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"Thunder-maker would speak wise words with his brother," said the Medicine Man, entering, but not deigning to sit in the tent of that "brother." He seldom paid that honour to any teepee except his own and that of the chief. "It is well," returned the other man. "Red Fox will gladly hear the wise words the Thunder-maker will speak." The Medicine Man did not waste any time in needless palaver.
"We would do much to go back to them, for they must be sad at the absence of their fathers," said the elder man. "Then it may be as the pale-face wish," resumed the Medicine Man. "Thunder-maker can save his white brothers, and he will " "If you will, there is nothing that we will not do, within our power, to repay you," said Holden, wrongly anticipating the motive of the Indian.
It makes him feel small to be trapped without dealing a blow in self-defence. The place was brilliantly lit with burning brands which many of the Indians had brought, and the camp was in an uproar with the voluble chatter of the men as they crowded round the captives, while Thunder-maker excitedly cried out his story of the affair.
Thunder-maker grinned evilly to himself as he watched the departure of his visitors. Then he rose up, folded around him a robe of deerskin that was covered with many strange designs, and crept with the sly movements of a prowling wolf among the various teepees. Reaching the farther side of the camp, he stopped in front of one of the tents that stood a little way apart from the others.
Thunder-maker was no exception to his race in this respect, but he was exceptional in another, inasmuch as when bent on a subject he stuck to it without using many unnecessary words or ornaments of speech. He waited in thoughtful silence for several minutes.
Slowly the serpents came from their covering. One remained coiled on the raised wrists, the other still sounding the ominous rattle moved slowly downwards till it rested on the man's shoulder. Then Thunder-maker inclined his head, as if listening to a whisper. Afterwards his face lit up with understanding. "Huh!" he exclaimed. "Did not the spirit of Thunder-maker speak true?
And as the last of the reptiles passed beneath the edge of the tent-cloth both men sprang from their couches and rushed round to the teepee that was pitched a little way behind their own. But they found Thunder-maker reclining on a heap of robes and apparently asleep; and not a sign was seen to suggest the presence of a "rattler."
And there were sounds, too, for all the world as if some person were getting a jolly good spanking. You were dozing at the time, so I didn't disturb you. But I know I nearly waked you with laughing at the thought of Thunder-maker receiving a good old-fashioned correction." "It would take more than that to do him good," said Arnold, with a frown.
His ears were quick to interpret the faintest sounds of pleasure, pain, or surprise. The trio sat in silence for a time, until at last the soundless night became too oppressive, and Holden was forced to speak his thoughts. "Why have you told us of this, Thunder-maker?" he asked. "Were you sent to us by Mighty Hand?"
Kawin!" was the general reply, and again the knives glistened as they were raised in many hands. Thunder-maker shrieked with triumph. "Then save our tribe from the magic of the evil ones!" he cried as he flung his arms upwards and turned to the captives with a fiendish grin of exultation. The Indians were now worked up to a condition of irresponsible madness.
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