"Not yet." The Fountain shook her head sadly. "I doubt if The Stone
cares whether her son lives or dies. But I am going to see the poor
creature. Afterwards, if the medicine man has not been sought, I will
ask my husband to get his help."

The Fountain started on her errand, and Timid Hare went back to the
chief's lodge to tell her young mistress what she had learned. On the
way she passed a clump of trees beneath which she saw several people
sitting and listening to the voice of a tall man who stood before them.
He was one of the most powerful medicine men of the band.

"He must be speaking of some great mystery," thought Timid Hare. "How
noble he is! How much he must know! It may be that he is telling of
the secrets he reads in the fire."

Turning her eyes towards the listeners, she saw they were thinking
deeply of his words. They looked with wonder at the medicine man.
"Yes, he must be speaking of the secrets no one but he can discover."

[Illustration: They looked with wonder at the medicine man.]

When Timid Hare reached home she spoke of this medicine man to her
mistress. "If only he could go to Black Bull, the sickness would leave
the poor fellow," she said.

Soon afterwards Sweet Grass herself sought the medicine man. She
brought him presents of buffalo marrow, deer meat, and a juicy,
well-cooked land turtle. Then she asked his help for the deformed
youth, and he promised to go to him.