THE STARS THAT DANCE
(Iroquois)
Many years ago in the Indian country a
company of eleven young men went out
from the village of their fathers. They were
going to prepare themselves for the war dances,
and for battle with their foes.
Away into the forest they went, but before they left the lodges of their people, their leader said, "You, our parents, must prepare food, that we may have strength for the trial that is before us."
Then they went away, singing the war songs of their nation, while their leader beat upon the water drum to give them courage and endurance.
On they marched until they came to the part of the forest where they were to begin their training, and there they stopped and prepared a rude lodge for shelter.
Many days they stayed, practising the light step of the hunter which falls as softly as a
