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 was it left at my door, if not for me? Or did it come of itself? It is mine and I can do with it as I please."

"But the present! You will shame all the town if you, a great chief, yield this way to the Americans. There is no proof that they have lost a horse, and why should you give one up to them, for nothing? You have no right to give the horse away until you find out why it was left at your lodge. You should wait and find out. People do not leave horses at lodges without expecting something in return. I may have left the horse, myself; and I might look for a present. Where is the present?"

Thus Skidi cunningly argued.

"Yes, where is the present?" they all demanded. "You need not make it, yourself. You can ask it from the Americans. Or tell the soldier to go; and if he doesn't like to go alone, we will help him on his way."

Scar Head suddenly spoke up.

"The American can have the horse, White Wolf. I brought it, and I want no present."

Everybody gaped. White Wolf turned on him severely.

"You? You are a boy. Why do you say the American can have the horse? If you brought it, where did you get it?"