indian boyhood(尤孩提时代)-第14节
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city and country boys。 The hunting of the prairie boys was limited and
their knowledge of natural history imperfect。 They were； as a rule； good
riders； but in all…round physical development much inferior to the red men
of the forest。
Our hunting varied with the season of the year； and the nature of the
country which was for the time our home。 Our chief weapon was the
bow and arrows； and perhaps； if we were lucky； a knife was possessed by
some one in the crowd。 In the olden times； knives and hatchets were
made from bone and sharp stones。
For fire we used a flint with a spongy piece of dry wood and a stone to
strike with。 Another way of starting fire was for several of the boys to sit
down in a circle and rub two pieces of dry； spongy wood together； one
after another； until the wood took fire。
We hunted in company a great deal； though it was a common thing for
a boy to set out for the woods quite alone； and he usually enjoyed himself
fully as much。 Our game consisted mainly of small birds； rabbits；
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squirrels and grouse。 Fish… ing； too； occupied much of our time。 We
hardly ever passed a creek or a pond without searching for some signs of
fish。 When fish were present； we always managed to get some。 Fish…
lines were made of wild hemp； sinew or horse…hair。 We either caught fish
with lines； snared or speared them； or shot them with bow and arrows。 In
the fall we charmed them up to the surface by gently tickling them with a
stick and quickly threw them out。 We have sometimes dammed the
brooks and driven the larger fish into a willow basket made for that
purpose。
It was part of our hunting to find new and strange things in the woods。
We examined the slightest sign of life； and if a bird had scratched the
leaves off the ground； or a bear dragged up a root for his morning meal；
we stopped to specu… late on the time it was done。 If we saw a large old
tree with some scratches on its bark； we con… cluded that a bear or some
raccoons must be living there。 In that case we did not go any nearer than
was necessary； but later reported the incident at home。 An old deer…track
would at once bring on a warm discussion as to whether it was the track of
a buck or a doe。 Generally； at noon； we met and compared our game；
noting at the same time the peculiar characteristics of everything we had
killed。 It was not merely a hunt； for we combined with it the study of
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。
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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。
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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 fl
