第11章

"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 buffaloes--a 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,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-cat--that is,if the creature shows signs of attacking you--you 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 animals--the horns,and if these are very long and sharp,they dare not risk an open fight.

"There is one exception to this rule--the 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 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.