d perfect faith in my
grandmother's admonitions, and she had given me a dreadful idea of this
bird. It was one of her legends that a little boy was once standing just
outside of the teepee (tent), crying vigorously for his mother, when
Hinakaga swooped down in the darkness and carried the poor little
fellow up into the trees. It was well known that the hoot of the owl was
commonly imitated by Indian scouts when on the war-path. There had been
dreadful massacres immediately following this call. Therefore it was
deemed wise to impress the sound early upon the mind of the child.

Indian children were trained so that they hardly ever cried much in the
night. This was very expedient and necessary in their exposed life. In
my infancy it was my grandmother's custom to put me to sleep, as she
said, with the birds, and to waken me with them, until it became a
habit. She did this with an object in view. An Indian must always
rise early. In the first place, as a hunter, he finds his game best at
daybreak. Secondly, other tribes, when on the war-path, usually make
their attack very early in the morning. Even when our people are moving
about leisurely, we like to rise before daybreak, in order to travel
when the air is cool, and unobserved, perchance, by our enemies.

As a little child, it was instilled into me to be silent and reticent.
This was one of the most important traits to form in the character
of the Indian. As a hunter and warrior it was considered absolutely
necessary to him, and was thought to lay the foundations of patience and
self-control. There are times when boisterous mirth is indulged in by
our people, but the rule is gravity and decorum.

After all, my babyhood was full of interest and the beginnings of life's
realities. The spirit of daring was already whispered into my ears. The
value of the eagle feather as worn by the warrior had caught my eye.
One day, when I was left alone, at scarcely two years of age, I took my
uncle's war bonnet and plucked out all its eagle feathers to decorate my
dog and myself. So soon the life that was about me had made its impress,
and already I desired intensely to comply with all of its demands.

II. Early Hardships

ONE of the earliest recollections of my adventurous childhood is the
ride I had on a pony's side. I was passive in the whole matter. A little
girl cousin of mine was put in a bag and suspended from the horn of an
Indian saddle; but her weight must be balanc