ion: SIX SAMPLE ARROWS, SHOWING DIFFERENT FEATHERS]

"That sounds easy enough for me," said Sam; "let's make some of them
that way."

So the arrows were made, six each with nail points filed sharp and
lashed with broom wire. These were called "War arrows," and six each
with fire-hardened wood points for hunting arrows.

"Now for the feathering," and Yan showed Sam how to split the midrib
of a turkey feather and separate the vane.

"Le's see, you want twice twenty-four--that's forty-eight feathers."

"No," said Yan, "that's a poor feathering, two on each. We want three
on each arrow--seventy-two strips in all, and mind you, we want all
three that are on one arrow from the same side of the bird."

"I know. I'll bet it's bad luck to mix sides; arrows doesn't know
which way to turn."

At this moment Si Lee came in. "How are ye gettin' on with the bows?"

"Waitin' for arrows now."

"How do ye put on the feathers?"

DESCRIPTION OF SIX SAMPLE ARROWS SHOWING DIFFERENT FEATHERS

_A_ is a far-flying steel-pointed bobtail, very good in wind.
_B_ is another very good arrow, with a horn point. This went
even better than _A_ if there were no wind. _C_ is an
Omaha war and deer arrow. Both heads and feathers are lashed on
with sinew. The long tufts of down left on the feathers are to
help in finding it again, as they are snow-white and wave in the
breeze. The grooves on the shaft are to make the victim bleed more
freely and be more easily tracked. _D_ is another Omaha
arrow with a peculiar owner's mark of lines carved in the middle,
_E_ is a bone-headed bird shaft made by the Indians of the
Mackenzie River. _F_ is a war arrow made by Geronimo, the
famous Apache chief. Its shaft is three joints of a straight cane.
The tip is of hard wood, and on that is a fine quartz point; all
being lashed together with sinew.

"White-men glue them on, and Injuns lash them on," replied Yan,
quoting from memory from "that book."

"Which is best?"

"Glued on flies better, but lashed on stands the weather better."

"Why not both?"

"Have no sinew."

"Let me show ye a trick. Where's yer glue an' linen thread?"

These were brought, whereupon Si added: "'Pears to me ye oughter put
the feathers on last. Better cut the notch first."

"That's so; we nearly forgot."

"_You_ nearly forgot, you mean. Don't drag _me_ in the mud,"
said Sam, with owlish dignity. A small saw cut, cle