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Updated: May 13, 2025
But the old chief spoke: "Kagigegabo, you have saved the tribe from ruin, and because of your help, we have captured the enemy, for whom we were searching. They have told us of your bravery and of your wisdom. You were more full of courage than any squaw we have ever known. You shall no longer be called Kagigegabo, but you shall be called Aotonaka, the daring one."
Were you to go among the Ntum people to-day, you would find there a man who is beloved by all because he has loved to give of himself to his people. He has a kindly face and a loving heart. It is Afa Bibo, the boy who is still eager to pay for his one good eye. Kagigegabo sat in front of the wigwam watching the fire slowly die out. Her heart was full of bitterness.
"You think that to be a girl is to be less than a Brave. It is not so. It is not so. To be a squaw one must be very brave. We cannot go to hunt and to kill, but it takes no less of courage to stay here and guard the tepees. It takes courage to bear pain it takes courage to be tired and not complain. You can be brave, Kagigegabo, even though you must grow into a Mahala and sit by the fire.
Everything a girl had to do, she hated. Everything a boy had to do, she liked. Her name was Kagigegabo, which meant "One who stands forever." That would be a great name for a Brave, but she could never do anything that was worth while. She was only a girl. Slowly she rose to bring the corn and grind it.
But before it was ready, the leader leaned against the old tree and he was asleep. Then another and another slept. Stronger than opium had been the flower that they had eaten. Kagigegabo watched them while her own eyes began to droop. She must not go to sleep. Oh! what could she do? She must ride when they were asleep. What could she do? She turned and twisted the broken ankle.
The courage is not in the war paint and feathers the courage is all in the heart." Kagigegabo sat very still after Wicostu had left her. Over and over she said to herself those last words of the old squaw "The courage is all in the heart." Perhaps after all she could be a Brave, such as Guka was trying to be.
Then a cut of the whip across the legs sent the pony flying down the path. After he had gone, the girl sat in a dazed way near the path. She was so tired. If only they would hurry, then she could tell them which way to go but sleep came before the pony had gone even one mile. Five days later, Kagigegabo opened her eyes slowly and looked about.
When he saw her eyes open, he came slowly in and gazed long at the Indian girl on the bed and then went as slowly out again. When he came back, there were with him five other chiefs. Around the bed they stood in a silent circle and Kagigegabo wondered what they were going to do with her. Had she done wrong? Was she to be punished?
"You shall die unless you tell us by what path and to what place your Braves went to-day. Speak!" What should she do? If she told, the men would die. If she kept silence, she must die. Her hands trembled. Then she remembered again the words of Wicostu, "Courage is all in the heart," and smiling at the chief she said: "Kagigegabo will lead you. She knows not the name, but the way."
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