ve service.
"This may be only an accident, an ordinary affair; but such things
sometimes indicate a career. The boy has had a wonderful ride. I
prophesy that he will one day hold the attention of all the people with
his doings."

This is the first remembered story of the famous chief, but other boyish
exploits foretold the man he was destined to be. He fought many sham
battles, some successful and others not; but he was always a fierce
fighter and a good loser.

Once he was engaged in a battle with snowballs. There were probably
nearly a hundred boys on each side, and the rule was that every fair hit
made the receiver officially dead. He must not participate further, but
must remain just where he was struck.

Gall's side was fast losing, and the battle was growing hotter every
minute when the youthful warrior worked toward an old water hole and
took up his position there. His side was soon annihilated and there were
eleven men left to fight him. He was pressed close in the wash-out, and
as he dodged under cover before a volley of snowballs, there suddenly
emerged in his stead a huge gray wolf. His opponents fled in every
direction in superstitious terror, for they thought he had been
transformed into the animal. To their astonishment he came out on the
farther side and ran to the line of safety, a winner!

It happened that the wolf's den had been partly covered with snow so
that no one had noticed it until the yells of the boys aroused the
inmate, and he beat a hasty retreat. The boys always looked upon this
incident as an omen.

Gall had an amiable disposition but was quick to resent insult or
injustice. This sometimes involved him in difficulties, but he seldom
fought without good cause and was popular with his associates. One of
his characteristics was his ability to organize, and this was a large
factor in his leadership when he became a man. He was tried in many
ways, and never was known to hesitate when it was a question of physical
courage and endurance. He entered the public service early in life, but
not until he had proved himself competent and passed all tests.

When a mere boy, he was once scouting for game in midwinter, far from
camp, and was overtaken by a three days' blizzard. He was forced to
abandon his horse and lie under the snow for that length of time.
He afterward said he was not particularly hungry; it was thirst and
stiffness from which he suffered most. One reason the Indian so loved
his