Stránka:roll 1916.djvu/138

IZ4 Woodcraft Manual for Girls the wind would never be in the right direction when the herd was at the small end of the runway. But the delay was a good thing. The boys learned to hang together and obey the commands of their chief. One boy nearly lost hh life by disobeying, but the lesson was learned, and the gang hung together as no boys had ever done since the man-story began. At last the day came when the lookout reported the herd well up in the narrow end of the valley and the wind blowing in. Nothing was said, but by common consent Om was leader for the day. He sent Sut and five other boys to the south, while he and five more went to the north. Each gang was to build a fire where the smoke would not blow up the valley, and dry torch sticks were made ready to light. At midday, when a spear driven into the ground cast no shadow, Om shot an arrow high into the air. Each boy seized a torch from the fire and dashed across the mouth of the valley, lighting the dry grass as he ran. It was a wild rush. Never had the boys ran as they ran that day. In the years after, they told the tale to their children and grandchildren and they set the pace faster with each telling. In less time than it takes to tell, the boys had spread their net of fire and the wind was drawing it for them. When the boys reached the cliffs, the frightened herd was al- ready crowding up into the narrow end of the wedge-shaped valley, fleeing in terror from the pursuing wall of fire. Then the boys rolled the great stones down upon the seething mass below the n; shooting their arrows till the supply was exhausted. The mac lened buffaloes trampled on and gored eadi other until scarcely more than half the herd escaped alive. The young hunters, exhausted but triumphant, danced along the ledges, filling the air with savage yells. The next thing was to send word to the scattered homes. Three boys were left to keep watch, and the rest ran as if running a race to carry the news of the feast that was waiting for all who would come. Before night every man, woman, and child within a distance of twenty miles was on the spot. Old suspicions were forgotten and old grudges ignored, for the time being, at least. A great fire was built, and the men stripped the hides from the dead buffaloes and the women rolled therr! v,p tn rarn.' .away fnr t.an- ning. One of the largest of the bulls was dragged to the fire and roasted whole. Far into the night they worked and feasted. Finally, as they stretched themselves about the fire, exhausted but satisfied, Ang spoke: "I have seen the Cold Spirits come and go many times, but