point a dispute arose. The Indian was very angry, for
he discovered that his fellow-player had deliberately cheated him. The
Indians were strictly honest in those days, even in their gambling.

The boy declared that he had merely performed a trick for the benefit of
his friend, but it nearly cost him his life. The indignant warrior had
already drawn his bow-string with the intention of shooting the captive,
but a third person intervened and saved the boy's life. He at once
explained his trick; and in order to show himself an honorable gambler,
gave back all the articles that he had won from his opponent. In the
midst of the confusion, old "Keeps-the-Spotted-Ponies" came rushing
through the crowd in a state of great excitement. He thought his
pale-face son had been killed. When he saw how matters stood, he gave
the aggrieved warrior a pony, "in order," as he said, "that there may be
no shadow between him and my son."

One spring my uncle took Chatanna to the Canadian trading-post on the
Assiniboine river, where he went to trade off his furs for ammunition
and other commodities. When he came back, my brother was not with him!

At first my fears were even worse than the reality. The facts were
these: A Canadian with whom my uncle had traded much had six daughters
and no son; and when he saw this handsome and intelligent little fellow,
he at once offered to adopt him.

"I have no boy in my family," said he, "and I will deal with him as with
a son. I am always in these regions trading; so you can see him two or
three times in a year."

He further assured my uncle that the possession of the boy would greatly
strengthen their friendship. The matter was finally agreed upon. At
first Chatanna was unwilling, but as we were taught to follow the advice
of our parents and guardians, he was obliged to yield.

This was a severe blow to me, and for a long time I could not be
consoled. Uncheedah was fully in sympathy with my distress. She argued
that the white man's education was not desirable for her boys; in fact,
she urged her son so strongly to go back after Chatanna that he promised
on his next visit to the post to bring him home again.

But the trader was a shrewd man. He immediately moved to another part of
the country; and I never saw my Chatanna, the companion of my childhood,
again! We learned afterward that he grew up and was married; but one day
he lost his way in a blizzard and was frozen to death.

My little cousin