ved to try and kill one
of them. Hiding myself in a bush, therefore, I imitated the call of the
female elk. Presently a large buck came bounding so furiously towards
the spot where I was concealed that, seeing he would break through the
bush, I dropped my load and took to flight. No sooner did he observe
me, however, than he turned round and fled in the opposite direction.

"As I should have been laughed at for my fright, I returned, wishing to
kill an elk. I again imitated the cry, and after some time another
animal came towards me, so cautiously that I was able to shoot him dead.
As I could now make my appearance at the camp with some credit, I took
up my load and proceeded homewards, intending to return with others for
the flesh of the elk I had killed.

"I had gone some distance when I saw what I took to be a bear. At first
I believed it to be a common black bear, and prepared to try and shoot
it. When, however, the creature continued to advance, I supposed that
it must be a grizzly, as a common bear would have fled. I therefore
turned, and began to run from the beast; but the more swiftly I ran, the
more closely it followed.

"Though much frightened, I remembered the advice Peshauba had given me--
never to attempt shooting one of these animals unless trees were near
into which I could climb; also, in case of being pursued, never to shoot
until the creature was close to me.

"Three times I turned and prepared to let fly an arrow, but each time
the bear was still too far off, so I again turned and ran on. Thus I
continued till I got close to the lodges, when what was my surprise, on
looking back, to see old Peshauba himself! He had on a bearskin cloak,
the hood of which he had thrown over his head, thus making himself,
aided by the dusk and my fright, resemble a real bear. He laughed
heartily at my alarm, but commended me for having obeyed his
instructions. My conduct, though I had not exhibited any great amount
of bravery, greatly raised me in his estimation. Supposing that I had
become reconciled to my lot, he allowed me even greater liberty than at
first, and many months passed by spent in hunting, and sometimes by the
young warriors in going on the war-path against their enemies. We had
moved a long way to the westward, when, being encamped on the plain, I
went out with several companions on a hunting expedition towards the
north. At the extreme limit of our excursion we found a stream which I
l