Belle Wiley

“ The Tree-dwellers were all very much pleased, and they praised the men for their bravery.
When he had finished talking, Strong-arm jumped up.
“Let us all play the hunt of today,” he said.
“You be the leader, Strong-arm,” they shouted.
[63]
“All right,” said Strong-arm; “let us pretend that the huge rhinoceros is here and we will show you just what we did.”
[64] So the men played the hunt.
They acted just as if it were real.
“This is our hunting dance,” said one of the children to Rago.
“We have a hunting dance every night after the men return from the hunt. ”

“ It was twilight when Mewanee pulled his canoe up on the river bank and walked toward his wigwam.
He was very happy indeed, that he had the three fine geese which he carried over his shoulder.
Mewanee’s mother was waiting for him, and baby brother smiled a welcome.
Little brother was still in his linden cradle.
I am sure an American child would feel quite unhappy if he were bound in a cradle so much of the time, but 63Indian babies became quite accustomed to it. They must learn to endure pain and suffering. ”

“ So all of the men went into the forest and soon came upon Rago and Goni, who were sitting on the ground, with their mother and baby sister.
“Did you call?” asked the leader.
“Yes,” answered their mother. “Will you take us with you?
“We should like to join your clan.”
“Yes,” said the leader, “we shall be glad to have you.”
“Shall we have someone to play with?” asked Rago.
“Yes, there are many boys and [51] girls in our clan,” answered the leader.
“You are very brave,” said Rago. “I watched you drive the huge rhinoceros to the edge of the cliff.” ”

“ As Mewanee entered the village, by the side of his father, all were singing and dancing. Some of the men rushed toward Mewanee and led him into the center of the merrymaking.
Then there was singing, dancing, and feasting. These Indian people were glad to honor the youth who would some day be their chief. ”

“ One strong Tree-dweller woman was feeding the fire with huge cedar logs.
Some of the young boys were playing that a cave bear had come suddenly upon them.
They had make-believe torches with which they were pretending to frighten the fierce bear.
They all stopped and looked at Rago and Goni and their mother, who had baby sister in her arms.
Baby sister began to cry when she saw so many people.
Goni clutched Rago’s arm.
[59] “I am afraid, Rago,” said Goni.
Rago was frightened also. He didn’t go very near the fire.
“You need not be afraid,” said the leader. “The fire is our friend. ”

“ SAID THE CHIEF, “I FEAR OUR ENEMY.”
At last he said, “What is the trouble, father? Why are you so silent and grave?”
“My son,” said the chief, “I fear our enemy, the Indians who live beyond that distant hill.
34“May the Great Spirit protect and guard us from their wrath.”
Then he sent Mewanee into the wigwam, while the stars said, “Good night, Mewanee, good night.”
35 IV
THE ENEMY
The chief gave a loud call.
This call was heard by all of the Indian people in the village, but only the men responded to it because the women did not take part in warfare. ”

“ Mewanee’s father had divided his dried meat and corn with this friendly tribe. He had also given them powdered tobacco. The Indian men would be unhappy without tobacco for their long pipes.
97The friendly tribe was very thankful to Mewanee’s father for his kindness to them.
They were collected around the camp fire that night. The children and women were in the wigwams. Only the men could take part in council.
All was hushed and silent, when suddenly the chief of the friendly tribe arose and all of the other Indians of this tribe followed their chief. ”

“ Rago and Goni weren’t a bit afraid because they were with these brave men.
“What is that?” asked Rago, pointing to the firebrand.
[52] “This is a fire-torch,” said the leader; “when we carry these we need not be afraid.
“Fire protects us from the wild beast.”
“And where do you get fire?” asked Rago.
“Not so very long ago we had a terrible storm in our forest. It thundered and lightened.
“The lightning set fire to the trees in the forest.
“At first we Tree-dwellers thought that the fire was a terrible monster. We were frightened and ran away from it. ”

“ For several hours Mewanee paddled on the beautiful, peaceful river. He 59didn’t stop for rest, and he had no food with him.
Indian boys were taught that they must endure hunger and fatigue, so Mewanee was not unhappy.
How quiet he was and how eagerly he looked first this way, then that!
Suddenly he crouched down in the bottom of the canoe. His eyes were just on a level with the top edge of the side. His arms were extended to shoot.
He was very quiet, for the flock of wild geese which he saw in the distance would scatter if he made the least noise. ”

“ When he had skinned the rabbit he laid the skin on the ground to dry.
Then the sister and brother ate [39] the rabbit’s flesh, which Rago cut into strips.
“This is good,” said Goni, as she ate the raw flesh.
Rago cracked the bones with his stone hammer and sucked the marrow from them.
“Here is a fine bone for you, Goni,” said Rago. “You can crack it with your teeth.” ”

“ Baby brother was very ill.
His mother tried to soothe her baby boy with a low, sweet lullaby, and Mewanee tried to quiet him by a soft chant. But baby brother would not be quieted.
82Mother gave him a drink made from wild roots, but this did not seem to help the little fellow.
As the day passed, his fever grew stronger and fiercer.
When the chief came home and saw how sick baby brother was he said, “The medicine man must be sent for. He will cure my son.”
The medicine man was thought to be very wise. The Indian people believed that he could cure all sickness. ”

