were the two cheera-taghe of the town, silent, motionless, watching with
eyes how long alert, listening with ears how discerningly attentive, it
is impossible to divine.

The gold-washers sprang to their feet, each instinctively grasping for
his weapon, but alack, neither was armed! The pan had come to seem the
most potent of accoutrements, with which, in good sooth, one might take
the world by storm, and the rifle and knife were forgotten, in their
absorption. Doubtless the Cherokees interpreted aright the gesture, so
significant, so obvious to their methods of life. Both the cheera-taghe
were armed with pistol as well as tomahawk and scalping-knife.

Perhaps because of this they felt secure, at leisure, acquiescently
allowing the event to develop as it needs must,--or perhaps realizing
the significance of the discovery to the young strangers, their
palpitant eagerness to gauge its result, their dread of reprisal, of
forced renunciation of their booty, the Indians permitted themselves a
relish of the torture of an enemy on a more aesthetic scheme than their
wont.

The two cheera-taghe, the shadow of their feather-crested heads in the
moonlight on the sand of the grotto almost as distinct as the reality,
spoke suddenly to each other, and the discomfited gold-seekers, who had
learned to comprehend to a certain extent the language, perceived with
dismay the sarcasm that lengthened their suspense. For it was thus that
the rulers among the Cherokees rebuked their own young people, not
upbraiding them with their misdeeds, but with gentle satire
complimenting them for that in which they had notably failed.

"A reward for hospitality we find in these young men," said one, whose