until about six inches apart. Some shake the right hand in drawing it
back. Or sign _Time_, _Sit_. Compare _Time_, _Sometimes_, _Soon_.
Fr. _pendant_; Ger. _während_.
=Whirlwind.= See _Cyclone_.
=Whiskey.= Sign _Fire_ and _Water_, or _Crazy_, _Water_. Although some
Cheyennes call beer fire-water, because of the explosion and froth.
Fr. _le whiskey_, _l’eau-de-vie_; Ger. _der Whisky_, _der Branntwein_.
[Illustration]
=Whisper=, or =Speak Privately=. Hold up flat right hand, thumb at one
side of the mouth, and incline the head. Or sign _Hide_ and _Talk_.
Fr. _chuchoter_; Ger. _flüstern_.
=White= (Color). See _Colors_.
[Illustration]
=White= or =White Man= (Hat or Cap wearers). Hold right G hand, back up
and to right, in front of, close to, and a little to left of face,
pointing to left; draw the hand to right, index finger passing
horizontally in front of eyes. Sometimes add _Man_.
Fr. _l’homme blanc_; Ger. _der Weisze_.
=Whither?= See _Question_.
[Illustration]
=Who= or =Which= (This equals that). Hold the two G fingers side by side
on left; then, keeping the relative positions, swing them to the right.
(W. C. Roe.) Probably modern. This is the same as _As_; the context
alone shows which is meant.
=Why?= See _Question_.
[Illustration]
=Wicky-up.= Swing the curved G fingers together in dome shape, left tip
resting on right tip; then change to curved 4 hands and swing down and
apart on a curve. (C)
=Wide.= See _Broad_.
=Wife.= Make signs for _Female_, then _Marry_. Usually sign _My_ (or
_His_) _Woman_.
Fr. _la femme_; Ger. _die Frau_, _die Gattin_.
=Wild.= Sign _Bad_; then push both 5 hands forward, thumbs up, six
inches apart, switching them simultaneously from side to side. Sometimes
use _Crazy_ or _Free_.
=Wild= (Wild animal). Sign _Look_ backward, then add _Go_ quickly.
Sometimes use _Free_.
Fr. _sauvage_; Ger. _wild_.
=Will.= See _Want_.
[Illustration]
=Will= or =Shall= (Futurity). Hold the right open flat hand, palm to
left, pointing straight out and elevated near ear. Push it straight
forward and upward the length of the arm. Sometimes sign _Time Ahead_ or
_Far Ahead_. Compare _Past_ and _Future_.
Fr. _le futur exprimé par l’inflexion du verbe_; Ger. _werden_,
_wollen_.
=Win= or =Overcome=. Make sign for _Kill_; and indicate in what way.
Thus, a person winning at gambling “Kills” the other in that way.
Fr. _gagner_, _vaincre_; Ger. _gewinnen_, _siegen_.
[Illustration]
=Wind.= Hold up the 5 hands, shoulder high, backs up, a few inches
apart, pointed forward and hands moved with a tremulous motion in
direction of wind. If strong wind, preface this with _Fire-off_ or
_Charge_. Or Sign _Forward_, using both hands. See _Rumor_ and _Storm_.
Fr. _le vent_; Ger. _der Wind_.
[Illustration]
=Wing.= Hold out left arm level, bent; sweep flat right 5 hand over it
from shoulder down. Or, sometimes flap one hand as in _Bird_. Compare
_Hair_.
Fr. _l’aile_; Ger. _der Flügel_.
[Illustration]
=Winter= (Cold time). Hold closed hands in front of body, forearms about
vertical, hands several inches apart; give a shivering, tremulous motion
to hands; Sometimes, and particularly with Northern Indians, the sign
for _Snow_ is made. Add _Time_, if there is any doubt.
Fr. _l’hiver_; Ger. _der Winter_.
[Illustration]
=Wipe Out=, =Excuse=, or =Forgive= (To wipe it off). Hold left hand
flat, palm up; smartly brush it with finger tips of right flat hand,
from wrist to fingers and beyond. Compare _Exterminate_ and _Color_.
For the stronger idea, see _Pardon_.
Fr. _excuser_; Ger. _verzeihen_.
[Illustration]
=Wire.= Hold right G back nearly up, pointing to left, about face high,
near left shoulder; draw it across level to right shoulder. Compare
_Creek_ and _Rope_.
Fr. _le fil de métal_; Ger. _der Draht_.
=Wise=, =Wisdom= (Heart and head good). Sign _Heart_, then touch
forehead and sign _Good_. (C) Or, _Heap_, _Understand_. Sometimes use
_Cunning_.
Fr. _sage_, _la sagesse_; Ger. _klug_, _die Weisheit_.
=Wish.= See _Want_.
