Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/94

 old woman will fix me a dose when I need it. McNeil he give me just one mouthful before I left."

Derek ran to the house and brought a flask. When he had taken a drink Solomon put the flask carefully in his pocket and turned his eyes, filled with a sombre brightness, on Derek and Miss Jerrold. He said solemnly:

"You are a gentleman, Mr. Vale, and you know what becomes a chief. When I get better I will tell you tales of the old days—not so long ago, either—when my people owned all this—" he extended his arm in a noble gesture over lake and land. "That was before you drove us back as the waves wash away those dark red cliffs. I will tell you tales my grandfather taught me—yes, and you, too, young lady—that will make your hair rise." He showed his yellow teeth in a ghastly smile. "We didn't go picking berries then, by God! . . . No, we didn't go picking berries. Ho, ho, ho!"

He laughed deeply, and would have fallen from his seat but that the boy clutched him and, at a nod from Derek, drove on.

"What he says is true," said Grace, soberly. "We have taken their land, and civilization demoralizes them."

"Yes, but we have made a better land of it, and I think they are better employed picking berries than scalping each other."

"I should like to hear some of his tales."

"I'm afraid he won't live to tell them. I shall send for a doctor right away, and have Mrs. Machin pack a basket of groceries for his family."

"Our men have killed a calf today. I shall send them some veal and some eggs."

"Never mind the eggs," said Derek. "They can steal them from Chard."