othed the child in her new costume
and laid her hand upon the sunny head, while she muttered a charm to
"preserve it from all evil and all enemies." Then, apparently
exhausted by her own efforts, the prophetess directed Lahnowenah, the
Giver, to put on the antique White Necklace.

This was so long that it went twice about the Sun Maid's throat and
would have been promptly pulled off by her own fingers, as an
adornment quite too warm for the season had not the fastening been one
she could not undo and the string, which held the ornaments, of strong
sinew.

Then Wahneenah took the prophetess into her wigwam, and prepared a
meal of dried venison meat, hulled corn, and the juice of wild berries
pressed out and sweetened. Katasha's visits were of rare occurrence,
and it had been long since the Woman-Who-Mourns had played the
hostess, save in this late matter of her foster-child; so for a time
she forgot all save the necessity of doing honor to her guest. When
she did remember the Sun Maid and went in anxious haste to the
doorway, the child had vanished.

"She is gone! The Great Spirit has recalled her!" cried Wahneenah, in
distress.

"Fear not, the White Papoose is safe. She will live long and her hands
will be full. As they fill they will overflow. She is a river that
enriches yet suffers no loss. Patience. Patience. You have taken joy
into your home, but you have also taken sorrow. Accept both, and wait
what will come."

Even Wahneenah, to whom many deferred, felt that she herself must pay
deference to this venerable prophetess, and so remained quiet in her
wigwam as long as her guest chose to rest there. This was until the
sun was near its setting and till the foster-mother's heart had grown
sick with anxiety. So, no sooner had Katasha's figure disappeared
among the trees than Wahneenah set out at frantic speed to find the
little one.

"Have you seen the Sun Maid?" she demanded of the few she met; and at
last one set her on the right track.

"Yes. She chased a gray squirrel that had been wounded. It was still
so swift it could just outstrip her, and she followed beyond the
village, away along the bank. Osceolo passed near, and saw the
squirrel seek refuge in the lodge of Spotted Adder. The Sun Maid also
entered."

"The lodge of Spotted Adder!" repeated Wahneenah, slowly. "Then only
the Great Spirit can preserve her!"

CHAPTER IV.

THE WHITE BOW.

Wahneenah had lived so entirely within the seclusio