Campfire Stories of Indian Character 497 



sick man carefully down upon it. Then Long Elk stood for a 

 little, looking at the girl, but she remained silent and would not 

 look at him. "I will go now," he said, "but each night I will 

 come with meat for you and your lover." 



Still the girl did not speak, and he went away. But as soon 

 as he had gone No-Heart sat down and cried. The sick man 

 raised up a little and asked, " What troubles you? Why are you 

 crying? " 



" Did you not hear? " she replied. "He said that you are my 

 lover." 



"I know you," said the man. "They call you No-Heart, 

 but they lie. You have a heart; I wish it were for me." 



"Don't!" the girl cried. "Don't say that again! I will 

 take care of you, feed you. As your mother is to you, so will 

 I be." 



Now, when night came again, No-Heart went often out in the 

 passageway, staying there longer and longer each time, return- 

 ing only to give the sick man water or a little food. At last, 

 as she was sitting out there in the dark, Long Elk came, and, 

 feeling for the right place, hung up a piece of meat beyond 

 the reach of the dogs. " Come in," she said to him. " Come in 

 and talk with the wounded one." 



After that Long Elk sat with the Arickaree every night for a 

 time, and they talked of the things which interest men. Wliile 

 he was in the lodge No-Heart never spoke, except to say, "Eat 

 it," when she placed food before them. Day after day the 

 woimded one grew stronger. One night, after Long Elk had 

 gone, he said, "I am able to travel; to-morrow night I will start 

 homeward. I want to know why you have taken pity on me; 

 why you saved me from death?" 



"Listen, then," said the girl. "It was because war is bad; 

 because I pitied you. Many women here, and many more in 

 your village, are crying because they have lost the ones they 

 loved in this quarre'. Of them all, I alone have talked, begging 

 the chiefs to make peace with you. All the other women were 

 glad of my words, but they are afraid and do not dare speak for 

 themselves. I talked and feared not; because no one could bid 

 me stop. I have helped you, now do you help me; help your 

 women; help us all. When you get home tell what was done 

 for you here, and talk hard for peace." 

 "So I will," the Arickaree told her. "When they learn all 