“ They looked carefully in all directions.
“See!” said Goni, “there are some wild horses, eating on the grassy plain beyond the forest.”
“See that huge cave bear just going into his cave,” cried Rago.
“He certainly does look fierce,” said Goni.
“I suppose he will sleep all day,” said Rago.
“Let us climb down,” said Goni.
[13] “Come,” said Rago, “I am ready.”
“Do not go far, children,” said their mother, “for it is still very [14] early and there are wild beasts about.”
“I must stay near by, to watch baby sister.”
[15] “All right, mother,” said the children as they climbed down the tree. ”

“ Now one was ahead, now another!
How they laughed and shouted as they rode!
The ponies seemed to enjoy the race as much as the boys.
Some of the older boys were enjoying a game of javelins which they were playing. ”

“ Rago and Goni always slept in trees.
Really the trees were the only home Rago and Goni knew.
That night their mother had [4] selected beds in the oak trees, because the strong branches were woven together with vines.
These vines made good strong beds for the children.
Sometimes when there were no vines, the Tree-dwellers wove the [5] slender branches of the tall trees together.
This also made a strong bed to lie upon.
Very often the older Tree dwellers would just stretch themselves on a strong branch for the night.
They would tie themselves to the branch to keep from falling. ”

“ At last, tired and footsore, they reached the village in which Mewanee lived.
They were glad for a place to rest.
They threw themselves face downward upon the ground and gave thanks to the Great Spirit for sending this friendly tribe to their aid.
51 VI
THE COUNCIL
There was very little time for rest, for they must be ready to go into the forest to kill the deer and bear.
They would need many skins and much food because they were such a large party.
The women must go into the forest to cut poles for their wigwams.
Before starting on the hunt the chief called a council. ”

“ It was so near that the fire scorched it.
“When Strong-arm ate the squirrel’s meat it tasted so good that he told the other people in the clan about it.
“Since then we often roast our meat because we like it better than raw meat.”
“Do you like roasted meat, mother?” asked Rago.
“Here is a piece of meat for you, baby sister,” said Goni.
“Come, sit down with us,” said the children.
“Strong-arm has something to show us.”
[62] Strong-arm was sitting near the fire with the other Tree-dwellers about him. ”

“ Mewanee was interested in watching these two Indian women build a wigwam. They had already set the poles in a circle in the earth and tied them together at the top with strong deer sinews.
When Mewanee came up they were wrapping the skins about the poles.
There were twelve buffalo skins which had been dried in the sun and sewed together very firmly.
18How quickly they stretched the skins about the poles and fastened them to the earth with strong pegs!
One woman drove the pegs into the earth with her stone axe while the other woman held the skin. ”

“ The children ran toward Rago and Goni and pushed them toward the fire.
“It will not hurt you,” they cried.
“It will keep you warm, and protect you from the wild beasts.
“See, here is some roasted squirrel’s meat which you may have.
“Taste it and see how good it is.”
[60] Rago had never eaten roasted meat before.
“It is good,” said Rago. “I have never eaten roasted meat before.
“How did you learn that meat could be roasted?”
“One day, Strong-arm, the [61] leader of our clan, threw down a squirrel near the fire. ”

“ He wished to join them in the hunt, but he was too young.
Then he quietly stole toward the river. He carried his bow and quiver bag with him.
56His mother saw him go, but did not call him back. She wished her boy to become brave and strong.
Mewanee loved to do the things his father did. He could take straight aim, for he had used a bow and arrow ever since he was a little fellow.
When he was a little boy he used a tiny bow and short arrows, but as he grew taller and stronger his father made him longer arrows.
Mewanee’s bow and arrows were made just like the chief’s. ”

“ They seemed to be singing to Mewanee and baby brother.
Mewanee answered the song.
Indian people could talk to all the animals of the forest.
These two Indian boys were having a happy time together when their mother came from the field.
She swung her tiny papoose on her back, and away they went, Mewanee, mother and baby brother.
14Mewanee’s mother was very strong. Indian women must be strong because they have to do all of the hard work in the fields.
Mewanee’s mother looked like all of the other Indian women. She had long black hair and copper-colored skin. ”

“ The Indians at a signal from their chief collected about him.
They decided to go at once to the aid of this friendly tribe.
It did not take them long to get their war clubs and tomahawks. They were always ready for battle.
Some rushed off in canoes. Others, headed by their chief and the youth, 46jumped upon their horses and went galloping away as fast as the wind.
Still others remained at home to protect their village, fearing that the enemy might come that way.
THEY GALLOPED AWAY AS FAST AS THE WIND
On and on the Indians rushed through the forest, along the river edge. ”

“ Rago and Goni lived among the tall trees on the wooded hill near the river.
They lived with their mother and baby sister.
[2] Rago was twelve years old and Goni was seven.
Baby sister was much younger. She was too little to take care of herself.
Mother always carried her little girl with her. ”

“ A short skin skirt hung about his waist. His deer-skin moccasins made his step very light and soft.
26Mewanee also wore moccasins. His mother made them from buckskin and sewed them together with a queer bone needle threaded with deer sinews.
A WAR CLUB
In the winter the Indian people wore snowshoes and heavy fur skins over their bodies.
Mewanee jumped up and down for joy when he saw his father. He was very proud of being a chief’s son.
The chief carried his war club in his belt, and his bow and arrow in his hand. ”

“ So the boys gathered the rushes and sat down upon the ground to make the basket.
Long-head wove the rushes together for the bottom of the basket.
[84] When he had tied the ends together at the top, he wove around the sides, until the basket was deep enough. ”