98 STORIES OF EARTH AND SKY 



foe on the war-path. May Wabeno's keenness 

 be on your tip, his cunning in your shaft, and the 

 swiftness of Wagoose in your flight.' 



" Thus was I born and made a Magic Arrow in 

 the tent of Kanida, the arrow maker, brother to 

 the warrior Kaniwa, Wenona's father." 



" For many days and nights I lay in the tent, 

 watching what went on about me. Other instru- 

 ments of killing and household vessels were my 

 tent mates. Spear heads, chipped from flint like 

 myself, but ten times greater in length, stone axes 

 that would beat more readily than cut, fish hooks 

 wrought from bone, clay pots, wooden bowls, and 

 water vessels made from gourd rinds, bundles of 

 reeds, and feathers of the wild goose. 



"Kanida would select a dozen arrow-heads 

 from off the pile, scan each one closely, narrowing 

 his eyes as he held it between them and the light; 

 then make ready a dozen reeds to mate them, 

 fastening head to shaft with horn glue and the 

 stout thongs of hide that the Beast Brotherhood 

 furnished. Next was the shaft nicely winged 

 with goose quills to make an even balance. So 

 were the arrows ready to go forth to live their 

 lives, while in and out of the lodge came and went 

 silent figures who bartered venison, birds, and other 



