"I could not think of anything but my own situation, which confused me
for the moment. It seemed to me to be a desperate one. If my pony, which
was going at full speed, should step into a badger hole, I should be
thrown to the ground and trampled under foot in an instant. If I were to
stop, they would knock me over, pony and all. Again, it seemed as if my
horse must fall from sheer exhaustion; and then what would become of me?

"At last I awoke to a calm realization of my own power. I uttered a yell
and began to shoot right and left. Very soon there were only a few old
bulls who remained near me. The herd had scattered, and I was miles away
from my companions.

"It is when we think of our personal danger that we are apt to be at
a loss to do the best thing under the circumstances. One should be
unconscious of self in order to do his duty. We are very apt to think
ourselves brave, when we are most timid. I have discovered that half our
young men give the war-whoop when they are frightened, because they fear
lest their silence may betray their state of mind. I think we are really
bravest when most calm and slow to action."

I urged my uncle to tell me more of his adventures.

"Once," said he, "I had a somewhat peculiar experience, which I think
I never related to you before. It was at the time of the fall hunt. One
afternoon when I was alone I discovered that I was too far away to reach
the camp before dark, so I looked about for a good place to spend the
night. This was on the Upper Missouri, before there were any white
people there, and when we were in constant danger from wild beasts as
well as from hostile Indians. It was necessary to use every precaution
and the utmost vigilance.

"I selected a spot which appeared to be well adapted to defense. I had
killed two deer, and I hung up pieces of the meat at certain distances
in various directions. I knew that any wolf would stop for the meat, A
grizzly bear would sometimes stop, but not a mountain lion or a panther.
Therefore I made a fire. Such an animal would be apt to attack a
solitary fire. There was a full moon that night, which was much in my
favor.

"Having cooked and eaten some of the venison, I rolled myself in my
blanket and lay down by the fire, taking my Ishtahbopopa for a bed
fellow. I hugged it very closely, for I felt that I should need it
during the night. I had scarcely settled myself when I heard what seemed
to be ten or twelve coyotes set up such