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young heart never forgot its early sorrow； yet she has never blamed the
Sacs and Foxes or held them re… sponsible for the deed。 She blames
rather the customs of war among us。 She believes in the formation of a
blood brotherhood strong enough to prevent all this cruel and useless
enmity。 This was her high purpose； and to this end she re… served her
hand。 Forgive her； forgive her； I pray！〃
In the morning there was a great commotion。 The herald of the Sacs
and Foxes entered the Sioux camp； attired in ceremonial garb and bearing
in one hand an American flag and in the other a peace…pipe。 He made the
rounds singing a peace song； and delivering to all an invitation to attend
the wedding feast of Dowanhotaninwin and their chief's son。 Thus all
was well。 The simplicity； high purpose； and bravery of the girl won the
hearts of the two tribes； and as long as she lived she was able to keep the
peace be… tween them。
III SNANA'S FAWN
The Little Missouri was in her spring fullness； and the hills among
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which she found her way to the Great Muddy were profusely adorned with
colors； much like those worn by the wild red man upon a holiday！ Looking
toward the sunrise； one saw mysteri… ous； deep shadows and bright
prominences； while on the opposite side there was really an extravagant
array of variegated hues。 Between the gorgeous buttes and rainbow…
tinted ridges there were narrow plains； broken here and there by dry creeks
or gulches； and these again were clothed scantily with poplars and sad…
colored bull…berry bushes； while the bare spots were pur… ple with the wild
Dakota crocuses。
Upon the lowest of a series of natural ter… races there stood on this
May morning a young Sioux girl； whose graceful movements were not
unlike those of a doe which chanced to be lurk… ing in a neighboring gulch。
On the upper plains； not far away； were her young companions； all busily
employed with the wewoptay； as it was calledthe sharp…pointed stick
with which the Sioux women dig wild turnips。 They were gayly
gossiping together； or each humming a love…song as she worked； only
Snana stood some… what apart from the rest； in fact； concealed by the crest
of the ridge。
She had paused in her digging and stood fac… ing the sun…kissed buttes。
Above them in the clear blue sky the father sun was traveling up… ward as
in haste； while to her receptive spirit there appealed an awful； unknown
force； the silent speech of the Great Mystery； to which it seemed to her the
whole world must be listen… ing！
〃O Great Mystery！ the father of earthly things is coming to quicken us
into life。 Have pity on me； I pray thee！ May I some day be… come the
mother of a great and brave race of warriors！〃 So the maiden prayed
silently。 It was now full…born day。 The sun shone hot upon the bare
ground； and the drops stood upon Snana's forehead as she plied her long
pole。 There was a cool spring in the dry creek bed near by； well hidden
by a clump of choke… cherry bushes； and she turned thither to cool her
thirsty throat。 In the depths of the ravine her eye caught a familiar
footprintthe track of a doe with the young fawn beside it。 The hunting
instinct arose within。
〃It will be a great feat if I can find and take from her the babe。 The
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little tawny skin shall be beautifully dressed by my mother。 The legs and
the nose shall be embossed with porcupine quills。 It will be my work…
bag；〃 she said to herself。
As she stole forward on the fresh trail she scanned every nook； every
clump of bushes。 There was a sudden rustle from within a grove of wild
plum trees； thickly festooned with grape and clematis； and the doe mother
bounded away as carelessly as if she were never to return。
Ah； a mother's ruse！ Snana entered the thorny enclosure； which was
almost a rude tee… pee； and； tucked away in the furthermost corner； lay
something with a trout…like； speckled； tawny coat。 She bent over it。
The fawn was appar… ently sleeping。 Presently its eyes moved a bit； and
a shiver passed through its subtle body。
〃Thou shalt not die； thy skin shall not be… come my work…bag！〃
unconsciously the maiden spoke。 The mother sympathy had taken hold
on her mind。 She picked the fawn up tenderly； bound its legs； and put it
on her back to carry like an Indian babe in the folds of her robe。
〃I cannot leave you alone； Tachinchala。 Your mother is not here。
Our hunters will soon return by this road； and your mother has left behind
her two plain tracks leading to this thicket；〃 she murmured。
The wild creature struggled vigorously for a minute； and then became
quiet。 Its graceful head protruded from the elkskin robe just over
Snana's shoulder。 She was slowly climbing the slope with her burden；
when suddenly like an apparition the doe…mother stood before her。 The
fawn called loudly when it was first seized； and the mother was not too far
away to hear。 Now she called frantically for her child； at the same time
stamping with her delicate fore…feet。
〃Yes； sister； you are right； she is yours； but you cannot save her to…day！
The hunters will soon be here。 Let me keep her for you； I will return her
to you safely。 And hear me； O sis… ter of the woods； that some day I may
become the mother of a noble race of warriors and of fine women； as
handsome as you are！〃
At this moment the quick eyes of the Indian girl detected something
strange in the doe's actions。 She glanced in every direction and be… hold！
a grizzly bear was cautiously approach… ing the group from a considerable
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distance。
〃Run； run； sister！ I shall save your child if I can；〃 she cried； and flew
for the nearest scrub oak