was not so easily decided, as there were many
competitors and they were evenly matched. This was a competition among
them to see who could get the greatest number of arrows into the air at
the same time. The method is this. Only one competes at a time. He
fills his quiver with arrows and places it on his back as he would to
carry it in hunting. Then he steps out a few feet in front of the
crowd, who to escape accident from falling arrows are all behind him.
He is allowed to feather the first arrow in the bow string, and then at
a given signal he instantly shoots. The object is to see how many
arrows he can shoot into the air before the first one fired reaches the
ground. It is a very interesting sight to watch a contest of this kind.
The eye can hardly follow, not only the arrows, but the rapid movements
of the archer, as he draws the arrows and shoots them with all his might
up into the blue sky above. Eight, ten, yes, sometimes even a dozen
arrows are thus sent with wondrous rapidity, sometimes following so
closely that it seems at times to the eye as though some succeeding
would catch up to the ones just on ahead. The greater rapidity of the
arrow just leaving the bow than that of those some hundreds of feet up
adds to this delusion.

This was ever with the Indians, ere the introduction of guns, a very
favourite sport, not only in these forest regions, but among the wild,
warlike tribes of the prairies. Exciting contests were numerous, and
sometimes rivals from different tribes contended for the honours in this
and other kinds of archery practice and feats of skill with the bow and
arrow. Catlin's brush has given us one of these exciting scenes.

After the various kinds of archery competitions the foot races began.
The first was the long race over a course that had been marked out for
two miles of a shore and back. It was not all an unbroken sandy beach.
Out in some places there were rock obstructions, and in others dense
underbrush. It was a race over a course that could well be styled good,
bad, and indifferent. It was one not only to test the endurance of the
lads, but to develop their judgment in the quickness of decision when in
a part full of difficulties. About a dozen competitors entered for this
race, and there were three prizes that were well-earned.

Then there were races for shorter distances, which were well run.

When the half-mile race was about to be run, which was open to all
comer