If you were to hunt bison, what would you want to know about them?
In what ways can bison notice signs of danger? In what ways can
they help one another?
Watch animals, and see if they give signs to one another.
What weapons do you think the Cave-men would take when they went to
hunt the bison? How could the Cave-men help one another in hunting?
How might one man hinder the others?
[Illustration: "_At the close of the day there was not a little valley
in the surrounding country that did not have a herd of two or three
hundred bison._"]
_The First Bison Hunt of the Season_
And now the great herd of bison had come, and the Cave-men were eager
to hunt them. While they were getting ready to start they kept up this
merry song:--
_The bison have come;_
_The bison have come;_
_Now for the chase!_
_Now for the chase!_
_Bring axes and spears;_
_Bring axes and spears;_
_Now for the chase!_
_Now for the chase!_
When Scarface climbed the cliff he saw three herds of bison. The first
was feeding in an open space; the second was on a hillside, and the
third was in a narrow valley close by a deep and hidden ravine. This
was a place where the Cave-men liked to hunt. So they agreed to follow
Scarface through the hidden ravine.
Scarface led the way, and all the men followed. Not a leaf rustled
beneath their tread. Not a twig broke as they crept up the side of the
deep ravine and looked out at the herd.
Everybody wanted to get the yearlings or young cows, for their flesh
was tender and sweet. But the cows and young bison were in the center
of the herd. They were guarded by the sentinels, whose flesh was hard
and tough.
And so the Cave-men wondered how to get a young bison. They wondered
if the vigilant leader was more than a match for them. They watched
his signals, and saw fresh sentinels take the places of the hungry
ones. They noticed how quickly the bison obeyed every signal the
leader gave.
[Illustration: "_With a quick snort he turned and charged._"]
At last the Cave-men decided to attack the leader first. They waited
till he was not more than a stone's throw away. Then Scarface gave the
signal and the men made a bold attack.
Straightshaft hurled his spear with all his might, then turned to give
place to the others. The leader was taken by surprise. The men had
crept up so quietly that not till the spear whizzed through the air
did he suspect danger.
With a quick snort he turned and charged. Straightshaft ran, but the
others met the charge. They hurled their spears and dealt heavy blows
with their stone axes.
Before the leader could give the alarm he lay stretched out on the
ground. The sentinels looked for a signal. Meanwhile the cows and
yearlings tried to make their escape.
Then each of several sentinels tried to lead. But the frightened herd
did not know which one to follow. Some of the bison rushed one way and
some rushed another. Then there was a general stampede. They gored one
another with their sharp horns. They trampled one another under their
feet. They were too frightened to know what they were doing.
It was then that the Cave-men singled out the young bison. When they
had secured them for their prize, they started toward the cave,
singing--
_To-day we went hunting._
_We crept up the ravine;_
_We surprised the leader of the bison._
_He made a charge upon us--_
_We have his horns for a headdress._
_We killed many a young bison;_
_We have plenty of tender meat._
Perhaps one of the sentinels became leader of the herd that very day.
Perhaps several battles were fought to see which sentinel was the
strongest. For bison never follow a leader that is not stronger and
wiser than themselves.
#THINGS TO DO#
_Show in your sand-box where each of the three herds was feeding._
_Make a plan for hunting the herd that was feeding in an open
space._
_Draw one of these pictures:_--
_The Cave-men creeping up the banks of the steep ravine._
_The charge of the leader._
_The stampede._
_Deciding which bison shall be leader of the herd._
_Make a song to sing in getting ready to hunt the way you have
planned. Make a song to sing on your return._
_Model a large, strong bison._