Back and forth the voices argued and argued, for hours it seemed to the old chief.
“Take it back!” “Keep it!” “Take it back!” “Keep it!” “Take it back!”
At last he could stand the dispute no longer, and sat up in bed wide awake.
“Stop talking, both of you,” he commanded. “Dry Rain will take back the hatchet in the morning.”
Then he lay down again, pulled the blanket over his head, and was soon fast asleep.
At daylight he arose, mounted his pony, rode back to the trading post, and returned the hatchet to the trader.
“Why did you bring it back?” asked the trader. “I had not missed it, and perhaps never should have known you had it.”
“But Dry Rain would know,” replied the old chief. “The two men inside of him talked and quarreled about it all night! One said, ‘Take it back!’ the other said, ‘No, keep it.’ Now they will keep still and let him sleep.”
QUESTIONS
Do you think that most white men set the Indians a good example in being honest?