Belle Wiley

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”