Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/78

60 Red Death is upon us—and we die! Our women and little children die also—and none shall be left alive. Only when the medicine of the red men is stronger than the medicine of the white men shall the Yellow Knives be freed from the hand of the Red Death. Only when the bodies of the white men are burned with fire will the Evil Spirits flee in fear from the land of the Yellow Knives, and the Red Death depart from our lodges. I, Spotted Dog, have spoken."

Connie was quick to see that the man's words had carried weight with the Indians, and once more his young voice rang clear as he glanced fearlessly into the circle of scowling faces:

"Yellow Knives, you have heard the great lie from the lips of your medicine man. His heart is black, and he speaks with a forked tongue when he says only when the bodies of the white men are burned will the Red Death depart from your lodges. Hear me, now—and you shall live, and your women and children shall live, and the Red Death shall depart from your lodges forever."

He reached into his pocket and produced the package of vaccination points, which he held aloft. "See! The little medicine arrows of the white