[Illustration]
=Witch.= Cross the upright thumb of right hand on the middle of the
index, which is a little bent, other fingers straight, held so one can
sight over the thumb at the person meant. (Ruggles.) Also used for
_Distrust_ and _Discredited_. Widely established in the mountains.
Fr. _la sorcière_; Ger. _die Hexe_.
[Illustration]
=With= or =Together=. Hold out the flat left, fingers forward, level,
back to left; and lay the side of the right G finger, pointed forward,
against the centre of the left palm. Sometimes means _Add_. See
_Together_ and _Beside_.
Fr. _avec_, _ensemble_; Ger. _mit_, _zusammen_.
=Within= or =Inside=. See _In_.
[Illustration]
=Wolf.= Hold the right V hand, palm forward, near right shoulder,
pointing straight upward; move it a little forward and up. See _Scout_.
Fr. _le loup_; Ger. _der Wolf_.
=Wolverine.= Sign _Bear_, _Small_, and indicate bushy tail. This is
merely a description, not an established sign.
Fr. _le carcajou_, _le volverenne_; Ger. _der braune Vielfrasz_.
[Illustration]
=Woman.= Make the sign for _Female_; sometimes also indicate height.
Compare _Comb_.
Fr. _la femme_; Ger. _die Frau_.
=Wonderful.= See _Glow_.
=Wood= or =Timber=. Sign _Tree_, then indicate size and shape. Add
_Chop_ and throw forward (i.e., onto fire).
Fr. _le bois_; Ger. _das Holz_.
=Woodchuck= or =Groundhog=. With compressed right, back up, pushed
forward, rolling from side to side, indicate the animal, its _Size_;
then, with left H hand near upper lip and right H hand near lower, show
the action of the front teeth, which differ from those of other rodents
its equal in size in being _White_. This is not an established sign, but
suggested as a description.
Fr. _la grande marmotte d’Amérique_; Ger. _das virginische
Murmeltier_.
[Illustration]
=Woodcraft Boy.= The Y hand; this denotes the Horned Shield, the symbol
of the Order. (Not Indian.)
[Illustration]
=Woodcraft Girl.= Make the sign of _Sun_ on the heart and then raise it
to the zenith. (Not Indian.)
[Illustration]
=Woodpecker.= Sign _Bird_, then hold left arm upright for _Tree_ and on
this place the partly compressed right; make it hop up and tap the left
palm with curved right G.
Fr. _le pic_, _le pivert_, _l’èpeiche_; Ger. _der Specht_.
[Illustration]
=Word= (One piece of talk). Make C and lay it on the mouth, then swing
it forward and a little down. (A very doubtful sign given by Sheeaka.)
Fr. _le mot_; Ger. _das Wort_.
=Word of Honor.= See _Cross the heart_. (Pop.)
[Illustration]
=Work=, =Doing=, =Make=, or =Act=. Hold the flat hands four inches
apart, palm to palm, level, left a little ahead; push them forward a
little, simultaneously, and, at the same time, swing the points upward
and downward briskly by wrist action, so that the finger points follow
the lines shown in the cut. To complete the sign, the action should be
repeated at the left side with the hands reversed with regard to each
other; but usually the first only is given. Possibly refers to fleshing
a hide, which was about the hardest work in an Indian camp. For _Work
hard_, use both A fists instead of flat hands.
Fr. _travailler_; Ger. _arbeiten_.
=World.= See _Earth_.
[Illustration]
=Wound= (The course of arrow or bullet). Swing the right G hand toward
the body, point first, back of hand to left and front, so that the tip
just grazes the surface of the body and passes on, as though glancing
off. Compare _Ache_.
Fr. _la blessure_; Ger. _verwunden_.
[Illustration]
=Wrap.= Bring the slightly compressed hands, backs outward, in front of
body, backs of fingers of right hand resting against inner surface of
left, index fingers about horizontal; rotate the hands around each
other.
Fr. _envelopper_; Ger. _einwickeln_.
=Wrestle.= Cross the wrists about two feet in front of the face, hands
clenched as in _Prisoner_; then wriggle them from side to side.
Fr. _lutter_; Ger. _ringen_, _kämpfen_.
[Illustration]
=Wring.= Hold the left A hand palm up and the right A hand back up,
index of each touching thumb of the other as though holding a rope; then
twist by wrist action till the position of each hand is reversed.
Fr. _tordre_; Ger. _ringen_.
=Wrinkle.= Wrinkle the skin of forehead and pinch same; also draw lines
on face with finger tip. Sometimes omit last.
Fr. _la ride_, _le pli_; Ger. _die Runzel_, _die Falte_.
[Illustration]
=Write= or =Writing=. With an imaginary pencil in right fingers, write
on left palm; or in the air simply.
This last preceded by _Come_ is commonly used in European hotels for
“_Give me my bill_.”
Fr. _écrire_; Ger. _schreiben_.
