men that was now
gathering around the chief. Red Wolf was too young a brave to have any
business to remain while gray heads were in council. A chief would
almost as soon take advice from a squaw as from a "boy."

Mother Dolores had heard nothing of all this, but her eyes had not
missed the slightest thing. She had even permitted a large slice of
deer-meat to burn to a crisp, in her eager curiosity.

"What did they say to the chief?" was her first question to Rita; but
Ni-ha-be answered her with,

"Ask the warriors. If we talk too much we shall get into trouble."

"You must tell me."

"Not till after supper. Rita, don't let's tell her a word unless she
cooks for us, and gives us all we want. She made us get our own supper
last night."

"You came late. I did not tell your father. I gave you enough. I am
very good to you."

"No," said Rita, "sometimes you are cross, and we don't get enough to
eat. Now you shall cook us some corn-bread and some fresh meat. I am
tired of dried buffalo; it is tough."

The curiosity of Dolores was getting hotter and hotter, and she thought
again of the wonderful leaf which had spoken to her. She wanted to ask
Rita questions about that, too, and she had learned by experience that
there was more to be obtained from her wilful young friends by coaxing
than in any other way.

"I will get your supper now, while the chiefs are talking. It shall be
a good supper--good enough for Many Bears. Then you shall tell me all
I ask."

"Of course I will," said Rita.

A fine fat deer had been deposited near that campfire by one of the
first hunters that returned, and Mother Dolores was free to cut and
carve from it; but her first attempt at a supper for the girls did not
succeed very well. It was not on account of any fault of hers,
however, or because the venison-steak she cut and spread upon the
coals, while her corn-bread was frying, did not broil beautifully.

No, the temporary disappointment of Ni-ha-be and Rita was not the fault
of Mother Dolores. Their mighty father was sitting where the odor of
that cooking blew down upon him, and it made him hungry again before
the steak was done. He called Red Wolf to help him, for the other
braves were departing to their own camp-fires, and in a minute or so
more there was little left of the supper intended for the two young
squaws.

Dolores patiently cut and began to broil another slice, but that was
Red Wolf's first supper, and i