steal from each other, but only from the
Chief?"

He nodded an assent. This was a curious bit of reasoning. It needed
some explanation. John continued:

"Why is it wrong to steal from the Chief and not from each other?"

At this question the Chief did not answer as promptly as usual. He
weighed the question in his mind. He smiled as though to say: How can it
be wrong for people to take things from each other? They do not own
anything. No one but the Chief owns things.

His answer, when finally given, was not at all clear, at least so the
boys thought.

"The Chief in his wisdom gives to all alike; and when he gives it the
property still belongs to him and not the people; but if they take it
from the Chief then they are robbers."

"Ask him," said John, "whether, if when he gives anything to one of his
people, and it still belongs to him, after he gives it, why it is not
stealing from him, if some one takes it away from the one he gave it
to?"

The Chief was not at all taken aback at this question. Pointing to the
sun, he said:

"That is a great Chief. He gives seed to the people, and they plant it.
But the great Chief does not forget it. The seed comes up to see its
father. It still belongs to him. When he gives that seed to the people
it is for their use. Every one has a right to take it and use it, and it
is no crime. But if he takes it away from the Chief, he destroys what
belongs to him, and he then does a wrong which must be punished."

"This may not be very clear to you," said John, "but it means that
whoever takes it away and destroys it wilfully, is guilty of a crime.
Whatever the Great Chief gives willingly, like the fruits of the earth,
is intended for all alike, and men should not be called criminals for
taking what they need, if they do not wilfully destroy it."

"That is a wonderful idea, when I come to think of it," remarked George.
"And to think that a savage could work that out in his mind."

"But there is one thing that looks a little queer to me. He said he did
not know or believe in a Great Spirit, and yet he talks of the sun as a
Great Spirit," remarked Harry.

"I will put the question to him," said John. "You said that you did not
believe in a Great Spirit, but now you speak about the sun as a Great
Chief. Do you not believe in him?"

"No; I only know that he is there; I do not believe in him any more than
in the carago (moon)."

A great noise was heard outside; the Chief looked up,