=Wrong.= Sign _Honest_ and _Not_; or else _Bad_. Sometimes use
_Different_ and _Bad_. See _Crooked_.
Fr. _tort_; Ger. _unrecht_.
Y
=Year.= See _Time_.
[Illustration]
=Yell=, =Holla=, or =Cry Out=. Place the G hand on the mouth, jerking it
much upward and a little forward to show the sound coming out of the
mouth and going far. Compare _Called_.
Fr. _holá_ _hé!_ Ger. _holla!_; _hallo schreien_.
[Illustration]
=Yes= (Bowing of the head and body). Hold right hand upright near
shoulder, index and thumb only extended, others closed; move it slightly
to the left and a foot downward, at the same time closing the index over
the thumb. Or simply nod.
Fr. _oui_; Ger. _ja_.
[Illustration]
=Yesterday= (Beyond the night). Sign _Night_; then, holding left in
position, swing the right upward and to right on a curve, finishing at
height of left, palm up, i.e., _Beyond_. Or, sign _Before_ and _Day_.
Or, _One_, _Sleep_, _Behind_.
Fr. _hier_; Ger. _gestern_.
[Illustration]
=Yonder=, =Over yonder=. Point as in _There_, or with G, then swing the
finger up over and down farther ahead. Compare _Far_.
Fr. _là-bas_; Ger. _drüben_, _dort_.
[Illustration]
=You= or =Thou=. Singular, point at the person; for plural, point, then
add _All_; that is, swing the finger in a horizontal circle (You, all).
Fr. _vous_; Ger. _Sie_.
=Young= (A sprout). Hold the hand as in _Grow_; then lower it
emphatically a foot. Sometimes use _Old_ and _Not_.
Fr. _jeune_; Ger. _jung_.
=Younger.= Sign _Born_ and _After_.
Fr. _plus jeune_, _cadet_; Ger. _jünger_.
=Your.= See _Possession_.
APPENDIX
FOOTBALL SIGNALS
Code of Signals Used to Indicate Various Fouls
Signals. Fouls.
Grasping of wrist Holding
Shaking fists Unnecessary Roughness
Crossed legs Tripping
Sifting of hands Illegally in motion
Hands on Hips Off-side
Arm aloft Refusal of Penalty
Arms extended sidewise Incompleted F. Pass
Arms folded Interlocked interference
Both arms aloft Score
Military Salute Loose-ball foul
NOTE—These signals will be given to the press-stand by the referee from
behind the offensive team.
FRANK BIRCH, Referee.
BOOKS BY ERNEST THOMPSON SETON
WILD ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN, 1898
The stories of Lobo, Silverspot, Molly Cottontail, Bingo, Vixen, The
Pacing Mustang, Wully and Redruff. Price, $2.00. (Scribners.)
THE TRAIL OF THE SANDHILL STAG, 1899
The story of a long hunt that ended without a tragedy. Price, $1.50.
(Scribners.)
BIOGRAPHY OF A GRIZZLY, 1900
The story of old Wahb from cubhood to the scene in Death Gulch. Price,
$1.50. (Century Company.)
LOBO, RAG AND VIXEN, 1900
This is a school edition of number one, with some of the stories and
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THE WILD ANIMAL PLAY, 1900
A musical play in which the parts of Lobo, Wahb, Vixen, etc., are taken
by boys and girls. Price, 50c. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
THE LIVES OF THE HUNTED, 1901
The stories of Krag, Randy, Johnny Bear, The Mother Teal, Chink, The
Kangaroo Rat, and Tito, the Coyote. Price, $1.75 net. (Scribners.)
PICTURES OF WILD ANIMALS, 1901
Twelve large pictures for framing (no text), viz., Krag, Lobo, Tito Cub,
Kangaroo Rat, Grizzly, Buffalo, Bear Family, Johnny Bear, Sandhill Stag,
Coon Family, Courtaut the Wolf, Tito and her family. Price, $6.00.
(Scribners.)
KRAG AND JOHNNY BEAR, 1902
This is a school edition of Lives of the Hunted with some of the stories
and many of the pictures left out. Price, 50c. net. (Scribners.)
TWO LITTLE SAVAGES, 1903
A book of adventure and woodcraft and camping out for boys, telling how
to make bows, arrows, moccasins, costumes, teepee, war-bonnet, etc., and
how to make a fire with rubbing sticks, read Indian signs, etc. Price,
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MONARCH, THE BIG BEAR OF TALLAC, 1904
The story of a big California grizzly that is living yet. Price, $1.25
net. (Scribners.)
ANIMAL HEROES, 1905
The stories of a Slum Cat, a Homing Pigeon, The Wolf That Won, A Lynx, A
Jackrabbit, A Bull-terrier, The Winnipeg Wolf, and a White Reindeer.
Price, $1.75 net. (Scribners.)
