Because of the wind and the whirling circles of white fury, it was not easy to locate his uncle's home. Still, he knew his uncle's lodge was near, so he plodded onward and was pleasantly surprised when the lodge loomed up before him.
He scratched on the tepee's entrance flap and was summonsed to enter, which he did at once.
As he straightened up, he called out, "Oki,greetings, hello."
"Oki, isahkímao,Hello, nephew.Tsá anistápssíwaatsiksi?What is it? Please, sit. Are you hungry?"
"Saa, I am not hungry, but I would enjoy smoking with you, for I must ask your advice on a matter."
At once, his uncle brought out his pipe and tobacco. He asked, "Do you wish to counsel with me?"
"Saa,I do not. At least, not at present. I have come to ask for your wife's assistance with a problem I am presented with."
"My wife?"
"Áa,I have need of her aid and your advice,Aaáhs,Uncle. There is a white girl in my lodge."
"A white girl?"
"Áa,yes. Her sister has gone missing, and she wants me to take her out into the storm to find her sister. As you know, I cannot. Her sister is the pretty woman who sometimes works at the trading counter."
"The same woman who has so enchanted your friend, Eagle Heart?"
"Áa.It is said by a white man that perhaps my friend left the fort to go and assist this woman, for he became aware she was lost in the storm."
"If he knew, it is to be assumed he is with her now."
"I have told the white girl this, but she is so upset, it does not help to calm her. She tells me she cannot sleep, nor eat, and she has snuck away from her home to come here and find me because she remembers that I am friend to Eagle Heart. I have asked her to return to her home, but she is afraid that if she leaves now she will not be able to come back here tomorrow to seek me out and discover if I have been able to communicate to my friend."
"There will be trouble if she does not go home."
"I know this," said Gray Falcon. "But, she will not go. I have come here to see if this girl can stay with you, for I cannot convince her to return to her home. And, I will not force her to go there."
"She may stay with us for as long as she wishes," spoke Gray Falcon'siksísst,his auntie. "Poor girl. Do not hesitate to bring her. Is she hungry?"
"She might be. She brought no food with her, nor clothing."
"We will help her. Bring her to us, and we will do what we can to welcome her."
"I am thankful to you for your help. I will go to my own lodge and bring her here."
Gray Falcon sat for several more moments with his uncle and auntie, enjoying a smoke. But, soon he knew he had to return to his own lodge, and, rising up, he again braved the storm as he trudged toward his lodge. He would try to help the white girl, but, even ensuring she spent the night with his auntie, he was afraid the stir she might cause would be great.
****
LAYLAH LAUGHED. SHEshould be tired; she knew she should be. But, despite the temporary disability of her right leg and arm, she was not weary at all. She was enjoying herself too much in this game ofCos-soó...and in teasing Eagle Heart.
She signed, "I believe, sir, that you have lost this game."
"I have not lost. Not yet. I still have my moccasins in my possession."
"And your breechcloth."
He frowned at her. "The breechcloth remains upon me. It is not an item a man will make part of his bet."
Laylah smiled, quickly fluttering her eyelashes at him as though in innocence. "But, sir," she signed, "I thought you said the game isn't over until you lose everything. Does this not include your breechcloth? It is, after all, a piece of clothing." She giggled a little.
"Do not speak of this as though you are a babe." He signed the words and added another frown at her, which made her smile. He continued and signed, "Like a child, you play with fire."
