“Tell Umwa we love her still.”
THE INVITATION TO THE DANCE
ONE day Docas and his little brother Heema were playing near their brush hut, when Docas heard a slight noise near by. He looked up and saw another Indian boy about twelve years old. The boy held in his hand some strings of deerskin.
“It’s Apa, whose father is chief of the camp nearest us,” Docas said.
The boy Apa came forward. “Where’s your father?” he asked.
“In the sweat house,” answered Docas.
“Give him this string when he comes out,” said Apa, taking one of the strings from the little bunch. “Good-by. I have more camps to visit to-day,” and he started off on the run.
Docas and Heema looked the string over as soon as Apa had gone. They found five knots tied in it, each a little way apart from the others.
“I wonder what the knots are for,” said Heema. “Do they mean that they wish to fight us?”
“No, for Apa’s father is our friend. Here comes father. We will ask him,” answered Docas.