5o8 The Book of Woodcraft 



north to the Elk River on the south, and their war journeys 

 extended south to the country of the Mexicans. 



More than twenty years ago happened the greatest mis- 

 fortune that ever came to his tribe. The buffalo disap- 

 peared and never returned. From this time forth they were 

 forced to depend on the food given them by the white men, 

 and, in order to receive that food, they were obliged to stay 

 in one place, to confine themselves to that little corner of 

 ground, their reservation. 



Long before this he had become the chief of his tribe — 

 the father of his people. Already he was putting their 

 welfare before his own, was thinking first of them and of 

 himself last. 



For it was the duty of a chief to look out for the well- 

 being of his people; to care for the widows and orphans; 

 to make peace between those who quarrel; to give his whole 

 heart and his whole mind to the work of helping his people 

 to be happy. Such were the duties that the old-time chief 

 studied to perform. And since on his example and his 

 precept so much depended, he must be a man who was 

 brave in war, generous in disposition, Hberal in temper, 

 deliberate in making up his mind, and of good judgment. 

 Such men gave themselves to their work with heart and 

 soul, and strove for the w^elfare of those in their charge 

 with an earnestness and a devotion that perhaps are not 

 equaled by any other rulers of men. 



And this devotion to his fellows was not without its in- 

 fluence on the man himself; after a time the spirit of good 

 will which animated him began to shine forth in his coun- 

 tenance, so that at length, and as they grew old, such chiefs 

 came to have the beneficent and kindly expression that we 

 may sometimes see on the countenance of an elderly minis- 

 ter of God whose life has been one long, loving sacrifice of 

 self to his Maker and to his fellowmen. And if the face 



