out from under the leaves, and with a whirring noise they fly
far into the wood. There they perch on an old log, or a rock, and drum
with their wings.

Some of the earth people say they are drumming for their mates. But
others still think that the birds drum to make people afraid.

So this is how the Indians say the partridges came to be. This is why
they drum, and why some of the earth children still love to hunt
partridges.

HOW THE INDIANS LEARNED TO HEAL

A long, long time ago, some Indians were running along a trail that led
to an Indian settlement. As they ran, a rabbit jumped from the bushes
and sat before them.

[Illustration: MEDICINE RATTLE]

The Indians stopped, for the rabbit still sat up before them and did not
move from the trail. They shot their arrows at him, but the arrows came
back unstained with blood.

A second time they drew their arrows. Now no rabbit was to be seen.
Instead, an old man stood on the trail. He seemed to be weak and sick.

[Illustration]

The old man asked them for food and a place to rest. They would not
listen but went on to the settlement.

Slowly the old man followed them, down the trail to the wigwam village.
In front of each wigwam, he saw a skin placed on a pole. This he knew
was the sign of the clan to which the dwellers in that wigwam belonged.

First he stopped at a wigwam where a wolf skin hung. He asked to enter,
but they would not let him. They said, "We want no sick men here."

On he went toward another wigwam. Here a turtle's shell was hanging. But
this family would not let him in.

He tried a wigwam where he saw a beaver skin. He was told to move on.

[Illustration]

The Indians who lived in a wigwam where a deer skin was seen, were just
as unkind. Nor was he permitted to enter wigwams where hung hawk, snipe,
and heron skins.

At last he came to a wigwam where a bear skin hung.

"I will ask once more for a place to rest," he thought.

And here a kind old woman lived. She brought food for him to eat, and
spread soft skins for him to lie upon.

The old man thanked her. He said that he was very sick. He told the
woman what plants to gather in the wood, to make him well again.

This she did, and soon he was healed.

A few days later the old man was again taken sick. Again he told the
woman what roots and leaves to gather. She did as she was told, and
soon he was well.

[Illustration]

Many times the old man fell sick. Each time he had