Page:Hendryx--Connie Morgan with the Mounted.djvu/80

62 arm, for I have arrows for all—and they shall live."

Connie ceased, and Corporal Rickey, who had listened to the words, saw that the Indians were divided among themselves. With a great effort he wriggled to a sitting posture and called loudly: White Eagle!" At the sound, an old Indian advanced a step and remained motionless, while Rickey spoke in a loud voice: "You, and not yonder lying fool are Chief of the Yellow Knives. Speak, now. You have heard the words of truth from the lips of my brother. You have been to the posts. You are very wise, and you know the white men of the rivers—the factors, and the traders of fur. Have they not dealt fairly with you? And is not the plan of my brother a fair one? We still remain in your power. If my brother has lied, you may burn us."

The chief glanced over the faces of his people and his eye fell upon the face of the medicine man, who seemed in no wise anxious to accept Connie's challenge. And then he spoke, slowly, and with much wisdom:

"You have listened, oh, Yellow Knives, to the words of Spotted Dog, the medicine man.