Mewanee was a brave little Indian boy. He lived in a forest of North America with his father and mother and his baby brother. There were many other Indian people who lived in the same forest, and Mewanee’s father was chief of them all. Mewanee was very proud to be the chief’s son, for the chief was always the bravest of all the Indians of his tribe. One day mother left Mewanee and baby brother in the forest at play, while she went to work in the cornfield. Baby brother was swinging in his cradle

Mewanee was interested in watching these two Indian women build a wigwam. They had already set the poles in a circle in the earth and tied them together at the top with strong deer sinews. When Mewanee came up they were wrapping the skins about the poles. There were twelve buffalo skins which had been dried in the sun and sewed together very firmly. How quickly they stretched the skins about the poles and fastened them to the earth with strong pegs! One woman drove the pegs into the earth with h

While Mewanee listened and waited, his father, the chief, approached. The chief was big and brave and strong. His copper-colored body had many strange pictures painted upon it. His black hair hung about his neck and shoulders and was decorated with many feathers. A short skin skirt hung about his waist. His deer-skin moccasins made his step very light and soft. Mewanee also wore moccasins. His mother made them from buckskin and sewed them together with a queer bone needle threaded with deer sine

The chief gave a loud call. This call was heard by all of the Indian people in the village, but only the men responded to it because the women did not take part in warfare. They came from all directions, running toward their chief. How quickly they gathered the cedar logs and branches and lighted the fire! Then they sat around the fire and listened to the chief who spoke to them. A FIRE DRILL They were very silent and grave because they knew that trouble was upon them. Suddenly they stretched th

In the silence of the early morning came the distant sound of hoof beats. Louder and louder, nearer and nearer grew the sound. Many Indians rushed from their wigwams, put their ears to the ground and listened. Nearer and nearer it came, while the Indians listened and waited. Suddenly from the nearby forest dashed a beautiful black pony. On the pony’s back sat an Indian youth about fifteen years old. He sat tall and straight. His eyes were bright and shining. He had only a small skin wound about

There was very little time for rest, for they must be ready to go into the forest to kill the deer and bear. They would need many skins and much food because they were such a large party. The women must go into the forest to cut poles for their wigwams. Before starting on the hunt the chief called a council. The council was opened by a prayer to the Great Spirit thanking him for the safety of this friendly Indian tribe and asking that, with the help of the Great Spirit, they might have a fine hu

This Indian village was a very crowded one that night. The squaws and children slept in the wigwams, while the Indian men stretched themselves on the ground outside. A few kept watch, for fear the enemy might return and destroy their village. The tiny stars twinkled brightly from the heavens. The good moon sent her protecting light upon the village. All was very peaceful, except for the hoots of the owls which sounded through the forest. The enemy did not return that night. Early in the morning

It was evening, a beautiful starlight evening. The tiny stars watched over these Indian people as they slept. They were tired with the long chase, though they were happy with the thought of the fine deer and buffalo which they had killed. The Indians slept soundly all of the night. When they awoke the sun was saying a bright “Good morning.” SOME OF THE WOMEN STRETCHED SKINS WHILE OTHERS MADE BASKETS They arose, stretched themselves and ran to the river for a swim. The women were already busy get

There was a new moon now and Mewanee was twelve years old. He would soon go hunting and fishing with his father. Some day he would be chief of his tribe, but not before he had proved his power of endurance. He must prove this power by a long fast. On this night when the new moon was looking down upon them, the Indians had collected about the fire. Mewanee was lying face downward upon the ground very near the fire. The chief, his father, was standing above him with arms outstretched as he said th

It was fall before the homes of the friendly tribe were done. All had been busy getting ready for the winter. Now the wigwams were finished. Mewanee’s father had divided his dried meat and corn with this friendly tribe. He had also given them powdered tobacco. The Indian men would be unhappy without tobacco for their long pipes. The friendly tribe was very thankful to Mewanee’s father for his kindness to them. They were collected around the camp fire that night. The children and women were in th