led chiefs, rimmed with awed faces of
squaws and papooses, had danced the weird figure of Big Smoke. He had
been called upon by Red Snake to announce what further of the White
Queen his medicine had revealed.

Big Smoke wore the head of a wolf with cow's horns set over the ears.
His lithe red body was covered with a long bear skin. His legs were
bare to the tops of his gaily beaded moccasins.

He circled the silent group with fantastic gyrations and stopped
finally in the center. Lifting his hands, he addressed the tribe.
First, in glowing rhetoric, he pictured the ancient glory of the Sioux
--their wealth in lands, their prowess in the hunt, their triumph over
all other red men. He told of their long and brave struggle with the
white man, who by the intervention of wicked gods had been enabled to
conquer them. But the time of vengeance and retribution had come after
long years. The Indian was to return to his own.

"The Great Spirit is sending us a leader," said Rig Smoke. "The Great
Spirit has spoken to me and said: 'Lo, I will send a White Queen with
golden hair. She shall come from the heart of the Earth, and she shall
lead your warriors against the oppressor."

This was the third time Big Smoke had said this. That was what made it
most impressive to the listeners. Big Smoke had staked not only his
reputation as a medicine man, but, also his life, upon this wonderful
prediction, which had aroused his people as they had not been aroused
in fifty years. For it was the law of the ancient code that
fulfillment must follow immediately the third announcement of the
miracle. If fulfillment failed there remained only the Great Death
Stone in the valley. No prophet of the tribe had ever won in the
race with the Death Stone.

And so the chiefs sat in respectful silence and the young braves arose
eager for the war dance when Big Smoke finished speaking.

The dance, beginning slowly, waxed wilder; the tom-toms beat more
vibrantly, until the whole village was encircled by the painted and
bonneted tribesmen. The red glare of daylight fires illuminated the
wild faces. The women cowered with their children beside the teepees.
In the midst of the tumult, the medicine man stood with hands stretched
upward calling on the Great Spirit to send the White Queen.

When the dance had subsided, the Council resumed its deliberations.

It was arranged that there should be a hunt that afternoon and the
foxes or coyotes s