Page:Gray Eagle (1927).pdf/43

 Almayne, as he skinned the puma, wondered at himself. The hide of that huge elk would have been worth five times as much as the puma hide, which was rather a poor one. Moreover, if he had killed the elk, he could have had breakfast before starting his day's journey, whereas now he must wait until he could knock over a grouse or a rabbit on his way down the mountain. He was ashamed of his own foolishness. Nevertheless, a week later he told the story to Julah the Fox as they talked by a campfire beside the Great Path far down among the foothills.

The old Indian heard him through and sat silent for many minutes, staring into the fire with stony, expressionless face. At last his lips opened.

"My brother knows," he said in his own tongue, "that I am a shaman as well as a warrior. I will read the omen. My brother Almayne was foolish. He did a foolish thing. He camped on Sani'gilagi, the holy mountain. The Spirit was angered. He sent an elk and a puma. Klandaghi the puma is sacred. Awi Agwa the elk is proper game. The Spirit bewitched Almayne so that he killed Klandaghi and let Awi Agwa go unharmed."

Almayne suppressed a yawn.

"And what will come of it, Julah?" he asked gravely.

"I know not," replied the red man. "I am not