g elk, and yelled frantically
for help, crying like a woman."

"Ugh! that was only a legend," retorted Matogee, for it was he who was
the hero of this tale in his younger days. "But this is a fresh feat of
to-day. Chankpayuhah said he could not tell which was the most scared,
the buck or you," he continued. "He said the deer's eyes were bulging
out of their sockets, while Tamedokah's mouth was constantly enlarging
toward his ears, and his hair floated on the wind, shaking among the
branches of the trees. That will go down with the traditions of our
fathers," he concluded with an air of satisfaction.

"It was a singular mishap," admitted Tamedokah.

The pipe had been filled by Matogee and passed to Tamedokah
good-naturedly, still with a broad smile on his face. "It must be
acknowledged," he resumed, "that you have the strongest kind of a grip,
for no one else could hold on as long as you did, and secure such a
trophy besides. That tail will do for an eagle feather holder."

By this time the teepee was packed to overflowing. Loud laughter had
been heard issuing from the lodge of Matogee, and everybody suspected
that he had something good, so many had come to listen.

"I think we should hear the whole matter," said one of the late comers.

The teepee was brightly lit by the burning embers, and all the men were
sitting with their knees up against their chests, held in that position
by wrapping their robes tightly around loins and knees. This fixed them
something in the fashion of a rocking-chair.

"Well, no one saw him except Chankpayuhah," Matogee remarked.

"Yes, yes, he must tell us about it," exclaimed a chorus of voices.

"This is what I saw," the witness began. "I was tracking a buck and a
doe. As I approached a small opening at the creek side 'boom!' came a
report of the mysterious iron. I remained in a stooping position, hoping
to see a deer cross the opening. In this I was not disappointed, for
immediately after the report a fine buck dashed forth with Tamedokah
close behind him. The latter was holding on to the deer's tail with
both hands and his knife was in his mouth, but it soon dropped out.
'Tamedokah,' I shouted, 'haven't you got hold of the wrong animal?' but
as I spoke they disappeared into the woods.

"In a minute they both appeared again, and then it was that I began
to laugh. I could not stop. It almost killed me. The deer jumped the
longest jumps I ever saw. Tamedokah walked the longest paces