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was in the moon of strawberries； when the buffaloes sharpen and polish
their horns for bloody con… tests among themselves。
〃I advise you； my boy； never to approach a grizzly's den from the front；
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but to steal up be… hind 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 he makes any attack。 While he is
exposing himself in this fashion； aim at his heart。 Always be as cool as
the animal himself。〃 Thus he armed me against the cunning of savage
beasts by teaching me how to outwit them。
〃In hunting；〃 he would resume； 〃you will be guided by the habits of
the animal you seek。 Re… member that a moose stays in swampy or low
land or between high mountains near a spring or lake； for thirty to sixty
days at a time。 Most large game moves about continually； except the doe
in the spring； 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 must be very watchful； or you may be made a fawn of by a large
wild…cat。 They understand the characteristic call of the doe perfectly
well。
〃When you have any difficulty with a bear or a wild…catthat is； if the
creature shows signs of attacking youyou must make him fully under…
stand that you have seen him and are aware of his intentions。 If you are
not well equipped for a pitched battle； the only way to make him retreat is
to take a long sharp…pointed pole for a spear and rush toward him。 No
wild beast will face this un… less he is cornered and already wounded；
These fierce beasts are generally afraid of the common weapon of the
larger animalsthe horns； and if these are very long and sharp； they dare
not risk an open fight。
〃There is one exception to this rulethe grey wolf will attack fiercely
when very hungry。 But their courage depends upon their numbers； in this
they are like white men。 One wolf or two will never attack a man。 They
will stampede a herd of buffaloes in order to get at the calves； they will
rush upon a herd of antelopes； for these are help… less； but they are always
careful about attacking man。〃
Of this nature were the instructions of my uncle； who was widely
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known at that time as among the greatest hunters of his tribe。
All boys were expected to endure hardship without complaint。 In
savage warfare； a young man must； of course； be an athlete and used to
undergoing all sorts of privations。 He must be able to go 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
time。 He cannot refuse to do any of these things if he aspires to be a
warrior。
Sometimes my uncle would waken me very early in the morning and
challenge me to fast with him all day。 I had to accept the challenge。 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 merci… ful sun hid behind the western hills。
I can scarcely recall the time when my stern teacher began to give
sudden war…whoops over my head in the morning while I was sound
asleep。 He expected me to leap up with perfect presence of mind； always
ready to grasp a weapon of some sort and to give a shrill whoop in reply。
If I was sleepy or startled and hardly knew what 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 same time giving blood…curdling yells。
After a time I became used to this。
When Indians went upon the war…path； it was their custom to try the
new warriors thoroughly before coming to an engagement。 For instance；
when they were near a hostile camp； they would select the novices to go
after the water and make them do all sorts of things to prove their cour…
age。 In accordance with this idea； my uncle used to send me off after
water when we camped after dark in a strange place。 Perhaps the country
was full of wild beasts； and； for aught I knew； there might be scouts from
hostile bands of In… dians lurking in that very neighborhood。
Yet I never objected； for that would show cow… ardice。 I picked my
way through the woods； dipped my pail in the water and hurried back；
always careful to make as little noise as a cat。 Being only a boy； my
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heart would leap at every crackling of a dry twig or distant hooting of an
owl； until； at last； I reached our teepee。 Then my uncle would perhaps
say： 〃Ah； Hakadah； you are a thorough warrior；〃 empty out the precious
contents of the pail； and order me to go a second time。
Imagine how I felt！ But I wished to be a brave man as much as a white
boy desires to be a great lawyer or even President of the United States。
Silently I would take the pail and en… deavor to retrace my footsteps in the
dark。
With all this； our manners and morals were not neglected。 I was
made to respect the adults and especially the aged。 I was not allowed to
join in their discussions； nor even to speak in their presence； unless
requested to do so。 In… dian etiquette was very strict； and among the re…
quirements was that of avoiding the direct address。 A term of
relationship or some title of courtesy was commonly used instead of the
personal name by those who wished to show respect。 We were taught
generosity to the poor and reverence for the 〃Great Mystery。〃 Religion
was the basis of all Indian training。
I recall to the present day some of the kind warnings and reproofs that
my good grandmother was wont to give me。 〃Be strong of heartbe
patient！〃 she used to say。 She told me of a young chief who was noted
for his uncontrollable temper。 While in one of his rages he attempted to
kill a woman； for which he was slain by his own band and left unburied as
a mark of disgrace his body was simply covered with green grass。 If I
ever lost my temper； she would say：
〃Hakadah； control yourself； or you will be like that young man I told
you of； and lie under a green blanket！〃
In the old days； no young man was allowed to use tobacco in any form
until he had become an acknowledged 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 must also be a skillful hunter。 An
Indian cannot be a good husband unless he brings home plenty of game。
These precepts were in the line of our training for the wild life。
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III My Plays and Playmates
I： Games and Sports
THE Indian boy was a prince of the wilderness。 He had but very
little work to do during the period of his boyhood。 His principal
occupation was the practice of a few simple arts in warfare and the chase。
Aside from this； he was master of his time。
Whatever was required of us boys was