350 HOW TOM WAS BOBN A FRENCHMAN 



my son keep them. Every living man is master of 

 his property ; only the dead possess nothing.' 



The Captain glanced hastily towards the Indian, who 

 did not move, and fell to on his supper as heartily as if he 

 feared no danger. When he had finished he threw 

 himself on the buffalo skin, but with no idea of going to 

 sleep. 



He had not been lying down very long, when the 

 matting was raised and the woman peeped in cautiously. 

 Neither sleeper stirred, so she went to the door of the hut 

 and listened. No one was in sight, and she turned back 

 and began to sharpen a long knife. The Captain watched 

 her through his eyelashes and drew his own knife from 

 his belt, opened it, and felt the edge. 



Then steps were heard, and a minute later two big 

 young men appeared bearing some game. They paused 

 to look at the sleepers, and one of them asked his mother 

 how they came there. For reply she led them silently 

 behind the partition. 



The Captain noiselessly turned so as to face the young 

 Sioux, and noticed that, though apparently sound asleep, 

 his head rested only on one hand, while the other lay by 

 his side near his tomahawk. 



Just then the matting was raised and the young men 

 crawled silently under it, their mother's head just peeping 

 out behind them. 



Each approached one of the sleepers, then paused, 

 looking at their mother. 



' They sleep,' she whispered ; ' go on ! ' 



At her word each son raised his arm to strike, but 

 instantly fell back with a cry. 



The Captain had plunged his knife into the breast of 

 one, and the Sioux had split the skull of the other. 



The old woman uttered a despairing shriek, and 

 rushed off to the forest, and the Indian, picking up a 

 lighted brand from the hearth, proceeded to set fire to the 

 hut, whilst he executed a triumphant war dance round it. 



