got that she was hungry, until Wahneenah had brought a
second bowl of porridge and, gently lifting her charge to a place upon
the mat, had bidden her eat.

"Oh, yes! My breakfast. I did forget it, didn't I? Oh, the darling
posies! Oh! the pretty Feather-man, that couldn't tell a naughty
story. I know 'bout him. We all know 'bout him to our Fort. My Captain
says he is the bestest Feather-man in all the--everywhere."

"Ugh! Ugh!"

The low grunt of assent seemed to come from every side the big wigwam.
At all times there were many idle Indians at Muck-otey-pokee, but of
late their number had been largely increased by bands of visiting
Pottawatomies. These had come to tarry with their tribesmen in the
village till the distribution of goods should be made from Fort
Dearborn, as had been ordered by General Hull; or until the hour was
ripe for their treacherous assault upon the little garrison.

The Man-Who-Kills was in the very centre of the group which had
squatted in a semi-circle as near as it dared before the tepee of
their chief's sister, and the low grunts came from this band of
spectators.

"We will sit and watch. So will we learn what the Black Partridge
means," and when Spotted Rabbit so advised his brothers, they had
come in the darkness and arranged themselves as has been described.

The chief had found them there when, before dawn, he came with his
offering of flowers, and Wahneenah had seen them when she raised the
curtain of her tent and looked out to learn what manner of day was
coming. But neither had noticed them any more than they did the birds
rustling in the cottonwood beside the wigwam, or the wild creatures
skurrying across the path for their early drink at the stream below.

Neither had the Sun Maid paid them any attention, for she had always
been accustomed to meeting the savages both at the Fort and on her
rides abroad with any of her garrison friends; so she deliberately
sipped her breakfast, pausing now and then to arrange the pouch-like
petals of some favored blossoms and to converse with them in her
fantastic fashion, quite believing that they heard and understood.

"Did the nice Feather-man bring you all softly, little posies? Aren't
you glad you've come to live with Kitty? Other Mother will give you
all some breakfast, too, of coldest water in the brook. Then you will
sit up straight and hold your heads high. That's the way the children
do when my Captain takes the book with the green co