than it would be with any one else in the village."

Then she went on to speak of the youth's lonely life, and that even his
mother treated him badly. Only one loved him: this was the dog Smoke
who followed him wherever he went and who did not mock 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