any signs of pleasure; and in a moment had taken down the
cottonwood lodge-poles cut the previous day, and brought straps and
ropes. But it was mid-afternoon before the rude litter was finished. Two
poles were fastened to the hind axle of the wagon, the width of the
wheels apart; across them other poles were roped after having been
chopped into short lengths; and on top of these were laid some buffalo
robes, blankets, and straw. Then the mare, too sick to resent handling,
was half lifted and half rolled into place. When the journey to the
farm-house was made, the tough Indian pony between the shafts was helped
in the hauling by a plow team from the barn.

The _travee_ was untied from the wagon at the stable, and the three big
brothers helped the Indians to drag it into a roomy stall, the little
girl looking on all the while sympathetically. Then her mother, the
biggest brother, and Eagle Eye poulticed the throbbing chest, put
compresses on the silky neck, and poured one hot drink after another
down the reluctant throat of the blue mare.

They worked until midnight. But when the next day broke, chill and
drizzily, the horse seemed worse instead of better, and the Indians, who
had slept with their guns on their arms at the heads of their saddled
ponies, prepared to go. They seemed so anxious to set off that the big
brothers were suspicious that they had stolen the animal and were
expecting pursuit. The fact that she had no saddle-marks on her mottled
back, and that they had cumbered themselves with a wagon, bore out the
belief. The eldest brother spoke his mind to Eagle Eye, but the
half-breed only said that Black Cloud, who claimed to own her, wished to
sell her to the brothers.

"I shouldn't wonder," sneered the eldest brother; "she'll be ready for
the pigs by noon. I wouldn't take her as a gift,--and you can tell 'em
so."

Eagle Eye turned to Black Cloud and repeated the answer. It was met with
the look that had named him, and a mumbled threat that was lost on the
white men.

The little girl had been standing by and had heard the conversation. She
suddenly started for the house, and, when she came flying back a moment
later, she had her tin savings-bank grasped tightly in one fist.
Stopping in front of the scout, she held it out to him.

"Eagle Eye," she panted, "tell Black Cloud I'll give him all this for
the sick horse--two whole dollars."

Again the half-breed turned to the glowering Indian. But this time th