war-bonnets sinking
together, down and down. Then they made the sign which no Indian makes
outside of the Medicine Lodges--a sweep of the right hand just clear of
the dust and an inbend of the left knee at the same time, and those
proud eagle feathers almost touched his boot-top.'

'What did it mean?' said Dan.

'Mean!' Pharaoh cried. 'Why it's what you--what we--it's the Sachems'
way of sprinkling the sacred corn-meal in front of--oh! it's a piece of
Indian compliment really, and it signifies that you are a very big
chief.

'Big Hand looked down on 'em. First he says quite softly, "My brothers
know it is not easy to be a chief." Then his voice grew. "My children,"
says he, "what is in your minds?"

'Says Cornplanter, "We came to ask whether there will be war with King
George's men, but we have heard what our Father has said to his chiefs.
We will carry away that talk in our hearts to tell to our people."

'"No," says Big Hand. "Leave all that talk behind--it was between white
men only--but take this message from _me_ to your people--'There will be
no war.'"

'His gentlemen were waiting, so they didn't delay him; only Cornplanter
says, using his old side-name, "Big Hand, did you see us among the
timber just now?"

'"Surely," says he. "_You_ taught me to look behind trees when we were
both young." And with that he cantered off.

'Neither of my chiefs spoke till we were back on our ponies again and a
half-hour along the home-trail. Then Cornplanter says to Red Jacket, "We
will have the corn dance this year. There will be no war." And that was
all there was to it.'

Pharaoh stood up as though he had finished.

'Yes,' said Puck, rising too. 'And what came out of it in the long run?'

'Let me get at my story my own way,' was the answer. 'Look! it's later
than I thought. That Shoreham smack's thinking of her supper.'

The children looked across the darkening Channel. A smack had hoisted a
lantern and slowly moved west where Brighton pier lights ran out in a
twinkling line. When they turned round The Gap was empty behind them.

'I expect they've packed our trunks by now,' said Dan. 'This time
to-morrow we'll be home.'

IF----

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about,