“No such thing. Take a look at this!” Mr. Hatfield focused the beam of his flashlight on the floor of the hogan.
Dan sucked in his breath, completely taken by surprise.
Skillfully laid out in brilliant colors, was a sand painting. In scope it was far more elaborate than the one which had been destroyed outside of the hut.
“Can you beat that!” Dan exclaimed. “How did it get here?”
Before Mr. Hatfield could voice an opinion, Mr. Holloway and the other Cubs had rushed up.
For awhile the hogan buzzed with excited conversation, as the boys speculated upon how the painting had been transferred.
“It wasn’t really transferred, though the basic design is the same,” Mr. Hatfield pointed out. “Dan’s painting was broken up so that the same materials could be used here to make this much more elaborate picture.”
“Who did it, and why?” Dan demanded.
“Not Ross, that’s sure,” contributed Red. “He doesn’t have that much skill.”
“This picture was done by an expert,” Mr. Holloway agreed. “An Indian, I’d judge. Note the skill with which the curving lines have been put on.”