按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
animal life。 We also kept strict account of our game； and thus learned
who were the best shots among the boys。
I am sorry to say that we were merciless toward the birds。 We often
took their eggs and their young ones。 My brother Chatanna and I once
had a disagreeable adventure while bird…hunting。 We were accustomed
to catch in our hands young ducks and geese during the summer； and
while do… ing this we happened to find a crane's nest。 Of course； we were
delighted with our good luck。 But； as it was already midsummer； the
young cranestwo in numberwere rather large and they were a little way
from the nest； we also ob… served that the two old cranes were in a
swampy place near by； but； as it was moulting…time； we did not suppose
that they would venture on dry land。 So we proceeded to chase the
young birds； but they were fleet runners and it took us some time to come
up with them。
46
… Page 47…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Meanwhile； the parent birds had heard the cries of their little ones and
come to their rescue。 They were chasing us； while we followed the birds。
It was really a perilous encounter！ Our strong bows finally gained the
victory in a hand…to…hand struggle with the angry cranes； but after that we
hardly ever hunted a crane's nest。 Almost all birds make some resistance
when their eggs or young are taken； but they will seldom attack man fear…
lessly。
We used to climb large trees for birds of all kinds； but we never
undertook to get young owls unless they were on the ground。 The
hooting owl especially is a dangerous bird to attack under these
circumstances。 I was once trying to catch a yellow…winged wood… pecker
in its nest when my arm became twisted and lodged in the deep hole so
that I could not get it out without the aid of a knife； but we were a long
way from home and my only companion was a deaf mute cousin of mine。
I was about fifty feet up in the tree； in a very uncomfortable posi… tion； but
I had to wait there for more than an hour before he brought me the knife
with which I fin… ally released myself。
Our devices for trapping small animals were rude； but they were often
successful。 For instance； we used to gather up a peck or so of large；
sharp… pointed burrs and scatter them in the rabbit's fur… row…like path。 In
the morning； we would find the little fellow sitting quietly in his tracks；
unable to move； for the burrs stuck to his feet。
Another way of snaring rabbits and grouse was the following： We
made nooses of twisted horse… hair； which we tied very firmly to the top of
a limber young tree； then bent the latter down to the track and fastened the
whole with a slip…knot； after adjusting the noose。 When the rabbit runs
his head through the noose； he pulls the slip…knot and is quickly carried up
by the spring of the young tree。 This is a good plan； for the rabbit is out
of harm's way as he swings high in the air。
Perhaps the most enjoyable of all was the chip… munk hunt。 We
killed these animals at any time of year； but the special time to hunt them
was in March。 After the first thaw； the chipmunks bur… row a hole
through the snow crust and make their first appearance for the season。
Sometimes as many as fifty will come together and hold a social reunion。
47
… Page 48…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
These gatherings occur early in the morning； from daybreak to about nine
o'clock。
We boys learned this； among other secrets of nature； and got our blunt…
headed arrows together in good season for the chipmunk expedition。 We
generally went in groups of six to a dozen or fifteen； to see which would
get the most。 On the evening before； we selected several boys who could
imitate the chipmunk's call with wild oat… straws and each of these
provided himself with a supply of straws。
The crust will hold the boys nicely at this time of the year。 Bright and
early； they all come to… gether at the appointed place； from which each
group starts out in a different direction； agreeing to meet somewhere at a
given position of the sun。
My first experience of this kind is still well re… membered。 It was a
fine crisp March morning； and the sun had not yet shown himself among
the distant tree…tops as we hurried along through the ghostly wood。
Presently we arrived at a place where there were many signs of the
animals。 Then each of us selected a tree and took up his position behind
it。 The chipmunk caller sat upon a log as motionless as he could； and
began to call。
Soon we heard the patter of little feet on the hard snow； then we saw
the chipmunks approach… ing from all directions。 Some stopped and ran
experimentally up a tree or a log； as if uncertain of the exact direction of
the call； others chased one another about。
In a few minutes； the chipmunk…caller was be… sieged with them。
Some ran all over his person； others under him and still others ran up the
tree against which he was sitting。 Each boy remained immovable until
their leader gave the signal； then a great shout arose； and the chipmunks in
their flight all ran up the different trees。
Now the shooting…match began。 The little creatures seemed to realize
their hopeless posi… tion； they would try again and again to come down the
trees and flee away from the deadly aim of the youthful hunters。 But
they were shot down very fast； and whenever several of them rushed
toward the ground； the little red…skin hugged the tree and yelled frantically
to scare them up again。
48
… Page 49…
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
Each boy shoots always against the trunk of the tree； so that the arrow
may bound back to him every time； otherwise； when he had shot away all
of them； he would be helpless； and another； who had cleared his own tree；
would come and take away his game； so there was warm competition。
Some… times a desperate chipmunk would jump from the top of the tree in
order to escape； which was con… sidered a joke on the boy who lost it and a
triumph for the brave little animal。 At last all were killed or gone； and
then we went on to another place； keeping up the sport until the sun came
out and the chipmunks refused to answer the call。
When we went out on the prairies we had a dif… ferent and less lively
kind of sport。 We used to snare with horse…hair and bow…strings all the
small ground animals； including the prairie…dog。 We both snared and
shot them。 Once a little boy set a snare for one； and lay flat on the
ground a little way from the hole； holding the end of the string。 Presently
he felt something move and pulled in a huge rattlesnake； and to this day；
his name is 〃Caught…the…Rattlesnake。〃 Very often a boy got a new name in
some such manner。 At another time； we were playing in the woods and
found a fawn's track。 W