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gain a lesson from it；〃 she replied。 〃It was in the forests of Minnesota； in
the country that now belongs to the Ojibways。 From the Bedawakanton
Sioux village a young married couple went into the woods to get fresh
venison。 The snow was deep； the ice was thick。 Far away in the woods
they pitched their lonely teepee。 The young man was a well…known
hunter and his wife a good maiden of the village。
〃He hunted entirely on snow…shoes； because the snow was very deep。
His wife had to wear snow…shoes too； to get to the spot where they pitched
their tent。 It was thawing the day they went out； so their path was distinct
after the freeze came again。
〃The young man killed many deer and bears。 His wife was very busy
curing the meat and try… ing out the fat while he was away hunting each
day。 In the evenings she kept on trying the fat。 He sat on one side of
the teepee and she on the other。
〃One evening； she had just lowered a kettle of fat to cool； and as she
looked into the hot fat she saw the face of an Ojibway scout looking down
at them through the smoke…hole。 She said nothing； nor did she betray
herself in any way。
〃After a little she said to her husband in a nat… ural voice：
'Marpeetopah； some one is looking at us through the smoke hole； and I
think it is an enemy's scout。'
〃Then Marpeetopah （Four…skies） took up his bow and arrows and
began to straighten and dry them for the next day's hunt； talking and
laugh… ing meanwhile。 Suddenly he turned and sent an arrow upward；
killing the Ojibway； who fell dead at their door。
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〃'Quick； Wadutah！' he exclaimed； 'you must hurry home upon our trail。
I will stay here。 When this scout does not return； the war… party may
come in a body or send another scout。 If only one comes； I can soon
dispatch him and then I will follow you。 If I do not do that； they will
overtake us in our flight。'
〃Wadutah （Scarlet） protested and begged to be allowed to stay with her
husband； but at last she came away to get reinforcements。
〃Then Marpeetopah （Four…skies） put more sticks on the fire so that the
teepee might be bright… ly lit and show him the way。 He then took the
scalp of the enemy and proceeded on his track； until he came to the
upturned root of a great tree。 There he spread out his arrows and laid out
his tomahawk。
〃Soon two more scouts were sent by the Ojib… way war…party to see
what was the trouble and why the first one failed to come back。 He heard
them as they approached。 They were on snow… shoes。 When they came
close to him； he shot an arrow into the foremost。 As for the other； in his
effort to turn quickly his snow…shoes stuck in the deep snow and detained
him； so Marpeetopah killed them both。
〃Quickly he took the scalps and followed Wa… dutah。 He ran hard。
But the Ojibways sus… pected something wrong and came to the lonely
teepee； to find all their scouts had been killed。 They followed the path of
Marpeetopah and Wa… dutah to the main village； and there a great battle
was fought on the ice。 Many were killed on both sides。 It was after
this that the Sioux moved to the Mississippi river。〃
I was sleepy by this time and I rolled myself up in my buffalo robe and
fell asleep。
II： Adventures of My Uncle
IT was a beautiful fall day'a gopher's last look back；' as we used to
say of the last warm days of the late autumn。 We were encamped beside
a wild rice lake； where two months before we had harvested our watery
fields of grain； and where we had now returned for the duck…hunting。 All
was well with us。 Ducks were killed in count… less numbers； and in the
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evenings the men hunted deer in canoes by torchlight along the shores of
the lake。 But alas！ life is made up of good times and bad times； and it is
when we are perfectly happy that we should expect some overwhelming
misfortune。
〃So it was that upon this peaceful and still morn… ing； all of a sudden a
harsh and terrible war…cry was heard！ Your father was then quite a young
man； and a very ambitious warrior； so that I was always frightened on his
account whenever there was a chance of fighting。 But I did not think of
your uncle； Mysterious Medicine； for he was not over fifteen at the time；
besides； he had never shown any taste for the field。
〃Our camp was thrown into great excitement； and as the warriors
advanced to meet the enemy； I was almost overcome by the sight of your
uncle among them！ It was of no use for me to call him backI think I
prayed in that moment to the Great Mystery to bring my boy safely home。
〃I shall never forget； as long as I live； the events of that day。 Many
brave men were killed； among them two of your uncle's intimate friends。
But when the battle was over； my boy came back； only his face was
blackened in mourning for his friends； and he bore several wounds in his
body。 I knew that he had proved himself a true warrior。
〃This was the beginning of your uncle's career； He has surpassed your
father and your grand… father； yes； all his ancestors except Jingling Thun…
der； in daring and skill。〃
Such was my grandmother's account of the maiden battle of her third
son； Mysterious Med… icine。 He achieved many other names； among
them Big Hunter； Long Rifle and White Foot… print。 He had a favorite
Kentucky rifle which he carried for many years。 The stock was several
times broken； but he always made another。 With this gun he excelled
most of his contemporaries in accuracy of aim。 He used to call the
weapon Ishtahbopopaa literal translation would be 〃Pops…the…eye。〃
My uncle； who was a father to me for ten years of my life； was almost
a giant in his propor… tions； very symmetrical and 〃straight as an arrow。〃
His face was not at all handsome。 He had very quiet and reserved
manners and was a man of action rather than of unnecessary words。
Beh