quench ye and without robbery. For he is a great man, and God
speaketh through his lips.

"'And yet further, my heart is softened, and I have repented me of my
madness. I, who am a fool and a son of fools; I, who am the slave of the
bad god Biz-e-Nass; I, who see thy empty bellies and knew not wherewith
to fill them--why shall I be chief, and sit above thee, and rule to thine
own destruction? Why should I do this, which is not good? But Moosu,
who is shaman, and who is wise above men, is so made that he can rule
with a soft hand and justly. And because of the things I have related do
I make abdication and give my chiefship to Moosu, who alone knoweth how
ye may be fed in this day when there be no meat in the land.'

"At this there was a great clapping of hands, and the people cried,
'_Kloshe_! _Kloshe_!' which means 'good.' I had seen the wonder-worry
in Moosu's eyes; for he could not understand, and was fearful of my white
man's wisdom. I had met his wishes all along the line, and even
anticipated some; and standing there, self-shorn of all my power, he knew
the time did not favour to stir the people against me.

"Before they could disperse I made announcement that while the still went
to Moosu, whatever _hooch_ I possessed went to the people. Moosu tried
to protest at this, for never had we permitted more than a handful to be
drunk at a time; but they cried, '_Kloshe_! _Kloshe_!' and made festival
before my door. And while they waxed uproarious without, as the liquor
went to their heads, I held council within with Angeit and the faithful
ones. I set them the tasks they were to do, and put into their mouths
the words they were to say. Then I slipped away to a place back in the
woods where I had two sleds, well loaded, with teams of dogs that were
not overfed. Spring was at hand, you see, and there was a crust to the
snow; so it was the best time to take the way south. Moreover, the
tobacco was gone. There I waited, for I had nothing to fear. Did they
bestir themselves on my trail, their dogs were too fat, and themselves
too lean, to overtake me; also, I deemed their bestirring would be of an
order for which I had made due preparation.

"First came a faithful one, running, and after him another. 'O master,'
the first cried, breathless, 'there be great confusion in the village,
and no man knoweth his own mind, and they be of many minds. Everybody
hath drunken overmuch, and some be stringing bows, and