requested to do so Indian etiquette was very strict, and a the direct address A term of relationshi+p or some title of courtesy was commonly used instead of the personal naenerosity to the poor and reverence for the ”Great Mystery” Religion was the basis of all Indian training

I recall to the present day sorand of heart--be patient!” she used to say She toldchief as noted for his uncontrollable tees he attempted to kill a woman, for which he was slain by his own band and left unburied as a rass If I ever lost my temper, she would say:

”Hakadah, control yourself, or you will be like that young reen blanket!”

In the old days, no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any fored warrior and had achieved a record If a youth should seek a wife before he had reached the age of twenty-two or twenty-three, and been recognized as a brave man, he was sneered at and considered an ill-bred Indian He ood husband unless he brings hoa for the wild life

III MY PLAYS AND PLAYMATES