uring the period of his boyhood. His principal occupation was the practice of a fe

xtent. As we left our teepees in the morning, we were never sure that our scalps would not dangle from a pole in the afternoon! It was an uncertain life, to be sur

and arrow, foot and pony races, wrestling, swimming and imitation of the customs and habits of our fathers. We had sham fights with mud balls and willow wa

r. Before it fell to the ground a volley from the bows of the participants followed. Each player was quick to note the direction and speed of the leading

was almost always in motion, while the hunter himself was often upon the back of a pony at full gallop. Therefore, it was the off-hand shot tha

of water, and as soon as the ponies were watered, they were allowed to graze for an hour or two, while

I will challenge y

ld often explain his defeat by

"spin," and the little red men chee

the speedy ponies were picked out and riders chosen. If

le the latter, with only his head above water, glided sportively along. Finally the an

gy willow wand and thrown as boys throw apples from sticks, with considerable force. When there were fifty or a hundred players on

s opponent. The rule was that if a boy sat down, he was let alone, but as long as he remained standing within the field, he was open to an attack. No one struck with the hand, but all manner of trip

usly upon the nest; then, with a rush and war-whoop, sprang upon the object of our attack and endeavored to destroy it. But it seemed that the bees were always on the alert and never en

killed or wounded an enemy on the battle-field, to announce the act in a loud voice, we did the same. My friend, Little Wound (as I will call him, for I do not remember his name), being quite small, was unable to reach the nest until it had been well

Wound, to-day kill th

ly jumped u

ge

en he screamed as if stabbed to the hea

nto the water!" for there was a l

emies, the Bee tribe. Poor little fellow! His swollen face was sad and ashamed as he sat on a fallen log and watched the dance. Although he might well have styled himself

oggans, but six or seven of the long ribs of a buffalo, fastened together at the larger end, answered all practical purposes. Sometimes a strip of bass-wood bark, four feet long and about six inc

ed of wood, horn or bone. We whipped them with a long thong of buckskin. The handle was a st

stacle race. The top must spin all the way through. There were bars of snow over which we must pilot our top in the spoon end of our whip; then again we wou

own, and sometimes made rafts with which we crossed lakes and rivers. It was a common thing

bark and pushed us out into the swift current of the river. I cannot speak for my comrade in distress, but I can say now that I would rather ride on a swift

re different at different times, but I particularly remember one. I once had a grizzly bear for a pet, and so far as he and I were concerned, our relations wer