"Elder, what do you think I did? I snatched off my bonnet and threw it upon the ground. Then I grabbed my wig, held it up in the air, and when the Injun came rushin' by I held it out to him.
"'There it is,' said I.
"Well—would you believe it?—that Injun gave one glance at it, and put spurs to his horse, and he never stopped runnin' till he was out of sight. The two other Injuns took one look at my wig as I held it out in my hand.
"'Scalped herself!' said one.
"'Took her head off!' said the other. 'She conjur's!'
"They spurred their horses and flew over the prairie like the wind. And—and—must I say it?—Johnnie Kongapod—he ran too; and so I put on my wig, picked up my sun-bonnet, and turned and came home again.
"There are some doughnuts, Johnnie Kongapod, if you did desert me.
"Elder, this is a strange country. And don't you believe any stories about honest Injuns that the law condemns, and that go home to see their families overnight and return again; you will travel a long way, elder, before you find any people of that kind, Injuns or white folks. I know. I haven't lived fifty years in this troublesome world for nothin'. People who live up in the air, as you do, elder, have to come down. I'm sorry. You mean well!"
Johnnie Kongapod arose, lifted his brown arm silently, and, bending his earnest face on Jasper, said:
"That story is true. You will know. Time tells the truth. Wait!"