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in the midst of the bulls first； for they are slow。 They threw toward me
vicious glances； so I hastened my pony on to the cows。 Soon I was
enveloped in a thick cloud of dust； and completely surrounded by the herd；
who were by this time in the act of fleeing； their hoofs making a noise like
thunder。
〃I could not think of anything but my own sit… uation； which confused
me for the moment。 It seemed to me to be a desperate one。 If my pony；
which was going at full speed； should step into a badger hole； I should be
thrown to the ground and trampled under foot in an instant。 If I were to
stop； they would knock me over； pony and all。 Again； it seemed as if my
horse must fall from sheer exhaustion； and then what would become of
me？
〃At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own power。 I uttered a
yell and began to shoot right and left。 Very soon there were only a few
old bulls who remained near me。 The herd had scattered； and I was miles
away from my companions。
〃It is when we think of our personal danger that we are apt to be at a
loss to do the best thing un… der the circumstances。 One should be
unconscious of self in order to do his duty。 We are very apt to think
ourselves brave； when we are most timid。 I have discovered that half our
young men give the war…whoop when they are frightened； because they
fear lest their silence may betray their state of mind。 I think we are really
bravest when most calm and slow to action。〃
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I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adven… tures。
〃Once；〃 said he； 〃I had a somewhat peculiar experience； which I think
I never related to you before。 It was at the time of the fall hunt。 One
afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was too far away to reach
the camp before dark； so I looked about for a good place to spend the night。
This was on the Upper Missouri； before there were any white people there；
and when we were in con… stant danger from wild beasts as well as from
hos… tile Indians。 It was necessary to use every pre… caution and the
utmost vigilance。
〃I selected a spot which appeared to be well adapted to defense。 I
had killed two deer； and I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances
in various directions。 I knew that any wolf would stop for the meat； A
grizzly bear would some… times stop； but not a mountain lion or a panther。
Therefore I made a fire。 Such an animal would be apt to attack a solitary
fire。 There was a full moon that night； which was much in my favor。
〃Having cooked and eaten some of the venison； I rolled myself in my
blanket and lay down by the fire； taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed fellow。
I hugged it very closely； for I felt that I should need it during the night。 I
had scarcely settled myself when I heard what seemed to be ten or twelve
coyotes set up such a howling that I was quite sure of a visit from them。
Immediately after…。 ward I heard another sound； which was like the
screaming of a small child。 This was a porcupine； which had doubtless
smelled the meat。
〃I watched until a coyote appeared upon a flat rock fifty yards away。
He sniffed the air in every direction； then； sitting partly upon his haunches；
swung round in a circle with his hind legs sawing the air； and howled and
barked in many different keys。 It was a great feat！ I could not help won…
dering whether I should be able to imitate him。 What had seemed to be
the voices of many coy… otes was in reality only one animal。 His mate
soon appeared and then they both seemed satisfied； and showed no signs
of a wish to invite another to join them。 Presently they both suddenly
and quietly disappeared。
〃At this moment a slight noise attracted my at… tention； and I saw that
the porcupine had arrived。 He had climbed up to the piece of meat
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nearest me； and was helping himself without any cere… mony。 I thought it
was fortunate that he came； for he would make a good watch dog for me。
Very soon； in fact； he interrupted his meal； and caused all his quills to
stand out in defiance。 I glanced about me and saw the two coyotes slyly
approaching my open camp from two different di… rections。
〃I took the part of the porcupine！ I rose in a sitting posture； and sent a
swift arrow to each of my unwelcome visitors。 They both ran away with
howls of surprise and pain。
〃The porcupine saw the whole from his perch； but his meal was not at
all disturbed； for he began eating again with apparent relish。 Indeed； I
was soon furnished with another of these unconscious protectors。 This
one came from the opposite di… rection to a point where I had hung a
splendid ham of venison。 He cared to go no further； but seated himself at
once on a convenient branch and began his supper。
〃The canon above me was full of rocks and trees。 From this direction
came a startling noise； which caused me more concern than anything I had
thus far heard。 It sounded much like a huge animal stretching himself；
and giving a great yawn which ended in a scream。 I knew this for the
voice of a mountain lion； and it decided me to perch upon a limb for the
rest of the night。
〃I got up and climbed into the nearest large tree； taking my weapons
with me； but first I rolled a short log of wood in my blanket and laid it in
my place by the fire。
〃As I got up； the two porcupines began to de… scend； but I paid no
attention to them； and they soon returned to their former positions。 Very
soon I heard a hissing sound from one of them； and knew that an intruder
was near。 Two grey wolves appeared。
〃I had hung the hams by the ham strings； and they were fully eight feet
from the ground。 At first the wolves came boldly forward； but the warn…
ing of the porcupines caused them to stop； and hesitate to jump for the
meat。 However； they were hungry； and began to leap savagely for the
hams； although evidently they proved good targets for the quills of the
prickly ones； for occasionally one of them would squeal and rub his nose
des… perately against the tree。
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〃At last one of the wolves buried his teeth too deeply in a tough
portion of the flesh； and having jumped to reach it； his own weight made it
im… possible for him to loosen his upper jaw。 There the grey wolf
dangled； kicking and yelping； until the tendon of the ham gave way； and
both fell heavily to the ground。 From my hiding…place I sent two arrows
into his body； which ended his life。 The other one ran away to a little
distance and remained there a long time； as if waiting for her mate。
〃I was now very weary； but I had seen many grizzly bears' tracks in the
vicinity； and besides； I had not forgotten the dreadful scream of the
mountain lion。 I determined to continue my watch。
〃As I had half expected； there came presently a sudden heavy fall； and
at the same time the burn… ing embers were scattered about and the fire
almost extinguished。 My blanket with the log in it was rolled over
several times； amid snarls and growls。 Then the assailant of my campa
pantherleaped back into the thick underbrush； but not before my arrow
had penetrated his side。 He snarled and tried to bite off the shaft； but
after a time be… came exhausted and lay still。
〃I could now distinguish the grey dawn in the east。 I was exceedingly
drowsy； so I fastened myself by a rope of raw…hide to the trunk of the tree
against which I leaned。 I was seated on a large limb； and soon fell asleep。
〃I was rudely awakened by the report of a gun directly under me。 At
the same time； I