the close of winter rumors of famine came to the Bison clan.
Several times people came from neighboring clans and asked Antler for
food. There was plenty of meat in the cave, so she gave to those who
asked. The strangers soon went away, and the Bison clan forgot about
them.

The next summer game was scarce on several of the old hunting grounds.
There was not enough food for all. People began to wander away from
their old homes. Small groups of men, women, and children, set out in
different directions.

Game was still plenty on the lands of the Bison clan. When the
neighbors knew this, they came to hunt on these lands. The day
Fleetfoot went away to fast, strange people came and camped.

The next day the Bison clan drove them away. A few days later other
strangers came, and they, too, were driven away. Bighorn was angry
when the strangers first came, but soon he became alarmed.

Just as the men and women were holding a council to consider what to
do, the strangers disappeared. Not until Fleetfoot returned did the
Bison clan know who they were or why they came.

[Illustration: "_People began to wander away from their old homes._"]

Before Fleetfoot went away to fast, he had been curious about the Big
Bear. He had heard many stories about the Big Bear ever since he was a
child. He had heard that the Big Bear guarded the game and kept the
animals in the rocky cavern. He had wondered if he could climb the
mountains and find the cave of the Big Bear.

Before Flaker was hurt, the boys had planned to go to the mountains.
They had planned to make friends with the Big Bear and learn where he
kept the game. They had planned to climb the highest peaks and see
what there was beyond.

Once, when the boys asked Greybeard if they might go to the mountains,
Greybeard said, "No, no, my children! Wait a while. You are not yet
old enough to go."

And so the boys waited, but they still talked about going to the
cavern of the Big Bear. After Flaker was hurt they still planned, but
they planned for Fleetfoot to go alone.

One day when the boys were talking together, Greybeard came to
Fleetfoot and said, "The time you have waited for has come. Prepare
for your final test."

This was glad news for Fleetfoot. At last he was to have a chance to
prove himself worthy to rank with the men. Flaker rejoiced with
Fleetfoot, yet he could not help feeling sad.

The Bison clan had decided that Fleetfoot should go to a quiet spot.
There he