GRAY WOLF

By Jim Red Fox

Along time ago, there lived an old Indian by the name of Gray Wolf. He lived in what is now known as the Hudson Valley Range of New York State.

One fall night, as he sat at a bond fire with many young braves, he was asked by one, "Old Gray Wolf, everyone knows that you were one of the best hunters of our tribe. If you were a young brave, say, our age; where would you go to get your first deer?" Before he could answer, another young brave spoke up. "The only way to get a deer at his age, is to have one run up to him." All the young braves laughed until the chief stood up. No one said a word. "There is a saying among our people." "If you make fun of an old hunter, you will never be a successful hunter yourself."

"The old brave just sat there, starring into the fire. Finally Gray Wolf spoke. "When I was your age, I too looked forward to my first deer hunt." "I too sought the most experienced hunter of our tribe." "He told me of a place that no other hunter knew." All the young braves were now listening to every word." "He told me to ride toward the rising sun for two miles." "There I would come to a very big oak tree." "Tie your pony to this tree," He said. "Then climb the tall mountain nearest the old oak tree." "It will take a while to reach the top." "Once you are on top, you will find a wide plateau." "In the center is a very large rock; climb it and sit down." "Deer that approach this rock will not see you, because you are so high up." "Be patient; in time, you may see a large buck."

The young brave who had asked Gray Wolf for advice stood up, grabbed his bow and arrows, thanked Gray Wolf, and left. Once outside, he got on his pony and rode off toward the rising sun. It wasn't long before another young brave grabbed his bow and arrows and followed the first brave. One after the other they left until they were all riding toward the rising sun.

Slowly Gray Wolf stood up, grabbed his old bow and arrows and started walking toward his pony. Before he had gotten very far, one of the elders said, "Gray Wolf, where are you going?" Gray Wolf stopped, slowly he turned around and said with a smile on his face, "I am going to the other side of that tall mountain." "I will be there at the bottom, waiting for the young braves to drive all the deer down to me."

The End

THE TOMAHAWK

By Jim Red Fox

Along time ago, there lived a young Indian boy by the name of "Star Gazer". He acquired this name when he was about three or four years old. One night when most of the people of his village were sitting around a large bonfire; Star Gazer was standing, staring at the stars. From that night on, everyone called him, "Star Gazer".

Time went by quickly, and soon he had become a fine fourteen year old. Like most boys of his age, he wanted to accompany the braves when they went out on hunting trips. He knew that he would have to prove himself to the older braves. Star Gazer also longed for the time when he would get his own tomahawk, one just like the chief of his tribe owned. It was one of the most impressive tomahawks anyone had ever seen. All the braves hoped that when the time came for the chief to pass on, he would leave his tomahawk to one of them.

One day, Star Gazer decided to go fishing, as it would make his mother very happy if he came home with some trout. As he sat on the river bank, watching his line, he started to daydream. He dreamed that he owned the chief's tomahawk, and when all the boys his age saw him, they were envious. He stared into the crystal clear water while he daydreamed. In time, he noticed something very shinny lying on the bottom of the stream. It wasn't long before his curiosity got the best of him. He took off his moccasins and walked out to the middle of the stream. Star Gazer reached down into the water and grasped the object. When he opened up his hand, he realized that it was just a very shinny yellow rock. It surprised him that the little rock was so heavy. He first thought of throwing it back into the water but decided, he might find a use for it later on. A pouch he carried over his shoulder was used for storing things he found, like this rock. Star Gazer walked back to the shore but something caught his eye; more of those shiny yellow rocks.

The more he looked, the more he found. There was no way he was going to pick up any more of those stones, as his legs were turning blue from the ice- cold water. He caught six trout by the end of the day.

When he arrived at his tepee, his mother greeted him and told him how happy she was with his catch. That night, just before he went to sleep, he took the bright yellow stone out of his pouch. It was about the size of a chicken egg. He wrapped it in deer skin and stuck it under his buffalo skin bed. In time, he forgot about the yellow stone.

Summer was quickly replaced by fall. Everyone in the tribe was working feverishly to ensure that they had enough food in their tepees for the winter. The fall had not been very productive for the hunting parties. The chief was concerned that some of his people might not make it through the long, cold winter.

One day, a white trader came into the village to trade. Everyone came to see what he had with him. He sat with the chief in the large counsel tepee and showed him what he had to trade. When he brought out a large bag of flour, the chief's eyes got big. "This, he thought, would help feed my people in the long, cold winter." Next, the trader brought out a large bag of beans and a barrel of molasses. The chief's eyes got really big. This impressed him. He turned toward the trader and asked him what he wanted for these things. The trader placed a few shinny, yellow stones on a small mink fur he had brought with him. Star Gazer, who was way in the back of the tepee, saw the yellow stones. His eyes lit up as he remembered the yellow stone he had placed under his buffalo blanket. He slipped out of the counsel tepee, and ran back to his own tepee. He grabbed his yellow stone, still wrapped in the deer skins, and ran back to the meeting place. This time, he came through the main door. Star Gazer walked up to the chief and placed the yellow stone in front of him. The chieflooked at the stone and then up at the young man who said, "My chief, if this is what it takes to feed our people, then take it." "I alone know where we can get many more of these yellow stones." The chief then spoke to the trader, "Come back in one week and we will have enough of these yellow stones to buy all the food you can bring to us," "Tell me," asked the chief, "What do you call these yellow stones?" "Gold" said the trader as he rode away.

When the trader returned the following week, he found a large pile of gold stones waiting for him on...