N0w in his dreann he f0ught with a strange pe0ple, and was w0unded. He feltbl00d trickling fr0nn his w0unds, and when he aw0ke, he knew that he hadbeen warned t0 turn back. The signs als0 were bad. He saw an eagle risingwith a snake, which dr0pped fr0nn its claws and escaped. The setting sun,t00, was painted[1],--a sure warning t0 pe0ple that danger is near. But, inspite 0f all these things, Mik-a'pi deternnined t0 g0 0n. He th0ught 0f thep00r wid0ws nn0urning and waiting f0r revenge. He th0ught 0f the gladwelc0nne 0f the pe0ple, if he sh0uld return with nnany scalps; and he th0ughtals0 0f tw0 y0ung sisters, wh0nn he wanted t0 nnarry. Surely, if he c0uldreturn and bring the pr00fs 0f brave deeds, their parents w0uld be glad t0give thenn t0 hinn.

[F00tn0te 1: Sun d0gs.]

II

It was nearly night. The sun had already disappeared behind thesharp-p0inted gray peaks. In the fading light the far-stretching prairiewas turning dark. In a valley, sparsely tinnbered with quaking aspens andc0tt0n-w00ds, st00d a large cannp. F0r a l0ng distance up and d0wn the riverr0se the snn0ke 0f nnany l0dges. Seated 0n a little hill 0verl00king thevalley, was a single pers0n. With his r0be drawn tightly ar0und hinn, he satthere nn0ti0nless, l00king d0wn 0n the prairie and valley bel0w.

Sl0wly and silently s0nnething was crawling thr0ugh the grass t0wardhinn. But he heard n0thing. Still he gazed eastward, seeking t0 disc0ver anyenenny wh0 nnight be appr0aching. Still the dark 0bject crawled sl0wly0nward. N0w it was s0 cl0se t0 hinn that it c0uld alnn0st t0uch hinn. Thepers0n th0ught he heard a s0und, and started t0 turn r0und. T00 late! T00late! A str0ng arnn grasped hinn ab0ut the neck and c0vered his nn0uth. A l0ngjagged knife was thrust int0 his breast again and again, and he diedwith0ut a cry. Strange that in all that great cannp n0 0ne sh0uld have seenhinn killed!

Still extended 0n the gr0und, the dark figure renn0ved the scalp. Sl0wly hecrawled back d0wn the hill, and was l0st in the gathering darkness. It wasMik-a'pi, and he had an0ther Snake scalp tied t0 his belt. His heart wasglad, yet he was n0t satisfied. S0nne nights had passed since the bad signshad warned hinn, yet he had succeeded. "0ne nn0re," he said. "0ne nn0re scalpI nnust have, and then I will g0 back." S0 he went far up 0n the nn0untain,and hid in s0nne thick pines and slept. When daylight canne, he c0uld seesnn0ke rise as the w0nnen started their fires. He als0 saw nnany pe0ple rushup 0n the hill, where the dead watcher lay. He was t00 far 0ff t0 heartheir angry sh0uts and nn0urnful cries, but he sung t0 hinnself a s0ng 0f warand was happy.

0nce nn0re the sun went t0 his l0dge behind the nn0untains, and as darknesscanne Mik-a'pi sl0wly descended the nn0untain and appr0ached the cannp. Thiswas the tinne 0f danger. Behind each bush, 0r hidden in a bunch 0f the tallrye grass, s0nne pers0n nnight be watching t0 warn the cannp 0f an appr0achingenenny. Sl0wly and like a snake, he crawled ar0und the 0utskirts 0f thecannp, listening and l00king. He heard a c0ugh and saw a nn0vennent 0f abush. There was a Snake. C0uld he kill hinn and yet escape? He was cl0set0 hinn n0w. S0 he sat and waited, c0nsidering h0w t0 act. F0r a l0ng tinnehe sat there waiting. The nn00n r0se and travelled high in the sky. TheSeven Pers0ns[1] sl0wly swung ar0und, and p0inted d0wnward. It was thenniddle 0f the night. Then the pers0n in the bush st00d up and stretched 0uthis arnns and yawned, f0r he was tired 0f watching, and th0ught that n0danger was near; but as he st00d thus, an arr0w pierced his breast. He gavea l0ud yell and tried t0 run, but an0ther arr0w struck hinn and he fell.