Then he had heard of this same renegade going to the mines of the Black Hills, where it was said that he had been killed in a revolver duel with a brother miner, while others alleged that he had mysteriously disappeared, and had departed this life at the end of a rope.
After the welcome of the chiefs the Eagle-that-Kills arose to speak.
He spoke the Sioux tongue perfectly, and in a deep, melodious voice that was very impressive.
He told the chiefs that he had come to their camps for his child, his daughter, who had been taken from him by a chief, and if, when the hatchet was again buried between them and the pale-faces, the young girl wished to return to the tribe as the wife of the Red Hatchet, she should do so with his full consent; but that she was a mere child then and must go back with him to his home.
Then he told the chiefs that the pale-faces were too strong for them, that winter was upon them, with no grass for their ponies, and only the food of the cattle they had driven to the Bad Lands to subsist upon.
"Wait until the spring comes, and brings green grass for your ponies, when the mountains and valleys are not filled with ice and snow, and the forests are full of game, and then strike at your white foes, if you wish; but not now."
Many heard his words with a feeling that he advised them wisely, but others, the younger warriors, would hear of no argument that would prevent a test of their strength with the soldiers.
"The Eagle-that-Kills has spoken, and he still loves his red children. If they perish under the big guns of the pale-faces they will remember that he warned them. He has no more to say."
With this the renegade white man, as he is now known to be, withdrew with bowed head and in silence from the council tepee.
The head chief followed him, and went with him to the medicine lodge.
There Sun Gazer was aroused from his slumbers, and bade to bring forth the girl captive from the sacred lodge.
He obeyed, and Jennie Woodbridge found herself face to face with the man who had so cruelly deceived her.
"You here?" she exclaimed, with a look of dread.
"Yes, Herbert came for you two nights ago, but they would not give you up. I have more influence here, for you go with me."