way round.

"The gulf," said Owl Eyes, "between the race of men and the races of
women and children is knowledge. For, whereas many squaws and little
children possess courage, knowledge is kept from them, even as the
first-run shad of the spring. The duty of the child is to acquire
strength and skill, of the woman to bear children, to labor in the
corn-field, and to keep the lodge. But the duty of man is to hunt, and
to fight, and to make medicine, to know, and to keep knowledge to
himself. Hence the saying that whatever man betrays the secrets of the
council-lodge to a squaw is a squaw himself. Hitherto, Andramark, you
have been a talkative child, but henceforth you will watch your tongue
as a warrior watches the prisoner that he is bringing to his village for
torture. When a man ceases to be a mystery to the women and children he
ceases to be a man. Do not tell them what has passed in the
medicine-lodge, but let it appear that you could discourse of ghostly
mysteries and devilish visitations and other dread wonders--if you
would; so that even to the mother that bore you you will be henceforward
and forever a thing apart, a thing above, a thing beyond."

And the old medicine-man who sat on Owl Eyes's left cleared his throat
and said:

"When a man's wife is in torment, it is as well for him to nod his head
and let her believe that she does not know what suffering is."

Another said:

"Should a man's child ask what the moon is made of, let that man answer
that it is made of foolish questions, but at the same time let him
smile, as much as to say that he could give the truthful answer--if he
would."

Another said:

"When you lie to women and children, lie foolishly, so that they may
know that you are making sport of them and may be ashamed. In this way a
man may keep the whole of his knowledge to himself, like a basket of
corn hidden in a place of his own secret choosing."

Still another pulled one flap of the lodge a little so that a ray of
light entered. He held his hand in the ray and said:

"The palm of my hand is in darkness, the back is in light. It is the
same with all acts and happenings--there is a bright side and a dark
side. Never be so foolish as to look on the dark side of things; there
may be somewhat there worth discovering, but it is in vain to look
because it cannot be seen."

And Owl Eyes said:

"It will be well now to rest ourselves from seriousness with more din
and devil-noises. And af