818 POWEK OP THE BOW, of necessity have been so, for frequently wnen hunt- ing they would have to retreat toward home; often wide and swollen streams would have to be crossed to avoid a superior enemy, and they always had a large number of dogs that were trained to swim. But when it came to crossing the Big Muddy and then re- turning, it was a task that only bold spirits would un- dertake, and then they had to start quite a ways up the stream, as the current would carry the most ex- pert swimmer down stream. By reason of the prizes won by our Indian guide, and the prestige of having learned many things new to the natives, it made him a prominent character among his own people. But there is one thing which should be mentioned here, because it seems incredible; but the authorities bear out the statement hereafter to be made. At the bow and arrow contest heretofore described, it was stuffed buffalo which was used for targets; but here the real live animals are to be let loose, and a powerful Indian brought down one with the arrow, and the force of the missile was so tremendous that not only did the arrow go through the grown buffalo but came out and lodged in the ground. Again, in another contest, a fine animal was let loose, and one man was so swift that he actually outran the bull and killed it with his flint knife. One more incident must be mentioned, for in after years it was resorted to more frequently both in hunting and war, and the white settlers when IdlEng buffalo for the hide only resorted to the same tactics as were used by the plains Indiana many years before; i. e., the use of decoy buffaloes: It was one of the most laas^able things seen among the Quirirana
