The next summer, when the tribe had started off to look for buffalo, I spoke one night to my uncle, as he was sitting alone in his lodge, and said to him:  “Father, is it not now time for me to try to kill buffalo?  I am getting now to be a big boy, and I think big enough to hunt.  I should like to have your opinion about this.”  For a time he sat smoking and considering, and then he said:  “Son, I think it is time you should begin to hunt; you are now old enough to do some of the things that men do.  I have watched you, and I have seen that you know how to use the bow.  The next time that we run buffalo, you shall come with me, and we will see what we can do.  You shall ride one of my buffalo horses, and you shall overtake the buffalo, and then we shall see whether you are strong enough to drive the arrow far into the animal.”

It was not long after this that buffalo were found, and when the tribe went out to make the surround, my uncle told me to ride one of his horses, and to keep close to him.  As we were going toward the place where the surround was to be made, he said to me:  “Now, to-day we will try to catch calves, and you shall see whether you can kill one.  You may remember this, that if you shoot an arrow into the calf, and blood begins to come from its mouth, it will soon die, you need not shoot at it again, but may go on to overtake another, and kill it.  Then, perhaps, after a little while you can chase big buffalo.  One thing you must remember.  If you are running buffalo, do not be afraid of them.  Ride your horse close up to the buffalo, as close as you can, and then let fly the arrow with all your force.  If the buffalo turns to fight, your horse will take you away from it; but, above all things, do not be afraid; you will not kill buffalo if you are afraid to get close to them.”

We rode on, and before the surround was made we could see the yellow calves bunched up at one side of the herd.  My uncle pointed them out to me, and said, “Now, when the herd starts, try to get among those calves, and remember all that I have told you.”

At length the soldiers gave the word for the charge, and we all rushed toward the buffalo.  They turned to run, and a great dust rose in the air.  That day there were many men on fast horses, but my uncle’s horse was faster than all; and because I was little and light, he ran through the big buffalo, and was soon close to the calves.  When he was running through the buffalo I was frightened, for they seemed so big, and they crowded so on each other, and their horns rattled as they knocked together, as the herd parted and pushed away on either side, letting me pass through it.