peculiar song about buffaloes,
wolves, and thunder, and at the end of every verse, Lone Chief barked
like a coyote. When he had finished the song, he took an ember from the
fire, and placed some dried sweet pine upon it. As the smoke rose, he
held his hands in it, and prayed to the Spirits of the sun, and of the
buffalo, that he might have power to find out with his hands the spot
where Sitting-Always was ill. He then rose, and went across to the
patient. Dusty Star watched his movements with such excitement, that it
seemed as if his eyes would fall out of his head.

It was when Lone Chief was in the very middle of his examination that
the event which Nikana dreaded took place. No fewer than four other
medicine men stalked into the tepee. All were heavily painted, beaded
and feathered, and each carried a drum. Dusty Star shrank, if possible
into a smaller space than before.

Without uttering a word, the four sat down in a half-circle about the
fire, and began to smoke their medicine pipes. Lone Chief continued to
move his hands over his patient's body as if nothing extraordinary had
taken place. He was annoyed at the intrusion of his rivals, but was too
dignified to show it. He fully believed his power to be far greater than
theirs, and was prepared to treat them with contempt.

Sitting-Always was relieved in her mind now that the other medicine-men
had come. If it annoyed Lone Chief, so much the better. It would make
him exert his medicine to the utmost.

When Lone Chief had finished his examination, he lifted his drum again,
and re-commenced his song, sitting with his back to the newcomers, as if
they were not there. As each one of them enjoyed great importance in his
own eyes, Lone Chief's action made them determined to perform their
medicine as loudly as possible. First one and then another drew his pipe
from his mouth, and lifted his drum.

The first to do so was Kattowa-iski. His doctoring power came from the
beaver.

Kokopotamix followed him. His medicine was from the grizzly bear.

Apotumenee came third. He took his medicine from the buffalo, and had
two buffalo horns fastened to his head.

The last to begin drumming was Ohisiksim. The Thunder-bird had given him
his medicine, which was very much sought after when the tribe was short
of rain.

At first the drumming was slow and soft, growing louder by degrees. Then
Kattowa-iski got up and began to dance, striking his drum in imitation
of the beavers wh