though it was a common thing for a
boy to set out for the woods quite alone, and he usually enjoyed himself
fully as much. Our game consisted mainly of small birds, rabbits,
squirrels and grouse. Fishing, too, occupied much of our time. We hardly
ever passed a creek or a pond without searching for some signs of fish.
When fish were present, we always managed to get some. Fish-lines were
made of wild hemp, sinew or horse-hair. We either caught fish with
lines, snared or speared them, or shot them with bow and arrows. In the
fall we charmed them up to the surface by gently tickling them with a
stick and quickly threw them out. We have sometimes dammed the brooks
and driven the larger fish into a willow basket made for that purpose.

It was part of our hunting to find new and strange things in the woods.
We examined the slightest sign of life; and if a bird had scratched the
leaves off the ground, or a bear dragged up a root for his morning meal,
we stopped to speculate on the time it was done. If we saw a large old
tree with some scratches on its bark, we concluded that a bear or some
raccoons must be living there. In that case we did not go any nearer
than was necessary, but later reported the incident at home. An old
deer-track would at once bring on a warm discussion as to whether it was
the track of a buck or a doe. Generally, at noon, we met and compared
our game, noting at the same time the peculiar characteristics of
everything we had killed. It was not merely a hunt, for we combined with
it the study of animal life. We also kept strict account of our game,
and thus learned who were the best shots among the boys.

I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward the birds. We often took
their eggs and their young ones. My brother Chatanna and I once had a
disagreeable adventure while bird-hunting. We were accustomed to catch
in our hands young ducks and geese during the summer, and while doing
this we happened to find a crane's nest. Of course, we were delighted
with our good luck. But, as it was already midsummer, the young
cranes--two in number--were rather large and they were a little way
from the nest; we also observed that the two old cranes were in a swampy
place near by; but, as it was moulting-time, we did not suppose that
they would venture on dry land. So we proceeded to chase the young
birds; but they were fleet runners and it took us some time to come up
with them.

Meanwhile, the parent birds had hea