. Our mimic
buffalo hunt turned into a very real buffalo scare. Fortunately, we were
near the edge of the woods and we soon disappeared among the leaves
like a covey of young prairie-chickens and some hid in the bushes while
others took refuge in tall trees.

We loved to play in the water. When we had no ponies, we often had
swimming matches of our own and sometimes made rafts with which we
crossed lakes and rivers. It was a common thing to "duck" a young or
timid boy or to carry him into deep water to struggle as best he might.

I remember a perilous ride with a companion on an unmanageable log, when
we were both less than seven years old. The older boys had put us on
this uncertain bark and pushed us out into the swift current of the
river. I cannot speak for my comrade in distress, but I can say now that
I would rather ride on a swift bronco any day than try to stay on and
steady a short log in a river. I never knew how we managed to prevent a
shipwreck on that voyage and to reach the shore.

We had many curious wild pets. There were young foxes, bears, wolves,
raccoons, fawns, buffalo calves and birds of all kinds, tamed by various
boys. My pets were different at different times, but I particularly
remember one. I once had a grizzly bear for a pet and so far as he and I
were concerned, our relations were charming and very close. But I hardly
know whether he made more enemies for me or I for him. It was his habit
to treat every boy unmercifully who injured me. He was despised for his
conduct in my interest and I was hated on account of his interference.

II. My Playmates

CHATANNA was the brother with whom I passed much of my early childhood.
From the time that I was old enough to play with boys, this brother was
my close companion. He was a handsome boy, and an affectionate comrade.
We played together, slept together and ate together; and as Chatanna was
three years the older, I naturally looked up to him as to a superior.

Oesedah was a beautiful little character. She was my cousin, and four
years younger than myself. Perhaps none of my early playmates are more
vividly remembered than is this little maiden.

The name given her by a noted medicine-man was Makah-oesetopah-win.
It means The-four-corners-of-the-earth. As she was rather small,
the abbreviation with a diminutive termination was considered more
appropriate, hence Oesedah became her common name.

Although she had a very good mother, Uncheedah