mother and
child, nor were they ashamed to show their love and weakness.

"'I shall be with my father,' said little Mus-kin-gum. 'You may look for
my mother and me in the stars, Grandpa. I have seen father there. Be
sure and watch; we shall all be together,' and the child smiled as he
kissed his grandparents, whose hearts were breaking.

"'My two brave ones,' said old Wa-chi-ta, 'if the rain comes to us it
will be you who have sent it.'

"The tribes assembled from miles around. It was a hot, torrid night,
although the moon shone brightly. All was silent as O-hi-o and little
Mus-kin-gum came forth to the sacrifice. She wore her ceremonial
costume; her long, black hair was flowing and held in by a beaded
headband. She looked so beautiful as she marched up the mountain that
people wept, but she walked proudly with her head erect, leading her
child by the hand, and the little fellow also held his head upright and
seemed without fear. Soon the ledge was reached. Looking down into the
valley below they took their position.

"'Farewell,' said O-hi-o, 'I do this for the love I bear you, my
people.'

"Then she kissed the boy many times and, reconsidering, she lifted him
in her arms. The child put his face to hers and clung tightly about her
neck. She whispered in his ear. He raised his head and called aloud:
'May the rain fall and may you all be happy.'

"Then holding her child close to her heart the brave woman stepped to
the edge, closed her eyes, and leaped into the valley below,--the valley
in which stood her wigwam."

Kate paused. The girls were hanging breathlessly on her words. Sallie
Davis and Mattie Hastings were crying, while Edna Whitely and Mollie
Long drew nearer.

"Oh, don't stop," gasped Patty Sands, "please go on, Miss Kate. I'm all
excited."

Kate laughed.

"Do let me get my breath, girls. I had no idea it would take me so
long."

"There fell no rain that night, but the people as they marched down into
the valley thought of nothing but the sacrifice. Probably had it rained
they would not have known it. They were silent, thinking with admiration
of the wonderful act of heroism that they had just witnessed.

"The next day searching parties started out to seek the bodies of the
mother and child, but not a trace could be found.

"'The Great Spirit has taken them in the flesh,' they said. 'Perhaps He
is angry that we allowed it.'

"Everyone grew frightened. None seemed to care to speak. Suddenly a