CHAPTER THIRTEEN 



SECURING OUR ALLIES 



JN OTHiNG is more certain than that man could not 

 exist in the country alone; perhaps he can in the 

 city. We began our civilization by securing the 

 aid of the camel, the ox, the reindeer, and the dog; 

 and by and by the horse became our noblest ser- 

 vant and companion. Our food, our safety, our 

 poetry, are largely dependent on association with 

 these humble friends. Only a degenerate supposes 

 that he can live with his gun, in defiance of all other 

 creatures. Earlier races were ready to recognize 

 their dependence upon animal friends. The Aino, 

 who represents the age of the cave-dweller, apolo- 

 gizes to a dead bear that he has killed — "only 

 from necessity, and not from love of killing." " Oh, 

 bear ! forgive me ! and believe me not to be a man of 

 evil mind! I send you ahead to spirit hunting 

 ground ! I pray you to be my friend there, as you 

 have been here!" This touch of sympathy with 



