There was never a word among them, but, with one accord, after one awe-
struck look at the ghostly thing, they fled the lodge in a mass.
For several moments Ridgar stood in the darkness as those outside
peered fearfully in, and, when the last moccasin had slipped silently
away, he reached up and took down the fearsome thing, folding it beside
the chief.
"We were wise together, old friend," he said sadly; "would I had your
knowledge and your power."
Outside the word was spreading wildly.
"The spirit of Negansahima rests not in the lodge! The medicine men
have not dreamed true! Silence in the camp while They who Dream repair
to the forest fastnesses and seek true wisdom!"
And while the sachems and the headmen, the beaters of the tom-toms, and
those who tended the Sacred fires of the Dreamers formed into
procession and slowly filed out into the forest, Edmonton Ridgar drew a
long breath of relief. Maren had postponed the sure culmination of the
tests by her clever feat, he had postponed it a little longer by his
own. Full well he knew that the girl could not go on forever after the
manner of her beginning. She knew the hatchet, but would she know the
spear, the arrow, and the Test of the Flaming Ring? .
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