John Ermine of the Yellowstone

ause their stomachs were so formed, but he and the wolves ate meat. They had the canines. In justice to the wolves, it must be said that all three animals represented in the fight suff

or warmth to the creat

vation. That is no small thing to any person, but to the wild man, ever in close communion with the passing of the flesh, to be on intimate terms with the something more than human is a solace that dwellers in the quiescen

foster-father. Between the long puffs he said: "Crooked-Bear wants us to bring the white Absaroke to him. The hot winds have come down the valley, and the snow has gone, so we can go to the

h Sparrowhawks in their hearts. His heart may be heavy out there alone in the mountains-he may want us to leave the boy by his fire.

ne behind the other. The ponies slithered in the pools and little rivulets left by the melted snow, but again taking the slow, steady, mo

him, for the boys of the camp were not permitted to go near the sacred places where the old man was found. He had requested this of the chiefs, and the Absaroke children drank the mystery and fear of

is nerves. Why should the great man want to see White Weasel, who was only a herd-boy? Was it because his hair and his eyes were not the color of other boys'? He was conscious of this difference. He knew the trader

n open to the prowling enemy. That was always understood. Hours of slow winding took them high up on the mountains, the snow growing deeper and less trodden by wild animals, until they were among the pines. Making their way over fallen lo

red by a man. Going forward, they came first to the dogs,-huge, bold creatures,-bigger and different than any Weasel had ever seen. Then he

sign with dogs. Weasel's mind did not concern itself with dogs. In response to strange words from the white medicine-man they drew away. Weasel sat on his pony while the older men dismounted and greeted C

ce. Weasel's eyes could open no farther. His whole training was that of an Indian. He would not have betrayed his feelings under any circumstances; he was also a boy, and the occasion was to him so

bed him of his powers of observation during that ordeal. He had seen the traders at the post; he h

o the Indians. It seemed that Nature had laid her hands on his shoulder and telescoped him together. He was hum

e weather-stained and care-hardened. They were sculptured with many an insistent dig by Nature, the great artist; she had gouged deep under the brows; she had been lavish in the treatment of the nose; she had cut the tiger lines fearlessly, but she had covered the mouth and lost the lower face in a bush of beard. More closely, the whole face was open, the eyes mild, and all abou

inting the wild figures against the smoked logs and rock wall. It illumined a buffalo-covered bunk, piles of parflèche full of dried meat, a saddle and pack panniers, cooking pots and pans on the hearth, all deeply sooted, a table and chair made with an axe, and in one corner some shelves, equally rude, pi

ntains-we have even no cottonwoods for them to eat. The bear and the wolves will not spring on them, though the big cats are about." All this said the white

eturn, seeing him cooking, Fire-Bear said: "Brother, you should have a squaw to do that. Why do you n

ar added, "No woman would stay long up here, brothers; she would soon run away." Fire-Bear said nothing, for h

ought him enough dry meat, after the last fall hunt, to last him until he should no longer need it. The elk were below him, but plentiful, and his big dogs were able to haul enough up the hills on his sleds. He only feared for his tob

he Absaroke last fall to help drive the white men out of the country, saying, 'If they take our lands to dig their badger-holes in, they will

id this to me: 'Before the grass on the plains shoots, send a strong, fat-horse war-party to the enemy and strike hard. Sweep their ponies away-they will be full of sticks and bark, not able to carry their warriors that moon; tear their lodges down and put their fires out; make their warriors sit shiver

aster of Indian mystery; he was in his first youth, his slender bones had lengthened suddenly in the last few years, and the muscles had tried hard to catch up with them. They had no time to do more than that, consequently Weasel was more beautiful than he would ever be again. The long lines of grace showed u

to him and put hi

nd knew not which way to turn. We will follow soon the others who have gone to the Shadowland. The Absaroke will be left behind, and they must have wise men to guide them when we are gone. This young man will be one of those-I have seen that in my dreams. He must stay here with me in the lonely mountains, and

starlike eyes as it stood open, regardful of the strange old man. The Indians passed the pipe, and for a

rs open, brother. Your talk is good. The Sak

d not ask too much of him. In reply to another inquiry, he said that the boy should sta

oy, stroking his yellow hair and pouring the benevolence

o herd, father. What

here," tapping the boy's forehead with his finger, "for you

stay,