English--

"The tomahawk has been buried between the pale-faces and the redman for
countless suns, and for many suns their hands have met as the hands of
brothers. And the heart of Swift Arrow is sore within him this day, for
the hands of the Dacotahs have been raised in their might against those
whose faces shine as those of our pale-face brothers."

The old man paused, and Arnold jerked in--

"Then why on earth raise them? We did not bid you truss us up with these
rawhide thongs?"

The Indian shook his head.

"The ears of Swift Arrow are old. They understand not as when he was a
brave."

"Your idiom is too much for him, old man," said Holden quietly. "Try him
with something easier. Better not let him know that we can speak
Indian, though. It might be to our advantage later to know without being
known."

"Quite right," answered the elder man. Then he addressed the Indian
again.

"We would ask, O Swift Arrow, for what good purpose your braves have
bound us. We have been in peril from the waters; we seek the friendship
of your land. Is this the way the Dacotahs treat their white brothers
when they seek the friendship of your shores?"

The Indian felt the reproach, and his eyes fell for a moment with shame.

"The pale-face speaks words that go right into the heart like burning
arrows. But Swift Arrow knows well that all things must be fulfilled.
The sun must come and the darkness follow. Then darkness come, and
after--the sun again. All things must be as Manito[1] will."

The Englishmen looked at one another with puzzled expressions.

"I wonder what he means by that?" questioned Holden. "'All things must
be fulfilled.' What can that have to do with us?"

The Indian heard the question and understood.

"All things must be as Manito will," he repeated; and Arnold, catching
swiftly at the words, demanded sharply--

"Is it willed that we be bound, as the Dacotahs of old bound their
captives for burning?"

This was evidently a point of view that had not occurred to the redskin,
for he was at a loss for an immediate reply. He looked first at one man
and then at the other, after which he repeated half aloud, half to
himself, as if he were conning the exact meaning of the words--

"_When the moon is round, and they rise out of the silver waters---- _"

"Yes, yes!" interrupted Arnold, and speaking at guesswork. "That is
true. We know that--'out of silver waters'--but is anything said about
bonds?"

The old