f the
Akitcita, that is, as guests, although they were prisoners, whose
lives might be taken at any time, and they had splendid
opportunities for observing what a genuine Spartan band the
Akitcita were. Everyone had his appointed place for arms and his
rush or fur mat for sleeping. There was no quarreling, no
unseemly chatter, always a grave and dignified order and the
sense of stern discipline. Not all the Akitcita were ever
present in the daytime, but some always were. All tribal
business was transacted here. The women had to bring wood and
water to it daily, and the entire village supplied it every day
with regular rations of tobacco, almost the only luxury of the
Akitcita.

Both Dick and Albert were keenly observant, and they did not
hesitate also to ask questions of Bright Sun whenever they had
the chance. They learned from him that the different tribes of
the Sioux had general councils at irregular intervals, that there
was no hereditary rank among the chiefs, it being usually a
question of energy and merit, although the rank was sometimes
obtained by gifts, and ambitious man giving away all that he had
for the prize. There were no women chiefs, and women were not
admitted to the great council.

The boys perceived, too, that much in the life of the Sioux was
governed by ancient ritual; nearly everything had its religious
meaning, and both boys having an inherent respect for religion of
any kind, were in constant fear lest they should violate
unwillingly some honored law.

The two made friendly advances to the members of the Akitcita
but they were received with a grave courtesy that did not invite
a continuance. They felt daily a deepening sense of racial
difference. They appreciated the humane treatment they had
received, but they and the Sioux did not seem to come into touch
anywhere. And this difference was accentuated in the case of
Bright Sun. The very fact that he had been educated in their
schools, that he spoke their language so well, and that he knew
their customs seemed to widen the gulf between them into a sea.
They felt that he had tasted of their life, and liked it not.

The two, although they could not like Bright Sun, began to have a
certain deference for him. The old sense of power he had created
in their minds increased greatly, and now it was not merely a
matter of mind and manner; all the outward signs, the obvious
respect in which he was held by everybody and the way in which