She spoke to Ted about it, and he was of the opinion that the Indian
girl was getting homesick, that her wild nature was asserting itself,
and that she was experiencing a longing to be among her own people
again, and free from the conventions of civilized life.
Stella did not think so, and determined to speak to Singing Bird about
it at the first good opportunity.
One day the chance came as they were walking together in a wood near
which they had camped.
"What is the matter with you, sister?" asked Stella kindly. "Is it that
you are not satisfied with our ways, and that you want to leave us?"
Singing Bird looked at her with troubled eyes, in which the tears soon
began to well up.
"My sister knows that I love her," she said, "and that I would not leave
her unless she wishes me to."
She looked at Stella inquiringly.
"No, I want you to stay. But if you are troubled, you must tell me as
one sister would tell another."
"I will tell you," said the Indian girl simply, "and I would have told
you long ago, only that I did not want to trouble you, nor make trouble
for any one else in the camp."
"What do you mean by making trouble for any one else in the camp?"
"I mean that the new man who drives the cows is a bad man. Beware of
him."
"You mean the man called Woofer?"
"Yes, it is he whom I mean.
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