in spite of my anxiety, I
was glad to lie down in a corner of the chiefs tent and obtain some
rest, of which I stood greatly in need. During our journey, when we
might at any moment have been attacked by an enemy, I had only slept at
intervals.

I had been for some hours, I fancy, fast asleep, when I was awakened by
a movement made by the chief, who had been lying near by me, wrapped in
his buffalo robe. By the light of the moon, which streamed in through
the unclosed entrance, I saw him get up and leave the tent.

Influenced by a motive for which I cannot now account, I rose and
followed him. My belief is that I was scarcely awake; indeed, I walked
along like a person in a dream. He at once left the camp, and took the
way down to the lower and open ground. I was at some distance behind
him, so he did not hear my footsteps.

After walking for a quarter of an hour or more, I found myself in the
midst of an Indian burial-ground, which I recognised by the number of
small platforms, raised on posts and thatched over, rising in all
directions. Besides the platforms, I observed several strange-looking
figures fixed to the top of tall poles, and composed, as far as I could
judge, of bits of coloured rags and skins, which fluttered in a weird
fashion in the night breeze.

The chief stopped before a couple of these fantastic-looking objects,
and, with folded arms, gazed up at them, uttering some words which I was
too far off to hear distinctly, though the sound of his voice reached my
ears. He was praying,--of that I could have no doubt,--and these
trumpery scarecrows were his idols. I could not have supposed that a
man of good sense, as he appeared to be, could be the victim of a
superstition so gross and contemptible.

He continued standing for some time, making various signs, and uttering
words as before.

Unwilling to be discovered, now that I was fully awake, I was on the
point of retreating, when the sound of my footfall reached his ears, and
turning round he saw me. I did not wish that he should fancy I was
afraid of encountering him, so I at once advanced, and told him frankly
how I came to follow him. I assured him, also, that I had had no
intention of acting as a spy on his movements. As he appeared to be in
no way displeased, I asked him, while we were walking back to the camp,
whether he had really been worshipping the figures I had seen.

"Why not?" he inquired in a serious tone. "The times are f