Part 25 (1/1)

Still all watched in silence

And, as the darkness deepened so did the light beco it seeradually, while it undoubtedly intensified in brightness Clearer and still more plainly was the outline revealed, until at last--when the sun had quite vanished--there stood out against the black wall the shape of a snake of fire, poised in the very act to strike, just as it was outlined on the breast of Mighty Hand!

Arnold and Holden were astounded at what they surmised to be some fresh trick on the part of Thunder- ceremony And at the sa multitude

”The fiery totem! The fiery totem!”

Then the Indians fell face doards to the ground with fear

Surely such a prodigy had never been seen before?

The sacred totem of the tribe had itself appeared, to warn the Dacotahs that the fire was not to burn that night; that the two prisoners were men, not evil spirits

While the two ures crept round an adjacent tent--two of whonified leisure

”Bob!”

”Alf!”

These were the exclamations that burst from the lips of the captives as two boys launched thenified Skipper Mackintosh

”You are saved, good sirs,” he said, without waiting for an introduction ”My good phosphorus paint and the brains o' these fine laddies has called up the fiery tote that there will be no sacrifice to superstition the--night, and that you'll a' be on your way back to Crane Creek the morn”

And when next day the time came for departure, and the fathers and sons had hty Hand, Swift Arrow, and a host of eager redmen, it was Bob as first to notice that Skipper Mackintosh and the half-breed seemed in no haste to accompany the party

”Are you not co with us?” the boy asked

The Scot smiled and shook his head

”No I' to bide here for a few days, to hunt for yon hawk moth that I told you aboot Besides, when you're safe out of the way, I hty Hand and his folk I wouldn't have them think that yon was a real fiery serpent That would be idolatry We had to cheat them to save life, but--well, I'll no' leave the Dacotahs until I've ceevilised theend of the fiery tote than by believin'

such gowk's nonsense”

THE END