ck him as the
children of the village sometimes did. Smoke was ever ready to smile
at him in the one way dogs can--with his tail. It was Smoke's love
alone that made Black Bull glad to live. And now--Timid Hare's voice
broke as she went on to tell of what must soon happen.

"Poor fellow!" said Sweet Grass softly. "Poor fellow," she repeated,
half to herself.

As it happened, Young Antelope was in the lodge when Timid Hare was
telling the story. He was busy making a shield; he intended to wear it
when first allowed to go forth on a war party with the older braves.
But though he was busy at his work, he listened with interest to the
words of Timid Hare.

Soon afterwards he left the tepee and ran along the path leading to the
spring. "If I see Black Bull," he thought, "I will speak kindly to him
even if he is such a useless creature."

When Young Antelope reached the spring he heard some one talking
angrily. This was followed by a cry of fear. The sounds came from the
direction of the bluff beyond, but the youth could see no one because
of clumps of brush which shut off the view from any one at the spring
below.

Young Antelope hurried along, till suddenly he caught a glimpse of two
figures on the very edge of the rocky summit of the bluff. One was
that of Thunder Cloud, a worthless fellow; the other which he held
struggling in his arms was that of The Stoned's deformed son. Black
Bull was helpless; he was at the mercy of Thunder Cloud who was about
to cast him into the stream below.

[Illustration: Black Bull was helpless.]

"What is this?" shouted Young Antelope. Thunder Cloud, startled,
turned suddenly about.

"I would punish this worthless fellow as he deserves," he answered.
"Do you know what he dared to do? He brought his dog to yonder brush
and fastened him in the midst. He thought to keep the animal from the
sacrifice. Ugh! A wretched creature indeed. His mother bade me
follow him."

"Make him free," said Young Antelope with the air of a mighty chief.
"My father will take care of him. As for you, go from my sight."

Thunder Cloud, who had already set Black Bull on his feet, though he
still clutched him tightly, let go his hold, and skulked away.

"Let your dog loose," Young Antelope now ordered Black Bull who stood
before him, still shivering from fright. "There! Now we will go to my
father and let him settle the matter. Follow me."

Black Bull, with Smoke capering about him in