CHAPTER XIV
THE TRAIL OF THE SEVEN CEDARS
“There’s no use talking, we Winnebagos simply weren’t meant to be separated,” said Nyoda, smiling around at the circle of happy faces. “It seems that the very elements are in league to throw us into each other’s paths.”
243They were all back on Ellen’s Isle. By noon of the day following the storm they were able to cross the end of the lake in a launch from St. Pierre and relieve the hearts of the anxious watchers on the island. Nyoda and Sherry were easily persuaded to stop and spend a few days on Ellen’s Isle now that their trip was interrupted, and the judge, having finished the business which brought him to St. Pierre, took occasion to run over and stay awhile with the twins.
Nyoda was dragged from one end of the island to the other and shown its wonders, from the innocent little spring which was the cause of their being there to the much enduring Eeny-Meeny on her pedestal. Over the adventures of the latter she laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.
“Those are such typically Winnebago stunts,” she declared. “Who except one of us would have seen the tremendous possibilities in a wooden Indian, and who but a Winnebago could have thought up such a thing as the Dark of the Moon Society?”
The every-member-a-chief idea interested her mightily, and she was anxious to hear how it had worked out. “Fine,” said Sahwah, “but I guess Uncle Teddy was really the Big Chief after all, even if he did make us think we were doing everything by ourselves. The other Chiefs generally asked his advice about things–I know I did. But we did think out more things for ourselves this way than 244 we would have if we thought he was looking out for everything.”
“And it was pretty exciting, sometimes, and full of surprises,” said Gladys. “Remember the morning Katherine got us up at half past three for crew practice? That never would have happened if Uncle Teddy had blown the rising horn all summer.”
“Come and see the war canoe,” said Sahwah, tugging at Nyoda to get her started in a new direction. “We named it after you. See the name painted on the bows?”
“What did I ever do that I should have a war canoe named after me?” asked Nyoda, overcome by the honor.