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heavy forest that clothes the sloping side of the mountain； the scene below
was gratifying to a savage eye。 The rolling yellow plains were checkered
with herds of buffaloes。 Along the banks of the streams that ran down
from the mountains were also many elk； which usually appear at morning
and evening； and disappear into the forest during the warmer part of the
day。 Deer； too； were plenty； and the brooks were alive with trout。 Here
and there the streams were dammed by the industrious beaver。
In the interior of the forest there were lakes with many islands； where
moose； elk； deer and bears were abundant。 The water…fowl were wont to
gather here in great numbers； among them the crane； the swan； the loon；
and many of the smaller kinds。 The forest also was filled with a great va…
riety of birds。 Here the partridge drummed his loudest； while the
whippoorwill sang with spirit； and the hooting owl reigned in the night。
To me； as a boy； this wilderness was a paradise。 It was a land of
plenty。 To be sure； we did not have any of the luxuries of civilization；
but we had every convenience and opportunity and luxury of Nature。 We
had also the gift of enjoying our good fortune； whatever dangers might
lurk about us； and the truth is that we lived in blessed ignorance of any life
that was better than our own。
As soon as hunting in the woods began； the customs regulating it were
established。 The coun… cil teepee no longer existed。 A hunting bonfire
was kindled every morning at day…break； at which each brave must appear
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and report。 The man who failed to do this before the party set out on the
day's hunt was harassed by ridicule。 As a rule； the hunters started before
sunrise； and the brave who was announced throughout the camp as the
first one to return with a deer on his back； was a man to be envied。
The legend…teller； old Smoky Day； was chosen herald of the camp； and
it was he who made the announcements。 After supper was ended； we
heard his powerful voice resound among the teepees in the forest。 He
would then name a man to kindle the bonfire the next morning。 His suit
of fringed buckskin set off his splendid physique to advan… tage。
Scarcely had the men disappeared in the woods each morning than all
the boys sallied forth； ap… parently engrossed in their games and sports； but
in reality competing actively with one another in quickness of observation。
As the day advanced； they all kept the sharpest possible lookout。 Sud…
denly there would come the shrill 〃Woo…coo… hoo！〃 at the top of a boy's
voice； announcing the bringing in of a deer。 Immediately all the other
boys took up the cry； each one bent on getting ahead of the rest。 Now we
all saw the brave Wa… coota fairly bent over by his burden； a large deer
which he carried on his shoulders。 His fringed buckskin shirt was
besprinkled with blood。 He threw down the deer at the door of his wife's
mother's home； according to custom； and then walked proudly to his own。
At the door of his father's teepee he stood for a moment straight as a pine…
tree； and then entered。
When a bear was brought in； a hundred or more of these urchins were
wont to make the woods resound with their voices： 〃Wah！ wah！ wah！ Wah！
wah！ wah！ The brave White Rabbit brings a bear！ Wah！ wah ！ wah！〃
All day these sing…song cheers were kept up； as the game was brought
in。 At last； toward the close of the afternoon； all the hunters had returned；
and happiness and contentment reigned absolute； in a fashion which I have
never observed among the white people； even in the best of circumstances。
The men were lounging and smoking； the women actively engaged in the
preparation of the evening meal； and the care of the meat。 The choicest
of the game was cooked and offered to the Great Mystery； with all the
accompanying ceremonies。 This we called the 〃medicine feast。〃 Even
the women； as they lowered the boiling pot； or the fragrant roast of
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venison ready to serve； would first whisper： 〃Great Mystery； do thou
partake of this venison； and still be gracious！〃 This was the commonly
said 〃grace。〃
Everything went smoothly with us； on this oc… casion； when we first
entered the woods。 Noth… ing was wanting to our old way of living。
The killing of deer and elk and moose had to be stopped for a time； since
meat was so abundant that we had no use for them any longer。 Only the
hunting for pelts； such as those of the bear； beaver； marten； and otter was
continued。 But whenever we lived in blessed abundance； our braves
were wont to turn their thoughts to other occupationsespecially the hot…
blooded youths whose ambition it was to do something note… worthy。 At
just such moments as this there are always a number of priests in readiness；
whose vocation it is to see into the future； and each of whom con… sults his
particular interpreter of the Great Mys… tery。 （This ceremony is called by
the white people 〃making medicine。〃） To the priests the youth… ful braves
hint their impatience for the war…path。 Soon comes the desired dream or
prophecy or vision to favor their departure。
Our young men presently received their sign； and for a few days all
was hurry and excitement。 On the appointed morning we heard the songs
of the warriors and the wailing of the women； by which they bade adieu to
each other； and the eligible braves； headed by an experienced manold
Ho… tanka or Loud…Voiced Ravenset out for the Gros Ventre country。
Our older heads； to be sure； had expressed some disapproval of the
undertaking； for the country in which we were roaming was not our own；
and we were likely at any time to be taken to task by its rightful owners。
The plain truth of the matter was that we were intruders。 Hence the more
thoughtful among us preferred to be at home； and to achieve what renown
they could get by defend… ing their homes and families。 The young men；
however； were so eager for action and excitement that they must needs go
off in search of it。
From the early morning when these braves left us； led by the old war…
priest； Loud…Voiced Raven； the anxious mothers； sisters and sweethearts
counted the days。 Old Smoky Day would occa… sionally get up early in
the morning； and sing a 〃strong…heart〃 song for his absent grandson。 I
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still seem to hear the hoarse； cracked voice of the ancient singer as it
resounded among the woods。 For a long time our roving community
enjoyed unbroken peace； and we were spared any trouble or disturbance。
Our hunters often brought in a deer or elk or bear for fresh meat。 The
beautiful lakes furnished us with fish and wild…fowl for variety。 Their
placid waters； as the autumn ad… vanced； reflected the variegated colors of
the changing foliage。
It is my recollection that we were at this time encamped in the vicinity
of the 〃Turtle Moun… tain's Heart。〃 It is to the highest cone…shaped peak
that the Indians aptly give this appellation。 Our camping…ground for two
months was within a short distance of the peak； and the men made it a
point to often send one of their number to the top。 It was understood
between them and the war party that we were to remain near this spot； and
on their return trip the latter were to give the 〃smoke sign；〃 which we
would answer from the top of the hill。
One day； as we were camping on the shore of a large lake with several
islands； signs of moose were discovered； and the men went off to them on
rafts； carrying their flint…lock guns in anticipation of finding two or three
of the animals。 We little fellows； as usual； were playing do