share would not be increased by any show of eagerness to
possess the robe that even chiefs had coveted in vain.

Thunder-maker darted a keen glance at the other man as he said
mockingly--

"The dollars of Red Fox stay in pouch, yet ermine robe lie on his
shoulders--if he do what Thunder-maker say."

Still Red Fox made no sign to show interest, and the other went on--

"At Crane Creek two white papooses live in tent. Red Fox will find
them--he will go as a friend, and he will say, gentle as the voice of a
mother pigeon: 'White boys would find friends who are far away? Then Red
Fox will lead them.' And Red Fox will take them by dark path through the
forest--by long path that twine like path of serpent. Then, when sun
sleep, Red Fox will creep away--soft--soft, that pale-faces hear not.
And when sun waken--Red Fox will be back at camp of Mighty Hand. I have
spoken."

Red Fox had fastened the moccasin by now, though he still sat with body
bent while he intently listened to the Medicine Man's proposal to cause
the two boys to be lost in the forest. And as the story was ended he
slowly raised his head to look into Thunder-maker's face. What he saw
there evidently satisfied him, for his ghastly face moved with a sort of
smile that indicated satisfaction.

"Then the--the fiery totem--foolish?" he questioned shyly, and the other
Indian rejoined solemnly--

"The totem of the Dacotahs wise--very wise. It speak to Thunder-maker by
night, and tell him this."

Red Fox nodded. But it was not the nod of agreement with the falsehood
so much as at recognition of the lie.

"Thunder-maker great medicine," he said, with a slight sneer. "But Red
Fox hear much. He hear water-spirits say to Mighty Hand that they have
papooses. Water-spirits have not young. So these are pale-faces."

Thunder-maker's face flushed angrily.

"Does the Red Fox insult the sacred totem of the Dacotahs?" he demanded,
as he drew himself up as though it had been he to whom the insult was
offered.

But the Indian also raised himself, and did so with the conscious
knowledge that his gigantic body and bare limbs, which glistened like
muscles of copper, were more than protection against any physical attack
that the Medicine Man might offer. And his upper lip curled with a sneer
as he stared straight into the eyes of the totem's champion.

"Red Fox is not fool. He live long among white men, and he know that
totem cannot speak--that totem a lie. But Red Fox wi