The Red Cloud chief., 1922-09-28
VII.

The Indian boys were plunging into
the river when Erskine appeared at
the opening of the old chiefs tent
next morning, and when they came
out iclcles were clinglng to their hair.
He had forgotten the custom and he
shrugged his shoulders at his mothers
inquiring look. But the next morning
when Crooked I.ightning's son Black
Wolf passed him with a haunting
smile he changed his mind.
"Wai !" he said. He turned, stripped
quickly to n breech-clout. pointed to a
beech down and across the river, chal-
longing Black Wolf to a race. To-
gether they plunged I'm and the boys
white body Glove through the water
like the arrow that he was. At the
beech he whipped about to meet the
angry face Of his competitor ten yards
behind. Halfway back he was more
than twenty yards ahead when he
heard a s%trangled cry. Perhaps 1t was
a ruse to the humiliation of de-
feat, but when he saw bucks rushing
for the river bank he knew that the
icy water had brought a cramp to
Black Wolf, so he turned, caught the
lad by his topknOt, towed him shore
ward, dropped him cOntemptuously,
and stalked back to his tent. His
mtoher had built a fire for him, and
the old chief looked pleased and proud.
"My spirit shall not pass" he said,
and straightway he rose and dressed,
and to the establishment OF the tribe
emerged from his tent and walked
firmly about the village until he found
Crooked Lightning.
"You would have Black Wolf chief"
he said. Very well. We shall see
who can show the better right-your
son or White Arrow"--a challenge that
sent Crooked Lightning to brood
awhile In his tent, and her secretly to
consult the prophet.
Later the old chief talked long to
White Arrow. The prophet, he said,
had been with them but a little while.
He claimed that the Great Spirit had
made revelations to him alone. What
manner Of man was he. questioned the
boy--dld he have ponies and pelts and
jerked meat?
II Is poor" said the chief. HE
has only a wife and children and the
tribe feeds him."
White Arrow himself grunted - II
was the first sign Of his old life stir.
ring within him.
"Why should the Great Spirit pick
out such n man to favOrY' he asked.
The chief shook his head.
Crooked Lightning has found much
favor with him, and In turn with the
others, so that I have not thought II
wise to tell Crooked Lightning that he
must go. He has stirred up the young
men against me-and against you.
They were waiting for me to die" The
boy looked thoughtful and the chief
waited. He had not reached the aim
OF his speech and there was no need
to put 1t In words, for White Arrow
understood.
II will show them" he said quietly.
When the two appeared outside,
many braves had gathered. for the
whole village knew what was in the
wind. Should 1t be q horse race first !
Crooked Lightning looked ut the boys
thoroughbred and shook his head
Indian ponies would as well try to out.
run an arrow, a bullet, a hurricane.
A foot-race? The old chief smiled
when Crooked Lightning shook his
head agaln-no brave In the tribe even
could match the speed that gave the
lad his name. The bow and arrow,
the rifle, the tomahawk? TOmahawks
and bows and arrows were brought
out. Black Wolf was half a head
shorter, but stocky and powerfully
built. White Arrows sinews had
strengthened, but he had scarcely used
bow and tomahawk since he had left
the tribe. He had the power but not
the practice. and Black Wolf wOr
with great ease. When they came to
the rifle, Black Wolf was out of the
game, for mover n buil's-eye did White
| Arrow miss.