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the bill or their song or the appearance and locality of the nestin fact；
anything about the bird that impressed me as characteristic。 I made many
ridiculous errors； I must admit。 He then usually informed me of the
correct name。 Occasionally I made a hit and this he would warm… ly
commend。
He went much deeper into this science when I was a little older； that is；
about the age of eight or nine years。 He would say； for instance：
〃How do you know that there are fish in yonder lake？〃
〃Because they jump out of the water for flies at mid…day。〃
He would smile at my prompt but superficial reply。
〃What do you think of the little pebbles grouped together under the
shallow water？ and what made the pretty curved marks in the sandy
bottom and the little sand…banks？ Where do you find the fish…eating birds？
Have the in… let and the outlet of a lake anything to do with the question？〃
He did not expect a correct reply at once to all the voluminous
questions that he put to me on these occasions； but he meant to make me
observ… ant and a good student of nature。
〃Hakadah；〃 he would say to me； 〃you ought to follow the example of
the shunktokecha （wolf）。 Even when he is surprised and runs for his life；
he will pause to take one more look at you before he enters his final retreat。
So you must take a sec… ond look at everything you see。
〃It is better to view animals unobserved。 I have been a witness to
their courtships 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 buffaloesa rash act for the bears； for it
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 th