nd
willow sticks, passed near by the lonely teepee. She heard the wailing
man's voice. She paused to listen to the sad words. Looking around she
saw nowhere a human creature. "It may be a spirit," thought she.

"Oh! cut me loose! set me free! Iktomi has played me false! He has made
me bark of his tree!" cried the voice again.

The young woman dropped her pack of firewood to the ground. With her
stone axe she hurried to the tree. There before her astonished eyes
clung a young brave close to the tree.

Too shy for words, yet too kind-hearted to leave the stranger
tree-bound, she cut loose the whole bark. Like an open jacket she drew
it to the ground. With it came the young man also. Free once more, he
started away. Looking backward, a few paces from the young woman, he
waved his hand, upward and downward, before her face. This was a sign of
gratitude used when words failed to interpret strong emotion.

When the bewildered woman reached her dwelling, she mounted a pony and
rode swiftly across the rolling land. To the camp ground in the east, to
the chieftain troubled by the red eagle, she carried her story.

SHOOTING OF THE RED EAGLE

A MAN in buckskins sat upon the top of a little hillock. The setting sun
shone bright upon a strong bow in his hand. His face was turned toward
the round camp ground at the foot of the hill. He had walked a long
journey hither. He was waiting for the chieftain's men to spy him.

Soon four strong men ran forth from the center wigwam toward the
hillock, where sat the man with the long bow.

"He is the avenger come to shoot the red eagle," cried the runners to
each other as they bent forward swinging their elbows together.

They reached the side of the stranger, but he did not heed them. Proud
and silent he gazed upon the cone-shaped wigwams beneath him. Spreading
a handsomely decorated buffalo robe before the man, two of the warriors
lifted him by each shoulder and placed him gently on it. Then the four
men took, each, a corner of the blanket and carried the stranger, with
long proud steps, toward the chieftain's teepee.

Ready to greet the stranger, the tall chieftain stood at the entrance
way. "How, you are the avenger with the magic arrow!" said he, extending
to him a smooth soft hand.

"How, great chieftain!" replied the man, holding long the chieftain's
hand. Entering the teepee, the chieftain motioned the young man to the
right side of the doorway, while he sat down op