ten a boy's name is decided upon by
reason of some important action of his own.

For the first few years of Swift Elk's life he was spoken of as the
son of Fleet Deer. When he was quite small, he stood, one evening,
watching the older boys race. They ran in couples, their companions
standing on either side of the race course. There were yells of joy
for the victors, and jeers and howls for those who were so unlucky as
to trip or stumble in the way.

A young hunter standing near noticed the shining eyes of the little
watcher and shouted, "Give the younger boys a chance!" And so the son
of Fleet Deer was started in the race with a boy of his own size.

Once, twice, thrice, did the eager child outrun his playmate amid
shouts and laughter. His little feet seemed to fly over the ground.

"He is as swift as a young elk," said the bystanders. And before the
racing was ended, the child was called again to the trial of speed,
this time with an older lad. Again he was first at the goal.

"He will be a runner like his father," said the warriors who had come
near to watch the sports of their children.

Fleet Deer, when a young man, was the fastest runner in his tribe. And
now his little son had won a race and the father was proud. He walked
slowly toward his lodge and entered the curtained opening.

"Prepare a feast in honor of our son," he said to Good Bird, his wife.

Standing in front of his wigwam, he called in a loud voice the names
of his brothers and kinsmen in the camp.

[Illustration]

They came, one by one, entered the low doorway, and were seated in a
circle close to the inner wall of the wigwam, some on the low beds and
some on mats.

Nokomis and Good Bird passed to each a wooden dish containing meat,
dried berries, parched rice, and maple sugar.

There were many prayers and much smoking of the long pipe which was
passed from host to guest. Then Fleet Deer led his son to the middle
of the wigwam. The child's face and body were painted, and his long
hair was braided and wound around his head.

"You have seen my son outrun his playmates," said the father. "You
know that he has taken the honors of victory from a companion that is
older and larger. One and another who watched the race have said that
my son is like a young elk in his running.

"I was but a lad, my kinsmen, when your former chief, my father, gave
me the name I bear. He has taken the long journey to the land of
spirits. Will you agree that his