I will tell you of a little red boy going visiting, and perhaps you can
fancy why he liked it so much.
One day a CROW Indian mother called her little boy, HODGSKA, and told
him to get dressed and she would take him to see his grandfather.
HODGSKA was delighted. He came running in, and his mother put a pretty
red breech-clout on him, braided his hair neatly, and then painted the
part in his hair red, and HODGSKA was ready to start.
[Illustration: HAD TO PULL UP HIS FEET TO KEEP HIS MOCCASINS DRY.]
The horses were all ready, too. The mother's saddle was all decorated
with bright colored flannel and pretty bead work, and HODGSKA had a
bright blanket thrown over his horse's back. The mother rode in front
because she had to lead the way. They followed an old trail for awhile,
and HODGSKA was disappointed because he didn't think that was fun. Then
off in the distance he saw a river, and oh how he wished they would have
to cross it!
HODGSKA was delighted when they really started to cross. In splashed the
horses, and the water kept getting deeper and deeper until it came so
high that the little boy had to pull up his feet to keep his moccasins
dry.
After the river had been forded they had to climb over a mountain, and
HODGSKA was glad he had brought his bow and arrows because he might be
able to shoot something to take to his grandfather. They rode very
quietly, and little HODGSKA tried to ride especially quiet because he
knew if he made much noise he would frighten the game. Soon he heard a
little noise in the brush and looking over he saw two pretty deer, but
they saw him, too, and ran off just as fast as they could.
HODGSKA heard the little birds chattering and calling to one another and
he saw a bear, but he found nothing he could shoot; so he had to meet
his grandfather without being able to show what a hunter he had become.
[Illustration: HE SAW TWO PRETTY DEER.]
[Illustration]