e village," and Red
Arrow gave his muttered assent.

"Now we must find a wolf," continued Red Arrow, and they betook
themselves through the pines to the open plains, White Otter following
him but a step in rear.

In that day wolves were not hard to find in the buffalo country, as they
swarmed around the herds and they had no enemies. Red Arrow arrogated
to himself the privilege of selecting the wolf. Scanning the expanse,
it was not long before their sharp eyes detected ravens hovering over
a depression in the plain, but the birds did not swoop down. They knew
that there was a carcass there and wolves, otherwise the birds would not
hover, but drop down. Quickly they made their way to the place, and as
they came in range they saw the body of a half-eaten buffalo surrounded
by a dozen wolves. The wolves betook themselves slowly off, with many
wistful looks behind, but one in particular, more lately arrived at the
feast, lingered in the rear.

[Illustration: 05 O gray wolf of my clan--shall we have fortune?]

Selecting this one, Red Arrow called: "O gray wolf of my clan, answer
me this question. White Otter and I are going to the Absa-roke for
scalps--shall we have fortune, or is the Absaroke medicine too strong?"

The wolf began to circle as Red Arrow approached it and the buffalo
carcass. Slowly it trotted off to his left hand, whereat the anxious
warrior followed slowly.

"Tell me, pretty wolf, shall White Otter's and my scalps be danced
by the Absaroke? Do the enemy see us coming now--do they feel our
presence?" And the wolf trotted around still to the left.

"Come, brother. Red Arrow is of your clan. Warn me, if I must go back."
And as the Indian turned, yet striding after the beast, it continued to
go away from him, but kept an anxious eye on the dead buffalo meanwhile.

"Do not be afraid, gray wolf; I would not raise my arm to strike. See,
I have laid my bow on the ground. Tell me not to fear the Absaroke,
gray wolf, and I promise to kill a fat buffalo-cow for you when we meet
again."

The wolf had nearly completed his circle by this time, and once again
his follower spoke.

"Do you fear me because of the skin of the dead wolf you see by my bow
on the ground? No, Red Arrow did not kill thy brother. He was murdered
by a man of the dog clan, and I did not do it. Speak to me--help me
against my fears." And the wolf barked as he trotted around until he had
made a complete circle of the buffalo, whereat Red A