lashed vindictively at the belt bearers. Angry blood
also flushed Braxton Wyatt's face, and he did not know at the moment what
to say or do.

"It is true that I was born white," he said, "but I have become one of the
Shawnees, and I shall be faithful to them. I have spoken no lies. The
Shawnees were for war, and I believe they are so yet."

"The Shawnees from whom I have come," said Big Fox, in his grave tones,
wholly ignoring Braxton Wyatt, "expect peace belts in return. Will the
messengers depart with them to-morrow?"

He spoke directly to Gray Beaver, and his powerful gaze still rested upon
him. The withered frame of the old chief trembled a little within his
furred robe, and then he yielded to the spell.

"The Miami messengers will start to-morrow with peace belts for the
Shawnees," he said.

A thrill of triumph ran through the frame of Big Fox, but he said nothing.
The eyes of both Braxton Wyatt and Yellow Panther flashed vindictively,
but they, too, said nothing. Big Fox judged that they were not yet wholly
beaten, but he had accomplished much; if each tribe received peace belts
from the others, it would take a long time to untangle the snarl, and
unite them for war. Meanwhile, the white settlements were steadily growing
stronger.

"Our Shawnee brethren, the belt bearers, will stay with us a while," said
the crafty Yellow Panther. "They have traveled far, and they need rest."

Big Fox knew that it would not do to be too hasty; a desire to depart at
once would only arouse suspicion, and he and his comrades, moreover, had
further work to do in the Miami village. So he gravely accepted the offer
of hospitality, and he and Brown Bear and The Bat were conducted to a
lodge in the center of the village, where they ate again, and reclined
luxuriously upon buffalo robes and deerskins. Yellow Panther followed them
there, and was very solicitous for their comfort. All his attentions they
received with grave courtesy, and when there was nothing more that he
could do or say he withdrew, letting the covering of the lodge door fall
behind him. Then the three belt bearers, putting their ears against the
skin walls of the lodge, listened intently. Nothing was stirring without.
If any person was at hand, or listened there, they would have known it; so
they spoke to each other in low tones.

"Your plan seems to have worked so far, Henry," said Ross, "even if
Braxton Wyatt did come."

"Yes--so far," replied Henry Ware; "but