Can you think why hunters frequently have famines? At what season
of the year would they be most likely to have a famine?
Can you think why they did not preserve and save food in times of
plenty?
If game should be scarce on a hunting ground, do you think all of
the people could stay at home? What do you think would happen at
such a time?
Have you ever heard that the Indians used to be afraid of having
their pictures taken? Why were they afraid of it?
_Fleetfoot Prepares for His Final Test_
Toward the close of winter rumors of famine came to the Bison clan.
Several times people came from neighboring clans and asked Antler for
food. There was plenty of meat in the cave, so she gave to those who
asked. The strangers soon went away, and the Bison clan forgot about
them.
The next summer game was scarce on several of the old hunting grounds.
There was not enough food for all. People began to wander away from
their old homes. Small groups of men, women, and children, set out in
different directions.
Game was still plenty on the lands of the Bison clan. When the
neighbors knew this, they came to hunt on these lands. The day
Fleetfoot went away to fast, strange people came and camped.
The next day the Bison clan drove them away. A few days later other
strangers came, and they, too, were driven away. Bighorn was angry
when the strangers first came, but soon he became alarmed.
Just as the men and women were holding a council to consider what to
do, the strangers disappeared. Not until Fleetfoot returned did the
Bison clan know who they were or why they came.
[Illustration: "_People began to wander away from their old homes._"]
Before Fleetfoot went away to fast, he had been curious about the Big
Bear. He had heard many stories about the Big Bear ever since he was a
child. He had heard that the Big Bear guarded the game and kept the
animals in the rocky cavern. He had wondered if he could climb the
mountains and find the cave of the Big Bear.
Before Flaker was hurt, the boys had planned to go to the mountains.
They had planned to make friends with the Big Bear and learn where he
kept the game. They had planned to climb the highest peaks and see
what there was beyond.
Once, when the boys asked Greybeard if they might go to the mountains,
Greybeard said, "No, no, my children! Wait a while. You are not yet
old enough to go."
And so the boys waited, but they still talked about going to the
cavern of the Big Bear. After Flaker was hurt they still planned, but
they planned for Fleetfoot to go alone.
One day when the boys were talking together, Greybeard came to
Fleetfoot and said, "The time you have waited for has come. Prepare
for your final test."
This was glad news for Fleetfoot. At last he was to have a chance to
prove himself worthy to rank with the men. Flaker rejoiced with
Fleetfoot, yet he could not help feeling sad.
The Bison clan had decided that Fleetfoot should go to a quiet spot.
There he was to fast and pray until he received a sign from the gods.
And when he had done their bidding, he was to return for his final
test. This test once passed, Fleetfoot would be counted one of the
men.
Before Fleetfoot went, Greybeard instructed him in the use of prayers
and charms. Antler gave him a magic powder and showed him how to
prepare it from herbs. And the men told him of their tests, and the
signs they received from the gods.
Flaker had listened to every word that Greybeard had said. He had
thought of all the dangers which Fleetfoot might encounter. And he
wondered if there was not a way to protect Fleetfoot from harm.
Flaker knew that the reindeer dance was a prayer of the Cave-men to
their gods. He knew each movement in the dance was to help the gods
understand. He felt sure that the gods would help Fleetfoot if he
could make them understand. And so he determined to make a prayer
which Fleetfoot could carry with him.
[Illustration: _The engraving of a cave-bear on a pebble._]
Perhaps you will think that the prayer Flaker made was a very strange
prayer. But many people in all parts of the world have made such
prayers. It was a prayer to the Big Bear of the mountains. Flaker
scratched it upon a smooth pebble with a flint point. It was a picture
of the Big Bear, and Flaker made it so that Fleetfoot could control
the actions of the Big Bear.
When Flaker gave the prayer to Fleetfoot he told him to guard it with
great care. Fleetfoot took the prayer and promised to keep it near his
side. Then the boys made an offering to the Big Bear and asked him to
guide the way.
When at length Fleetfoot was ready to start, Greybeard spoke these
parting words: "Forget not the offerings to the gods, and remember
they must be made with true words and a faithful heart."
#THINGS TO DO#
_Show in your sand-box where you think the mountains were. Model
them and show that they were almost covered with snow. Show good
places for neighboring hunting grounds._
_Tell why game might be scarce in some hunting grounds and plenty
in others._
_Dramatize this story. Draw pictures which will show what happened.
See if you can engrave some animal upon wood or soft stone._