d and torn, but both of them recovered,
to bear from that day the high-sounding titles of "Fought-the-Bear" and
"Conquered-the-Grizzly."

XI. The Laughing Philosopher

THERE is scarcely anything so exasperating to me as the idea that the
natives of this country have no sense of humor and no faculty for mirth.
This phase of their character is well understood by those whose fortune
or misfortune it has been to live among them day in and day out at their
homes. I don't believe I ever heard a real hearty laugh away from the
Indians' fireside. I have often spent an entire evening in laughing with
them until I could laugh no more. There are evenings when the recognized
wit or story-teller of the village gives a free entertainment which
keeps the rest of the community in a convulsive state until he leaves
them. However, Indian humor consists as much in the gestures and
inflections of the voice as in words, and is really untranslatable.

Matogee (Yellow Bear) was a natural humorous speaker, and a very
diffident man at other times. He usually said little, but when he was
in the mood he could keep a large company in a roar. This was especially
the case whenever he met his brother-in-law, Tamedokah.

It was a custom with us Indians to joke more particularly with our
brothers- and sisters-in-law. But no one ever complained, or resented
any of these jokes, however personal they might be. That would be an
unpardonable breach of etiquette.

"Tamedokah, I heard that you tried to capture a buck by holding on
to his tail," said Matogee, laughing. "I believe that feat cannot be
performed any more; at least, it never has been since the pale-face
brought us the knife, the 'mysterious iron,' and the pulverized coal
that makes bullets fly. Since our ancestors hunted with stone knives and
hatchets, I say, that has never been done."

The fact was that Tamedokah had stunned a buck that day while hunting,
and as he was about to dress him the animal got up and attempted to
run, whereupon the Indian launched forth to secure his game. He only
succeeded in grasping the tail of the deer, and was pulled about all
over the meadows and the adjacent woods until the tail came off in his
hands. Matogee thought this too good a joke to be lost.

I sat near the door of the tent, and thoroughly enjoyed the story of the
comical accident.

"Yes," Tamedokah quietly replied, "I thought I would do something to
beat the story of the man who rode a youn