e manner furthered this extraordinary outward
eyesight.

The chief flashed a scornful glance upon his attendant and, quite
naturally, toward the designated object. White Pelican saw his gaze
become intent and his indifference give way to amazement. Then, with a
cry of alarm, that was half incredulity, the Black Partridge wheeled
and struck out swiftly toward the west.

"Ugh! It looked unusual, even to me, but my father has recognized
something beyond my guessing. He rides like the wind, yet his horse
was well spent an hour ago."

Regardless of his own recent eagerness to be at Muck-otey-pokee, and
relating the day's doings to an admiring circle of stay-at-homes, the
young brave followed his leader. In a brief time they came up with a
wild, high-spirited white horse, which rushed frantically from point
to point in the vain hope of shaking from its back a burden to which
it was not used.

"Souls of my ancestors! It is--the Snowbird!"

"It is the Sun Maid!" returned Black Partridge.

But for all his straining vision, White Pelican could not make out
that it was indeed that wonderful child who was wrapped and bundled in
the long blanket and lashed to the Snowbird's back by many thongs of
leather. Not until, by one dexterous swoop of his horsehair rope, the
chief collared the terrified mare and brought her to her knees.

"Cut the straps. Set the child free."

The brave promptly obeyed; while the chief, holding the struggling
mare with one hand, carefully drew the Sun Maid from her swathing
blanket and laid her across his shoulder. Her little figure hung limp
and relaxed where it was placed, and he saw that she had fainted.

[Illustration: SNOWBIRD AND THE SUN MAID. _Page 68._]

"Take her to that row of alder bushes yonder. There should be water
there. I'll finish what has been begun, and prove whether this is a
beast bewitched, or only a vicious mare that needs a master."

The White Pelican would have preferred the horse-breaking to acting as
child's nurse to this uncanny small maiden who had ridden a creature
none other in his tribe would have attempted. But he did as he was
bidden and laid the little one down in the cooling shade of the
alders. Then he put the water on her face and forced a few drops
between her parted lips. After that he fixed all his attention on the
efforts of Black Partridge to bring into subjection the unbroken mare.

However, the efforts were neither very severe nor long continued. Like