re was asserting itself,
and that she was experiencing a longing to be among her own people
again, and free from the conventions of civilized life.

Stella did not think so, and determined to speak to Singing Bird about
it at the first good opportunity.

One day the chance came as they were walking together in a wood near
which they had camped.

"What is the matter with you, sister?" asked Stella kindly. "Is it that
you are not satisfied with our ways, and that you want to leave us?"

Singing Bird looked at her with troubled eyes, in which the tears soon
began to well up.

"My sister knows that I love her," she said, "and that I would not leave
her unless she wishes me to."

She looked at Stella inquiringly.

"No, I want you to stay. But if you are troubled, you must tell me as
one sister would tell another."

"I will tell you," said the Indian girl simply, "and I would have told
you long ago, only that I did not want to trouble you, nor make trouble
for any one else in the camp."

"What do you mean by making trouble for any one else in the camp?"

"I mean that the new man who drives the cows is a bad man. Beware of
him."

"You mean the man called Woofer?"

"Yes, it is he whom I mean. He is the traitor, and he doesn't like the
master, Ted Strong."

"How do you know that?"

"From what he has said to me. He is the bad man."

"But tell me all about it. I didn't know that he had talked to you,
even. Why did you not tell me this before?"

"The white man threatened to kill me if I told."

"Now you must tell me all."

"We will sit down here, for there is much to tell."

Singing Bird took a seat upon a fallen tree, and Stella sat down beside
her.

"Proceed," said Stella, "and leave nothing out."

"When he first came to the camp, I wished he would not stay," began
Singing Bird, "but every one seemed to think he was the good man, and
who am I to say anything against the wishes of my friends who saved my
life and made me a home?"

"Did you know him then?"

"Yes. I have seen him at the white soldiers' fort. He is the friend of
Running Bear. He is a bad man, who steals other men's cattle."

"But he brought ours back to us."

"That was a trick to get into your camp. He is as cunning as a bad
Indian. One day he came to me when no one was about, and told me that he
had seen my husband, Running Bear, and that I must go back to him. I was
frightened, but told him I would not do so. Then he begged me to t