"That
way of chipping is good enough for axes; they are heavy and have,
besides, the weight of the arm to carry the blow. With spear heads it
is different; a spear is thrown, and the head should be sharp. I can
get a smaller chip, and so a sharper edge, by pressing than by
striking; so I chip my spear heads by pressure."
He laid a little piece of deer skin in his left hand. On this he laid
one of the flakes he had just broken from the pebble, and held it fast
with his fingers. Then he took a piece of deer antler.
"This antler," he said, "is soft enough to spring a little when I press
it against the pebble. Yet it is hard enough to bring off a chip."
He began pressing with the antler along the edge of the flake. He
pressed very hard; and every time he pressed, a little chip flew off.
He worked very fast.
"I must not let a hump come in the middle," he said; "for then I should
have a turtle back. Look on that chip pile; you will see many turtle
backs that I have thrown away."
The old man was making the point now, and he began to sing:
"I give you the eye of the eagle,
To find the rabbit's heart!
I give you the eye of the eagle,
To find the rabbit's heart!"
As Thorn listened, and caught the meaning of the song, his eyes grew
bright and he held his head high.
"Grandfather hopes that I will hunt with the little bow and spear!" he
said to himself.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43