us object anywhere; but
Wahneenah had expected this addition to their equestrian party and, as
she turned to look for it, exclaimed in pleasure at its prompt
appearance.

The Snake-Who-Leaps heard her ejaculation, and evinced his disgust.

"Ugh! Is it to teach a lot of women and a worthless pale-faced lad
that I have left the comfort of my own lodge this hot summer day?"

"The old forget. It was long ago, when I was no bigger than the Sun
Maid here, that the One-To-Be-Trusted took me behind him on a wild
ride over the prairie. It was the only lesson he ever gave--or needed
to give--_me_. I will show him that I am still young enough to
remember!" cried Wahneenah, with all the gayety of girlhood, and with
so complete a change in her appearance that it was easy to see how she
had come to be named The Happy.

Even before the teacher had settled the Sun Maid in her tiny blanket
saddle, Wahneenah had sprung upon the chestnut's back. As she touched
it, a clear, determined, if very youthful voice, shouted behind her:

"I am a white man! No Indian shall ever teach me a thing that I can
learn for myself!"

For suddenly Gaspar remembered the wrongs he had suffered at the
red men's hands, and leaped to Tempest's back unaided. Another
instant, and the trio of riders dashed away from Muck-otey-pokee in a
mad rush that left their disgruntled instructor in doubt which was the
better pupil of them all.

"Who begins slow finishes fast; but who begins fast may never live to
finish slow," he remarked, sententiously; then observing that Osceolo
had, for the first time, raised his eyes, he promptly laid a heavy
hand upon the youth's shoulder and wheeled him about.

"To my wigwam--march!"

And Osceolo marched--exactly as if all his limbs were sticks and his
joints mechanical.

"Ugh! So? Like the jointed dolls of the papooses, eh? Very good. Keep
at it. From now till those three return, dead or alive, my fine young
warrior, you shall be my pupil. You have set me the pace you like. You
may keep at it. From the locust tree east of my lodge to the pawpaw on
the west, as the branch swings in the wind, so shall you swing. Ugh!
May they ride far and long. One--two--commence!"

It was noonday when he began that weary, weary automatic "step,
step"; but when the last rays of the sun had disappeared beyond the
prairie, Osceolo was still enduring his discipline, and making his
pendulum-like journey from locust-tree to pawpaw, from pawpaw to