What do you think the people will do with Fleetfoot?
Can you think of any way that Fleetfoot might prevent them from
attacking the Bison clan?
_What Happened when the Clans Found Fleetfoot_
While Chew-chew and Eagle-eye were attending to Scarface, others took
care of Fleetfoot. They knew nothing about him except that he had
saved Scarface's life. Everybody wanted to see him; and so a great
crowd gathered around.
People looked at the strange young man as he lay pale and still on the
ground. They looked and looked again, then said, "How like he is to
Scarface."
Eagle-eye had not forgotten Fleetfoot. She never spoke of him, but she
still hoped that he was alive and that she would see him again. When
strangers came she always inquired for tidings of the lost boy.
And so when Eagle-eye heard what the people said, she pushed her way
through the crowd. The moment she saw him, she cried, "Fleetfoot!" and
then bent over his lifeless form.
Chew-chew, hearing Eagle-eye's cry, hurried to the spot. She knelt by
his side and murmured his name, and thought of Scarface when he was
young.
Those who stood near turned and asked, "Who is Fleetfoot?" Many of the
people had never heard of him. Others had heard of Eagle-eye's boy.
All were curious to know more about the strange young man. All were
anxious to know if he was dead or alive.
Fleetfoot was not dead. He was only stunned by the tiger's blow. When
Eagle-eye bathed him with cold water, he began to show signs of life.
When at length he opened his eyes, he knew that he was recognized.
When those who stood near found out who the young man was, they
shouted the tidings to those who were farther away. Then the people
rejoiced and thanked the gods for thus befriending them.
Before Fleetfoot slept that night, he wondered how the meeting would
end. He wondered if he could find a way to prevent an attack upon the
Bison clan. And, turning once more to the Big Bear, he soon fell
asleep. Next morning the people caught salmon just below the rapids.
They feasted a while and then played games in which Fleetfoot took
part.
When the games were over, the young men crowded around him. They
asked him how he could throw a spear so as to strike a deadly blow.
Fleetfoot told all he knew about the use of spears and harpoons, but
he scarcely knew himself how he had thrown with such force.
But he took two spearheads in his hand, just as he had held them when
he saw the tiger. He threw one at a mark and the spear went with such
force that the young men shouted for joy. Then they all practiced
throwing until they could throw in the same way. It was in this way
that people learned to hurl weapons with a throwing-stick. Instead of
hurling one spear by resting the butt against the barb of another, as
Fleetfoot had done when he threw at the tiger, they learned to shape
sticks for throwing spears, and they called them "throwing-sticks."
[Illustration: _A throwing-stick._]
The older men watched as Fleetfoot showed the young men how he threw
spears and harpoons. And soon they all agreed to ask Fleetfoot to lead
in the dance that night.
Scarface invited him to lead, and Fleetfoot accepted. He was glad to
lead in a real hunting dance, but he was still more glad to have a
chance to prevent an attack upon the Bison clan. And so he resolved to
plan a dance which would make them forget their plan.
When the time came to begin the dance, Fleetfoot was ready to lead.
He knew that the men all wanted to find good hunting grounds. So he
showed them where to find such grounds and what trails to follow.
[Illustration: _An Irish deer._]
A few days later he went with the people to these very grounds. There
they hunted the bison herds and the Irish deer. And when each of the
clans had chosen a place to camp, Fleetfoot bade them farewell. Then
it was that the bravest young men came forward and said that they
would follow him. And so the young men agreed to be brothers and to
help one another in times of need. They agreed upon signs which they
should use when they wanted to meet. And when Fleetfoot started
homeward, the young men escorted him.
Of the adventures on the way to the Bison clan's cave there is little
time to tell. All the young men were faithful. And as they journeyed
on their way, they recalled Fleetfoot's brave deeds in a victory song.
#THINGS TO DO#
_Show how the people acted from the time Fleetfoot threw his spear
until they knew who he was. Draw pictures which will illustrate the
story._
_Make such a hunting dance as you think Fleetfoot led. Show in your
sand-map the places where the hunting grounds were._
_Name all the running games you know. Tell how you play one of
them. Draw a picture of the Cave-men playing games._
_Make a throwing-stick._
_Look at the picture of the Irish deer and tell how it appears to
differ from other deer you know. For what do you think it uses its
large and heavy antlers?_