CHAPTER 11 FRIEND OR FOE?
"I'll come right away," Mr. Hatfield reassured Chips and Midge. "Noreason to be alarmed though. Indians don't carry tomahawks these days."
"Maybe not," Chips replied quickly, "but these boys both have knives!"
"They look fierce too," added Midge, with a nervous glance over hisshoulder. "Fred and Red are talking to 'em, trying to keep watch so theywon't take anything."
"I'll be very glad to meet the pair," Mr. Hatfield said, starting up thepath from the beach. "I'm sure though, that there's no cause foruneasiness. They are probably only curious to learn what we're doinghere."
"Curious isn't a strong enough word," Chips informed him. "They'vesnooped into everything--the hogan, the Wells Fargo station we'rebuilding and they made a lot of remarks about the sand painting."
"Complimentary ones, I hope," grinned Dan.
"White Nose said something in his own Navajo language," Midge informedhim. "Then he spat on the ground."
"Well, I like that!" Dan said indignantly. "I may not be an artist, butmy picture isn't that bad. I'm going to give that old Indian a chunk ofmy mind!"
"Let me handle this, boys," Mr. Hatfield said.
He went ahead of the Cubs to the hogan where Fred, Mack and Red weretalking to the two Indians. The pair did not appear unfriendly, but asChips had said, their inspection of the camp had not been very polite.
"Good afternoon," Mr. Hatfield introduced himself. He extended his hand,and gave his name. "I'm the Cub leader here. Anything we can do for you?"
Neither White Nose or Eagle Feather made reply. They looked Mr. Hatfieldover and silently accepted his proffered hand.
"We're a Cub Scout outfit," Mr. Hatfield went on pleasantly enough. "Ourcamp may look rather odd to you, but we're preparing for an Indianpow-wow. The boys chose the Navajo theme. Maybe you can help us with afew suggestions."
"Cub Scouts!" Eagle Feather repeated. "A good organization."
"The Navajos are starting their own dens now," Mr. Hatfield went on,trying to act friendly. "In fact, our boys are gathering clothing to besent out to New Mexico."
"That is good," Eagle Feather responded stiffly.
"Is there anything we can do for you?" Mr. Hatfield next inquired.
"Nothing," Eagle Feather shrugged.
"You are searching for someone perhaps?"
"For one of our brothers."
"You'll not find him here," said Mr. Hatfield. "However, someone has beenmaking himself at home in our camp during our absence. We've lost food,and a valuable Navajo blanket."
This information obviously was of great interest to the two Indians. Buttheir only show of it was a sparkle of the eyes.
"Dan, get the blanket that was picked up near the ravine," Mr. Hatfieldinstructed.
Dan ran to fetch it. As he brought it back, Eagle Feather quickly took itfrom his hand. He and White Nose both examined the tattered blanketintently, talking earnestly in their own language.
"They recognize that blanket, all right," Red whispered to Midge.
"Either it's theirs, or it belongs to that 'brother' they claim to belooking for," Midge added.
The two Indians did not explain the reason for their interest in theblanket. After their brief but thorough examination, they lost allinterest in the item.
Mr. Hatfield was rather annoyed by the visitors' attitude. He did notlike the cool manner in which they had made themselves at home in thecamp. Nevertheless, he hesitated to order them away, feeling that itwould be much better to try to make friends.
"You're Navajos, I believe," he remarked.
"Yes," agreed Eagle Feather, "we are of the People."
"The Cubs would appreciate a little first hand information. How aboutgiving us a talk on the customs and traditions of your people? Forinstance, you might tell us about the origin of the Fire Dance. We'retrying to work one up for presentation at our pow-wow Saturday."
The Cubs, especially Dan and Brad, expected Eagle Feather to refuse. But,to their surprise, he appeared flattered by the request.
Mr. Hatfield motioned for the Cubs to gather about in a semi-circle.Eagle Feather squatted in the center and began to talk, speakingformally, but in perfect English.
He told the Cubs that the Navajos had 27 major chants which they used onceremonial occasions or for the cure of the sick.
The Fire Dance, or Mountain Chant as it sometimes was called, was themost showy of all the Navajos' ceremonies, he went on.
"The medicine man's whistle marks the start of the dance," Eagle Featherdescribed it. "Twelve dancers with their bodies sprayed white, come inbearing cedar bark torches. As they dance about the log fire, they singthe Fire Dance song about a Sleepy Owl.
"The leader throws a bundle of burning bark to the East. Three otherbundles are lighted and hurled to the West, North and South. This, mypeople believe, will drive away colds and bad luck.
