Out in the real wild West, where the PONCA Indians live when they are at
home, there are bears, mountain lions, wolves, foxes, and many other
wild animals, always roaming about in quest of food.
Every evening, when it begins to get dark, the little boys have to go
out and gather together all the horses, drive them to the village, and
picket them for the night where the men can watch and keep them safe,
not only from wild animals, but from Indians belonging to hostile
tribes, out on horse-stealing expeditions.
[Illustration: THE WOLF.]
After the horses are safely picketed around camp, the small boys can
play and have a good time; but they have to go to bed early because they
have to be up very early in the morning. When the boys are all through
with their breakfasts they drive the horses first to water for a drink,
and then over to the canons where some of them are hobbled and allowed
to feed all day. When the boys hobble their horses they tie their front
legs together down near the hoofs, so that the horses can only take
short steps, and cannot run or wander off very far.
While the little boys are out herding they keep their bright little eyes
wide open to see everything. Sometimes they shoot at the little prairie
dogs with their bows and arrows; but the prairie dogs have very bright
eyes, too, and down they go into their little holes before the arrows
can hurt them.
The wise little owls live with the prairie dogs and they come out and
sit near the holes watching for mice. The little boys shoot birds,
rabbits, and various other small animals while they are out tending the
horses.
Sometimes when Indian mothers are very busy or want to visit, they
hobble their little ones by tying their feet together, so that they can
take short steps only. Then the babies can play out-of-doors, and the
mothers are sure they cannot get very far away from home.
[Illustration: THE WISE LITTLE OWLS.]
[Illustration]