r heads, but let there
be none of this."

It was the great chief himself, who had separated the combatants, and
as he stalked majestically onward he left behind him two greatly
astonished and ashamed young warriors. In common, no grown brave
bothered himself over the petty squabbles of striplings; unless,
indeed, it might be to incite them to further conflicts. For the Black
Partridge to interfere now was significant of something far deeper
than a boyish fight.

Gaspar put on his coat and walked thoughtfully home to Wahneenah and
Kitty, while Osceolo slunk away to his own haunts, to lie at length
upon the grass and plot with a cunning worthy of better ends the
various devices by which he could torment the young white lad of whom
he was so jealous.

Wahneenah heard the tale with a gravity that impressed the chief's
action more strongly than before upon the lad's mind; while Kitty took
it upon herself to lecture him with all severity about the dreadful
"naughtiness of striking that poor, dear Ossy boy."

"Hmm, Sunny Maid! you needn't waste pity on him. He doesn't deserve
it."

"Maybe not, Dark-Eye. Maybe not. But heed you the warning. The
dwellers in one village should keep that village quiet," interrupted
Wahneenah.

"Yes, but they don't. There are almost as many sorts of Indians here
as there are people. Some of them are horrible. I see them often
watching Kitty and me as if they would like to scalp us. It's been
worse within a little while. It grows worse all the time."

"All the more reason why you should be wise and careful. But it is
dark in the tepee, and that's a sign the Dust Chief is almost ready to
shut up your eyes. Run, Gaspar, son, and Girl-Child. See which will
sleep the first. And to the one who does, the bigger lump of my best
sugar in the morning."

They ran, as she suggested, but there was to be no further haste till
Kitty had made Gaspar kneel beside her and repeat with her the "Now I
lay me" little prayer, which her Fort mothers had taught her. The
short, simple prayer, beloved of childhood the world over, that has
carried many a white soul upward to its Father. Even to Wahneenah,
though her mission training had been of another creed, the childish
petition was full of sacredness and beauty; and as she stood near
them, she bowed her head humbly and echoed it with all her heart.

Each was in bed soon after, and each with a lump of the toothsome
dainty they loved.

"For Gaspar must have it