rn it, nodding at the now impassive
Indian to begin. Presently he nodded also, and put his knife on the stone.
She kept turning steadily, singing to herself the while, as with anxiety
she saw the Indians drawing closer and closer in from the gate. Faster and
faster she turned, and at last the Indian lifted his knife from the stone.
She reached out her hand with simulated interest, felt the edge with her
thumb, the Indian looking darkly at her the while. Presently, after
feeling the edge himself, he bent over the stone again, and she went on
turning the wheel, still singing softly. At last he stopped again and felt
the edge. With a smile which showed her fine, white teeth, she said, "Is
that for me?" making a significant sign across her throat at the same
time.

The old Indian looked at her grimly, then slowly shook his head in
negation.

"I go hunt Yellow Hawk to-night," he said. "I go fight; I like marry you
when I come back. _How_!" he said, and turned away toward the gate.

Some of his braves held back, the blackness of death in their looks. He
saw. "My knife is sharp," he said. "The woman is brave. She shall live--go
and fight Yellow Hawk, or starve and die."

Divining their misery, their hunger, and the savage thought that had come
to them, Sally had whispered to the factor's wife to bring food, and the
woman now came running out with two baskets full, and returned for more.
Sally ran forward among the Indians and put the food into their hands.
With grunts of satisfaction they seized what she gave, and thrust it into
their mouths, squatting on the ground. Arrowhead looked on stern and
immobile, but when at last she and the factor's wife sat down before the
braves with confidence and an air of friendliness, he sat down also; yet,
famished as he was, he would not touch the food. At last Sally, realizing
his proud defiance of hunger, offered him a little lump of pemmican and a
biscuit, and with a grunt he took it from her hands and ate it. Then, at
his command, a fire was lit, the pipe of peace was brought out, and Sally
and the factor's wife touched their lips to it, and passed it on.

So was a new treaty of peace and loyalty made with Arrowhead and his tribe
by a woman without fear, whose life had seemed not worth a minute's
purchase; and, as the sun went down, Arrowhead and his men went forth to
make war upon Yellow Hawk beside the Nettigon River. In this wise had her
influence spread in the land.