f. So I have been
thinking that if I offer him that red tartan shirt of mine it will so
please him that it will break through his reserve, and will get his
story."

"A capital plan!" shouted Sam; "and if you succeed in getting the
adventure from him we will gladly pay for the shirt."

The question now was how to find out if this plan would be successful.
Some of the Indians are very sensitive, and require careful handling.
However, Mustagan, the famous Indian guide, who had become so very
friendly with this Indian, undertook at the desire of the boys to
present their request and, as it were, incidentally to hint at the
present of the brilliant shirt.

The scheme worked admirably, and here is his interesting story:

His name was Pukumakun, which means a club or a hammer. He was a
Kinistenaux Indian, and when he was a boy his family and people lived a
part of each year on the banks of the Assiniboine River. Here he grew
up as other Indian lads, and was early taught the use of the bow and
arrows, and how to skillfully throw the lasso. He had his share of
excitements and dangers, living in those days when warlike tribes were
not far away. The war-whoop was no unusual sound, and so they lived in
a state of constant expectation of defence or attack.

Living on the prairies, he was, as soon as he was large enough, taught
how to ride the fiery native horses until he could manage the wildest of
them. Living such a life, he naturally had many adventures. The one
that is most vividly impressed on his mind, and the constant reminder of
which he carries in the great scar on his face, is the one that he here
gives the boys.

It was many years ago when, as a boy of about twelve years of age, he
was living with his father and mother in an Indian village not far from
the Assiniboine. As game was not very plentiful that season in that
part of the country, it was decided that they should break camp and go
on a great buffalo hunt, which would last for several weeks. While the
men went to kill the buffalo the women had to go also to dry and pack
the meat and to make pemmican. The buffalo herds were far away, and so
it was many days' journey before they were found.

One day while they were travelling along over the prairies Pukumakun had
the misfortune to be bitten on his leg by a poisonous snake. His
mother, having first killed the snake, then sucked the wound until she
had drawn out nearly all the poison. By this brave