concealed tears betrayed, while they unlocked the almost paralyzed
tongue.

"Did my daughter find her lodge too warm, that she ventured so far away
in the dew? Were her ears closed when her father bid her stay in the
shadow of her lodge?"

"The Fawn was sent by Black Snake to meet her father," she replied.
"Would Grey Eagle have the Fawn wait for the song of the wish-ton-wish,
while the Black Snake sung in her ears; and the Swaying Reed carried her
wampum to the chief with the white plume? The Swaying Reed loves Black
Snake; and Black Snake sent the Fawn with her wampum, that the eyes of
her father and the young chief might fall on her first as they rose the
great hill."

Amazement and stupefaction sat for a moment on the features of the
Indians during the delivery of this speech. Their swarthy countenances
kindled with a fierce expression that told so well the dark thoughts
that struggled in their hearts at the perfidy of Black Snake who had
exercised his vengeance in so unmerciful a manner. The threatening
tomahawks that filled the air at this convincing proof of his malicious
designs, would have terrified any other than that sly, cunning chief. As
villains of the present day so often protect themselves with the strong
arm of the law intended for their suppression, so Black Snake knowing so
well the customs of his people, used their own well meant laws to carry
out his sinister plans, and protect himself in so doing. Again amidst
the tumult the young chief insisted:

"It was the wolf the chief saw first; 'twas the wolf the Manitou
wanted."