BIRCH-BARK ROLL, 1906
The Manual of the Woodcraft Indians, first edition, 1902. (Doubleday,
Page & Co.)
WOODMYTH AND FABLE, 1905
A collection of fables, woodland verses, and camp stories. Price, $1.25
net. (Century Company.)
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, 1907
Showing the Ten Commandments to be fundamental laws of all creation. 78
pages. Price, 50c. net. (Scribners.)
THE BIOGRAPHY OF A SILVER FOX, 1909
or Domino Reynard of Goldur Town, with 100 illustrations by the author.
209 pages. Price, $1.50 net.
A companion volume to the Biography of a Grizzly. (Century Company.)
LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTHERN ANIMALS, 1909
In two sumptuous quarto volumes with 68 maps and 560 drawings by the
author. Pages 1,267. Price, $18.00 net.
Said by Roosevelt, Allen, Chapman, and Hornaday to be the best work ever
written on the Life Histories of American Animals. (Scribners.)
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, 1910
A handbook of Woodcraft, Scouting, and Life Craft including the
Birch-Bark Roll. 192 pages. Price, 50c. Out of print. (Doubleday, Page &
Co.)
ROLF IN THE WOODS, 1911
The Adventures of a Boy Scout with Indian Quonab and little dog Skookum.
Over 200 drawings by the author. Price, $1.75 net. (Doubleday, Page &
Co.)
THE ARCTIC PRAIRIES, 1911
A canoe journey of 2,000 miles in search of the Caribou. 415 pages with
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net. (Scribners.)
THE BOOK OF WOODCRAFT AND INDIAN LORE, 1912
with over 500 drawings by the author. Price, $1.75 net. (Doubleday, Page
& Co.)
THE FORESTER’S MANUAL, 1912
One hundred of the best-known forest trees of eastern North America,
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paper. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
WILD ANIMALS AT HOME, 1913
with over 150 sketches and photographs by the author. 226 pages. Price,
$1.75 net. In this Mr. Seton gives for the first time his personal
adventures in studying wild animals. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
MANUAL OF THE WOODCRAFT INDIANS, 1915
The fourteenth Birch-Bark Roll. 100 pages. 25c. paper, 75c. cloth.
(Doubleday, Page & Co.)
WILD ANIMAL WAYS, 1916
More animal stories introducing a host of new four-footed friends, with
200 illustrations by the author. Net, $1.50. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
WOODCRAFT MANUAL FOR BOYS, 1917
A handbook of Woodcraft and outdoor life for members of the Woodcraft
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WOODCRAFT MANUAL FOR GIRLS, 1917
Like the foregoing but adapted for girls. 424 pp., Illus. Price, 50c.
(Doubleday, Page & Co.)
THE PREACHER OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN.
A novel. A tale of the open country. Net, $1.35. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
SIGN TALK
A Universal Signal Code, Without Apparatus, for use in the Army, the
Navy, Camping, Hunting, Daily Life and among the Plains Indians. Net,
$3.00. (Doubleday, Page & Co.)
BY MRS. ERNEST THOMPSON SETON
(Published by DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO.)
A WOMAN TENDERFOOT, 1901
A book of outdoor adventures and camping for women and girls. How to
dress for it, where to go, and how to profit the most by camp life.
Price, $2.00.
NIMROD’S WIFE, 1907
A companion volume, giving Mrs. Seton’s side of the many camp-fires she
and her husband lighted together in the Rockies from Canada to Mexico.
Price, $1.75 net.
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS
GARDEN CITY, N. Y.
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Notes
Variant spelling and hyphenation have been preserved as printed. Simple
typographical errors have been corrected.
page xlii
The hands are always held or moved so as to illustrate,[TN: changed
hyphen to comma]
page xliv
the single-hand alphabet as given in the cut on page li[TN: was "II"]
page xlv
or, ‘I have nothing more to say,’[TN: added closing quote]
footnote 2
This would manifest itself in a growing conformity[TN: was
"comformity"]
page 49
pointing to left, rotate a little back and forth. (Blackfoot.)[TN:
moved period inside closing parenthesis.]
page 60
Fr. _le dîner_; Ger.[TN: added period]
page 61
Hold out both flat hands, palms[TN: removed comma] up, level,
page 107
because they chopped their fingers when in mourning.)[TN: period
printed outside parenthesis]
page 113
For _Kill me_ or _Beat me_, make the sign toward one’s self.[TN: was a
comma]
page 132
=Money= (Paper). Sign _Writing_ and _Money_.[TN: added period]
page 135
Fr. _le couguar_;[TN: was a period] Ger. _der Kuguar_.
page 146
O[TN: added heading]
page 216
sides of the head like the feathers in a war-bonnet.[TN: added period]
page 227
Sometimes, and particularly with Northern Indians,[TN: was a period]