Then the medicine man walked slowly away.
Mewanee had been waiting in the wigwam. He was very, very sad.
When his father told him that the medicine man had promised that baby brother would soon be well, he smiled and looked glad again.
Before another sunrise the little fellow was much better, and his mother sang a song of praise to the Great Spirit.
IX
THE FAST
There was a new moon now and Mewanee was twelve years old. He would soon go hunting and fishing with his father.
Some day he would be chief of his tribe, but not before he had proved his power of endurance. He must prove this power by a long fast.
On this night when the new moon was looking down upon them, the Indians had collected about the fire.
Mewanee was lying face downward upon the ground very near the fire.