Oowikapun | Page 7

Canadian Indian which shows that even the women know how to
successfully conquer in these encounters. This hunter was out looking
for game, and had succeeded in killing a deer, which he left in the
woods with his wife, skinning it, while he returned to his wigwam for
his sled on which to drag it home, as it was a large one. It was in the
spring of the year and there was still snow on the ground. A great,
hungry bear that had just left his den after his long winter's sleep of
months, while prowling about looking for food, got on the scent of the
blood of the newly killed deer, and following it up soon reached the
spot where the Indian woman was skinning the animal. She had just
time to spring up with the knife in her hand and back up against a tree
before the half-famished brute sprang on the partly skinned animal and
began devouring it. Seeing the woman so close, he seemed to think it
best to get rid of her before eating his meat, so with a growl he rushed
at her. He raised himself up on his hind legs and tried to get his fore
paws around her, and thus crush her to death. She was a brave woman
and knew what to do. Holding the knife firmly in her hand, she waited
until his hot breath was in her face and he was trying to crowd his paws
in between her back and the tree against which she was pressing herself
with all her might, then with all her force she plunged the sharp pointed
knife into his body in the region of his heart and gave it a quick, sharp

turn. So thoroughly and well did she do her work that the great, fierce
brute could only throw up his paws and fall over dead. The brave
squaw had killed him without receiving a scratch herself, and when her
husband returned with his sled he found that, not only had his wife
skinned the deer, but also a big black bear.
CHAPTER THREE.
OOWIKAPUN'S VISION.
So Oowikapun, though taken off his guard for once, was soon himself
again, and ere the infuriated brute could get her paws around him, one
quick, vigorous thrust of his knife was sufficient; and his antagonist;
armed only with teeth and claws, lay dead before him. So sudden had
been the attack, and so quickly had come the deliverance, that for the
first time in his life Oowikapun offered up as well as he could words of
thanksgiving to the Great Spirit for his escape. In his own crude way
and with the Indian's naturally religious instinct and traditions, he had
believed in the existence of a Good Spirit, which he called
Kissa-Manito; and also in the existence of a bad spirit, whose name
was Muche-Manito; but in what little worship he had engaged
heretofore he had endeavoured to propitiate and turn away the malice
of the evil spirit, rather than to worship the Good Spirit, in whom all
Indians believe, but about whom he had very vague ideas until his visit
to the Christian hunter's wigwam. Now, however, even before he
skinned the bear, as the result of that visit, he prayed to that Good Spirit,
the giver of all his blessings, and was grateful for his deliverance.
Would that he had continued trying to pray, even if he had received as
yet but little instruction in the right way!
He was glad to get the meat and skin of the bear and also the two little
cubs, which he easily captured alive. Bending down some small trees,
he tied the greater portion of the meat in the tops and then let them
swing up again, as he could not carry much back with him in addition
to the skin and the two frisky little bears. This plan of caching supplies
in the tops of small trees, as the Indians call it, is almost the only way
that things can be safely left in the woods where so many wild animals

are prowling about. If the meat were put up in the branches of a large
tree, the wolverines or wild cats would soon get on the scent of it, and
being able to climb the trees, would quickly make short work of it. If
buried in the ground, these animals, or perhaps the grey wolves, would
soon get it; but bury it in the tops of the small trees which the animals
cannot climb, and which they have not wit enough to cut down with
their teeth, the cache is safe until the owner comes for it.
Thus Oowikapun hunted until the season was almost ended; and then
making a long light sled, he