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about eagle feathers。〃
I felt mortified by this reminder of my ignor… ance。 It seemed a
reflection on me that I was not ambitious enough to have found all such
matters out before。
〃Uncle； you will tell me； won't you？〃 I said； in an appealing tone。
〃I am surprised； my boy； that you should fail to recognize this feather。
It is a Cree medicine feather； and not a warrior's。〃
〃Then；〃 I said； with much embarrassment； you had better tell me again；
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uncle； the lan… guage of the feathers。 I have really forgotten it all。〃
The day was now gone； the moon had risen； but the cold had not
lessened； for the trunks of the trees were still snapping all around our tee…
pee； which was lighted and warmed by the im… mense logs which
Uncheedah's industry had pro… vided。 My uncle； White Foot…print； now
under… took to explain to me the significance of the eagle's feather。
〃The eagle is the most war…like bird；〃 he be… gan； 〃and the most kingly
of all birds； besides； his feathers are unlike any others； and these are the
reasons why they are used by our people to signify deeds of bravery。
〃It is not true that when a man wears a feather bonnet； each one of the
feathers represents the kill… ing of a foe or even a coup。 When a man
wears an eagle feather upright upon his head； he is sup… posed to have
counted one of four coups upon his enemy。〃
〃Well； then； a coup does not mean the killing of an enemy？〃
〃No； it is the after…stroke or touching of the body after he falls。 It is so
ordered； because often… times the touching of an enemy is much more dif…
ficult to accomplish than the shooting of one from a distance。 It requires
a strong heart to face the whole body of the enemy； in order to count the
coup on the fallen one； who lies under cover of his kinsmen's fire。 Many
a brave man has been lost in the attempt。
〃When a warrior approaches his foe； dead or alive； he calls upon the
other warriors to wit… ness by saying： 'I； Fearless Bear； your brave； again
perform the brave deed of counting the first （or second or third or fourth）
coup upon the body of the bravest of your enemies。' Naturally； those who
are present will see the act and be able to testify to it。 When they return；
the heralds； as you know； announce publicly all such deeds of valor； which
then become a part of the man's war record。 Any brave who would wear
the eagle's feather must give proof of his right to do so。
〃When a brave is wounded in the same battle where he counted his
coup； he wears the feather hanging downward。 When he is wounded； but
makes no count； he trims his feather and in that case； it need not be an
eagle feather。 All other feathers are merely ornaments。 When a warrior
wears a feather with a round mark； it means that he slew his enemy。
When the mark is cut into the feather and painted red； it means that he
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took the scalp。
〃A brave who has been successful in ten bat… tles is entitled to a war…
bonnet； and if he is a rec… ognized leader； he is permitted to wear one with
long； trailing plumes。 Also those who have counted many coups may tip
the ends of the feath… ers with bits of white or colored down。 Some…
times the eagle feather is tipped with a strip of weasel skin； that means the
wearer had the honor of killing； scalping and counting the first coup upon
the enemy all at the same time。
〃This feather you have found was worn by a Creeit is
indiscriminately painted。 All other feathers worn by the common Indians
mean noth… ing；〃 he added。
〃Tell me； uncle； whether it would be proper for me to wear any
feathers at all if I have never gone upon the war…path。〃
〃You could wear any other kind of feathers； but not an eagle's；〃 replied
my uncle； 〃although sometimes one is worn on great occasions by the
child of a noted man； to indicate the father's dig… nity and position。〃
The fire had gone down somewhat； so I pushed the embers together
and wrapped my robe more closely about me。 Now and then the ice on
the lake would burst with a loud report like thunder。 Uncheedah was
busy re…stringing one of uncle's old snow…shoes。 There were two
different kinds that he wore； one with a straight toe and long； the other
shorter and with an upturned toe。 She had one of the shoes fastened toe
down； between sticks driven into the ground； while she put in some new
strings and tightened the others。 Aunt Four Stars was beading a new pair
of moccasins。
Wabeda； the dog； the companion of my boy… hood days； was in trouble
because he insisted upon bringing his extra bone into the teepee； while
Uncheedah was determined that he should not。 I sympathized with him；
because I saw the matter as he did。 If he should bury it in the snow out…
side； I knew Shunktokecha （the coyote） would surely steal it。 I knew just
how anxious Wabeda was about his bone。 It was a fat boneI mean a
bone of a fat deer； and all Indians know how much better they are than the
other kind。
Wabeda always hated to see a good thing go to waste。 His eyes
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spoke words to me； for he and I had been friends for a long time。 When I
was afraid of anything in the woods； he would get in front of me at once
and gently wag his tail。 He always made it a point to look directly in my
face。 His kind； large eyes gave me a thousand assur… ances。 When I
was perplexed； he would hang about me until he understood the situation。
Many times I believed he saved my life by utter… ing the dog word in time。
Most animals； even the dangerous grizzly； do not care to be seen when
the two…legged kind and his dog are about。 When I feared a surprise by a
bear or a grey wolf； I would say to Wabeda： 〃Now； my dog； give your war…
whoop：〃 and immediately he would sit up on his haunches and bark 〃to
beat the band〃 as you white boys say。 When a bear or wolf heard the
noise； he would be apt to retreat。
Sometimes I helped Wabeda and gave a war… whoop of my own。
This drove the deer away as well； but it relieved my mind。
When he appealed to me on this occasion； there… fore； I said： 〃Come；
my dog； let us bury your bone so that no Shunktokecha will take it。〃
He appeared satisfied with my suggestion； so we went out together。
We dug in the snow and buried our bone wrapped up in a piece of old
blanket； partly burned； then we covered it up again with snow。 We knew
that the coyote would not touch any… thing burnt。 I did not put it up a tree
because Wabeda always objected to that； and I made it a point to consult
his wishes whenever I could。
I came in and Wabeda followed me with two short rib bones in his
mouth。 Apparently he