Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/257

Rh standing. You see, Miss, God wouldn’t let the flood hurt them. That’s what the Indians said, and I guess they were right. But they have forgotten about it, though,” she added with a sigh.

“Does a flood like that happen often?” Marion asked.

“It was the first one in a long time. The old Indians said there was another many years ago, when they were little.”

“They must have had a hard time building their houses again.”

“Indeed they did. The women and children slept in the church, and the men made lean-tos. They built new cabins on higher ground, as you can see for yourself.”

Marion did not really hear these last words, as she was holding in her hands another book she had taken from one of the shelves. It was different from the others, and much of it was written with a lead pencil. She began to read, and became so interested that for a time she forgot everything else. It was an account of the founding of the mission at The Gap, the coming of the missionaries to the place, their struggles and the opposition of the Medicine Men. Although there was no name, she was certain that it had been written by Mrs. Norris. What a treasure it was, and what a pity that it had remained hidden for such a length of time. She longed to read more, but she was aroused by Zell’s voice.

“The Gikhi! The Gikhi!” she exclaimed, pointing to the bedroom. “He is calling!”

Laying aside the book, Marion hastened across the room, pushed open the door, which had been kept partly closed owing to the housecleaning, and looked in. To her astonishment she saw the missionary sitting up