Can you think why the females and the young males of the reindeer
herd could drive the old stags away during the winter? Could they
do it in the summer?
Why can the reindeer walk easily in the snow or on slippery places?
What is it that makes the clicking sound when reindeer walk or run?
Why were the Cave-men careful to make no mistake in the dance?
_The Reindeer Dance_
Fleetfoot did not hunt with the men, but he learned many things from
them. In early winter, he heard them tell stories of dangerous
encounters with ugly stags. When the old stags shed their antlers, he
saw the men dance the reindeer dance.
Fleetfoot mimicked the reindeer's movements and the grunting sounds
they made. But he was not allowed to join with the men in dancing the
reindeer dance. Only brave men were allowed to join in the dance. Only
the bravest men were allowed to lead.
[Illustration: _A Cave-man's mortar stone for grinding paint._]
But Fleetfoot stood near and saw everything that was done. Some of the
men put on headdresses made of the antlers of the reindeer. Others put
on reindeer suits without the headdress of antlers. Those that were to
be the Cave-men painted their faces and carried trophies.
Fleetfoot wished that he could have a headdress and take part in the
dance. He wondered how long he would have to wait before he could
dance with the men. He wondered how many brave things he must do
before he would rank as a man.
And when Fleetfoot saw the men standing in silence while Greybeard
made offerings to the gods, he looked at the brave old man and
wondered how a man could be so wise. Then he thought of Chew-chew's
stories of brave men of olden times.
At length Fleetfoot saw Flaker, who was sitting all alone. He went and
sat beside him and they watched the men dance.
The men had finished dressing, and the women were seated on the
ground. They had rolls of skin, and rude drums, and rattles of
reindeer hoofs.
At a signal from Bighorn, a group of men came dancing to the music of
the rattles. They moved about and made low grunting sounds as though
they were a reindeer herd.
Then the music changed. The women drummed upon skins and hummed in a
weird way. They tried to show by the sound of the music the coming of
a storm.
[Illustration: _A drum._]
At the first sound of the weird music, the reindeer pricked up their
ears. Then the larger reindeer that had lost their antlers started off
to make-believe higher lands. There they made believe paw the snow
until they found the moss. As the music of the storm grew louder, the
herd followed to the higher lands. And with many an angry threat they
drove the old stags away.
Then the drumming and humming became fainter, and at last the sounds
died away. But still the faint clicking of the rattles marked each
step of the men in the dance.
Another signal from Bighorn marked the change to a new scene. Trails
were marked upon the ground and sticks placed for hills and streams.
While the reindeer pretended to feed, a group of Cave-men appeared.
Bighorn, who was still the leader, sent Little-bear to watch where the
trail crossed the hills. Chipper was sent to lie in wait at the spot
where the trail crossed the river. And Bighorn, himself, took his
stand at the point where the trails crossed.
When the men took their places, others crept back of the herd. Only
the light music of the rattles sounded as the reindeer moved about.
As the men came nearer the reindeer herd, the sentinels showed signs
of fear. The clicking of the rattles was quicker. The herd became
thoroughly alarmed and the women shook the rattles and made a loud
din.
Then the reindeer started on their old trails and came near the spots
where the men were hid. The clicking of the rattles marked the time
for the running, and the beating of the drum showed when javelins were
hurled. Soon the shouts of the men and the rattles and drums made a
loud noise.
All the Cave-men enjoyed the dance. They danced it without a mistake.
And so they felt sure that the god of the reindeer would give them
success in the chase.
#THINGS TO DO#
_Model in your sand-box the spot where the reindeer dance was
danced._
_Model the trails where the Cave-men thought the reindeer would run
when alarmed._
_Make rattles of something which you can find, and show how to mark
time with them._
_If you can get a skin, see if you can stretch it over something so
as to make a drum. Try different ways, and tell which is best._
_Dramatize this lesson._
_Draw a picture to illustrate it._