"The dance ends with the lighting of torches and a wild race about thefire. The dancers move faster and faster, fanning their torches into along flame. The ceremony lasts until daybreak."
"We'll offer a simplified version of the Fire Dance at our pow-wow," Mr.Hatfield declared. "The Cubs are using flashlights instead of torches."
"Tell us about other dances," urged Dan.
Now that his tongue had been loosened, Eagle Feather was willing enoughto talk. He described other versions of the fire Dance, the Feather Danceand one which he called the Plumed Arrow.
He then told the Cubs a few Navajo words. Medicine man, he said, was_Hah-tahnc_, and sand painting, _ee-kah_.
"Your _ee-kah_ very bad," Eagle-Feather added, a suggestion of a smilelighting his grim countenance.
"I know that," Dan admitted with a laugh. "But then, it's the first sandpainting I ever attempted. The second, to be exact. Our first one wasruined--by the wind I guess."
"Tell us some Indian stories," urged Mack. "One about medicine men."
The request brought a strange reaction from the two Indians. Immediatelythey seemed to become less friendly and more grim. Even the tone of EagleFeather's voice changed as he said:
"I will relate a tale of truth, one that concerns a medicine man of ourown people."
"A traitor and a thief," muttered White Nose.
"This medicine man once was highly respected by his followers," relatedEagle Feather. "He was trusted by the people who placed in his hands manyvaluable tribal treasures."
"Ancient turquoise rings found in the old cliff dwellings," murmuredWhite Nose. "Sky blue and hard as glass. Silver necklaces and discs."
"The greatest treasure of all was the turquoise toad," went on EagleFeather, his voice as flinty as stone. "It was a handsomely carved piece,worth a large sum."
"What became of the turquoise toad?" Mr. Hatfield inquired as EagleFeather became silent.
"One day the medicine man vanished. With him went the turquoise treasure.But the vengeance of the tribe will follow him! He will never escape!"
A fierce expression came over Eagle Feather's leathery face. As theIndian straightened up from a crouched position, Chips instinctivelybacked away. Thrown off balance, he collapsed against Mack.
A strained silence had fallen upon the Cubs.
Eagle Feather's story had produced an unpleasant effect on everyone. EvenMr. Hatfield felt strangely uneasy in the presence of the two Indians. Hetried to hide his own misgiving by saying pleasantly:
"Thanks for telling us so much about the Navajos. I'm sure it's been veryinteresting. Goodbye."
Eagle Feather's thin lips loosened into a hard smile.
"We may return," he said. "White Nose and I have a mission."
The two Indians turned and with dignity moved off into the woods. Noteven the rustle of a dry leaf or the crackle of a stick marked theirleave-taking.
For a long while after the pair had gone, no one spoke. Finally Bradbroke the painful silence.
"Friendly chaps, eh?"
&n
bsp; "I'll bet a Lincoln penny they took Professor Sarazen's blanket!" Chipsburst out. "Or at least they know who did!"
"Not so loud, Chips," Mr. Hatfield warned. "They may be within hearing."
"What did you think of that tale they told about the medicine man?" Danasked Mr. Hatfield, keeping his voice low.
"It gave me an uncomfortable feeling. I don't know what those two Indiansare doing in Webster City, but I'm afraid they're here for no goodpurpose."
"Shouldn't we report 'em to the police?" suggested Midge.
"So far they've done nothing that would warrant a complaint," Mr.Hatfield replied. "All the same, I dislike the way they're apparentlywatching our camp."
"Do they think we're hiding someone?" demanded Dan.
"They're after that guy who does the carving at the ravine!" Bradexclaimed. "Y'know we ought to tip him off. White Nose and Eagle Feathercould be very bad medicine, if one met 'em on a dark night."
Mr. Hatfield spoke firmly.
"The Cubs," he said, "will concern themselves with organization affairs.We're not getting mixed in any tribal feuds. Get that straight!"
"Yes, sir," replied the Cubs, speaking as one. And Red added: "I wouldn'thave anything to do with 'em, even if you'd give me a prize turquoisetoad!"
"From now on," said Mr. Hatfield, issuing a further order, "no one is toremain in camp alone. Mr. Holloway or I always will try to be here. But,if for any reason, we're called to the house, two Cubs always must stayto look after our stuff."
The Cubs accepted the order soberly. With more than their usual care,they began gathering up their belongings for the night. Though Mr.Hatfield hadn't said so in plain words, they knew that he distrusted thetwo Indians and was afraid that they might cause real trouble.