In the meantime the Dahcotah had been trying to persuade his wife to
come to him, and return to the lodge; but she refused to do so, and sat
combing her long hair. The child had cried itself to sleep; and the
Dahcotah, worn out with fatigue and grief, thought he would go to
sleep too.
After a while a woman came and touched him on the shoulder, and awaked
him as of old. He started and looked at her, and perceiving it was not
his wife, felt inclined to take little notice of her.
"What," said she, "does a Dahcotah warrior still love a woman who hates
him?"
"Mocassin Flower loves me well," replied the Dahcotah; "she has been a
good wife."
"Yes," replied the woman, "she was for a time; but she sighs to return
home--her heart yearns towards the lover of her youth."
Chaske was very angry. "Can this be true?" he said; and he looked
towards the beaver dam where his wife still sat. In the meantime the
woman who had waked him, brought him some food in bark dishes worked
with porcupine.
"Eat," she said to the Dahcotah; "you are hungry."
But who can tell the fury that Mocassin Flower was in when she saw that
strange woman bringing her husband food.
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