nct of both to draw out the visitor's confidence. It
was possibly their only hope of learning the truth of their position,
thereby enabling them to make plans for their future actions.

"The redman love the pale-face and would be friend to him,"
Thunder-maker went on. "So he come to tell his brothers what they did
not know. Dacotahs fools, Dacotahs believe foolish stories,
and--_Thunder-maker can lead their feet by what trail he will_."

"H'm. That was plain enough this afternoon when you played with those
rattlesnakes," remarked Arnold, at which the Indian laughed quietly.

"Dacotahs fools. But white men wise. They see not with the eyes of
redmen. But Dacotahs might be great people if Mighty Hand were in Happy
Hunting-ground."[2]

"But what has all this got to do with us?" asked Holden.

"My white brothers in great danger. In a few more suns cruel fire burn
beautiful bodies. But----"

"Well--but?"

"Thunder-maker could save--white brothers--from fire?"

"Oh, that's it, is it? That's what you are driving at, you cunning old
serpent?" said Arnold, in accents that were as little complimentary as
the words. "You want us to buy our lives for money? Well, how much do
you wish?"

"My white brothers have papooses, they say to Mighty Hand?"

"Yes; two boys in a camp by Crane Creek."

"It would gladden the eyes of the pale-faces to see their papooses by
another sun?"

"We would do much to go back to them, for they must be sad at the
absence of their fathers," said the elder man.

"Then it may be as the pale-face wish," resumed the Medicine Man.
"Thunder-maker can save his white brothers, and he will----"

"If you will, there is nothing that we will not do, within our power, to
repay you," said Holden, wrongly anticipating the motive of the Indian.
"We can give you many dollars, and will give you blankets and weapons
for hunting."

"That is good," returned the redskin quietly. "But--Thunder-maker no
wish blankets--dollars, He have many--many." Then he lowered his voice
to speak in deeper tones of confidence. "Let the pale-face be patient,
and listen to the words of the redman. Then he will understand how it
may be that he look not upon the face of the fire.

"The Dacotahs foolish. They see white men as spirits that came out of
Silver Waters. And Mighty Hand foolish too. He believe that fiery totem
speak--that fiery totem call water spirits to torture. Foolish redmen!
Foolish chief! But Thunder-maker would see