The gentle voice of the leaves comforted Leelinaw. She went back to the teepee. In the morning she dressed herself in the robe of white deerskin which her mother had made. She took some wild rice in her hand and went away.
She did not come back at sunset; then her parents believed that the war chief had carried away his bride; but the next day he came asking for Leelinaw or his gifts.
The parents called the men of the village together and searched through the forest. The father gave back his gifts to the war chief, for Leelinaw could not be found.
Three moons had gone when two Indians in their birch-bark canoe saw Leelinaw sitting by the Big Sea Water watching them. Beside her stood a tall brave with green feathers in his hair. The two Indians in [[149]]the boat called to the two on the shore. Leelinaw waved her hand to them. Then they could see her no more, but two tall pines stood in the place where she and the brave had been resting. No trees had been there before.
Then the two Indians went to the village and told the father and mother of Leelinaw. “The little people have done this thing,” said the parents. “Let us take gifts to the two pine trees.”
They did so, and the pine leaves sang sweet songs to them, but the parents thought it was only the summer wind. [[150]]
Apache Woman with her Handiwork. Yucca Plant in Foreground
From a Photograph
[[151]]