Williams news., 1917-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.
In White and Black.

In White and Black.
 In the morning Oinna did not show herself outside the cabin, though Hardy called a kindly good morning to her. Her brother, with one arm carefully bandaged and in a sling, brought out the breakfast that she cooked. He looked so weak and un- steady that Hardy at once assented when he mumbled that he wished to go back to bed and rest until the council.
 "You must have your wits about you this time," added Hardy. "What- ever the cause of the misunderstand- ing at the first council, it must not recur. You are too careless in your interpretations. Inform your sister l that she is to be present. I shall re- quire her to check you"
 "Would you make a girl as shy as she is stand up in a tribal council and interpret" remCnstrated Wander vyn, as Redbear slunk around the end of the cabin.
 'EThe presence of her grandfather will give her courage" replied Hardy. "It is necessary that she should be present. I do not trust either the ability or the honesty of her brother"
 Vandervyn shrugged, and said nc more. Half an hour or so later he asked permission to use Hardy's pen and pad to write some letters. The captain handed them to him, ana started up the mountainside above fhn f11nn cfa lod to the top of the spur ridge from which the shaft had been sunk from the apex of the outcrop of the vein. As soon as he had gone beyond ear shot, Vandervyn rose to stretch him. self and call softly through the near est lOophole. He then seated himself on his saddle and began to write. A listener would have had need to be near at hand to have heard the low murmur of Redbear's and Oinna's voices through the loophole above Fandervyn's head.
 When Hardy returned from his ex- animation of the upper works of the mine. Vandervyn sealed in his pres ence the two letters that he had writ ten. They appeared decidedly thin. in view of the time that Vandervyn had spent in his writing and the number of sheets of paper gone from the pad. But Hardy did not observe this. His attention had been diverted by large party of Indians that had appeared on the velvety green meadows of the valley bottom.
 The tribal council had begun to as- semble. This time the chiefs and headmen did not come alone. From far camps as well as near, the men of the tribe were bringing their fami- lies to see the Longknife chief whom they had first hated but now believed to be their friend and father. By noon their numbers had grown from scores to hundreds.
 Shortly after the midday meal one of the Indian policemen brought word up to the cabin that the head chief had arrived and the council was ready to talk with the agent. Hardy at once gave command to mount. AS soon as Hardy and Vandervyn started to ride down the slope, Oinna slipped out, and held her brothers pony for nlIIl. one CUeu IuOuuleu ueT OWu, dho rode after him.
 At the foot of the slope the riders came out through a grove of young, quaking asps into sudden view of the picturesque and imposing tribal cOun- cil. Fully half the tribe had gathered together for the occasion. All up and down the valley the meadows were dotted with their ponies. The Indians were assembled in a dense crowd the men in a deep band around the chiefs, the women and children out side.
 Hardy was greeted with murmur of welcome and admiration, and the crowd made path through their midst 10 the inner ring of the chiefs. Followed by Redbear, Vandervyn and Oinna, he walked along the passage between the living walls of silent, furtive-eyed Indians, and seated him. self on the blanket that had been spread for him beside old Ti-owa- konza. Shortly before the start down into the valley Vandervyn had again borrowed his superiOr's writing pad and fountain pen. He now sat down at Hardy's shoulder, with the pad and pen ready.
 After a ceremoniOuS silence the head chiefs crier announced the pur- pose of the council. This was fOi- lowed by declamations from three or