Once there was an Indian village in great danger. The trail of the enemy had been found on every side of the camp.

The women were making ready for flight. They had harnessed their dogs to the dragging poles. The rawhide netting between the braces that held the poles in place was packed with household goods.

An attack was expected in the early morning. Guards were stationed to call the men to battle, and to tell the women which way to flee with their children.

The warriors all were ready. Their chief went out alone under the stars, and prayed that he might be able to save his people from death.

Suddenly a deer with branching horns stood before him. "I have come to tell you that your prayers are heard," he said.

"We, the animals, invite you to our council. We shall give you the power to save your tribe."

They traveled on together until they came to a cave under a rocky bluff near the river. Here the warrior chief was welcomed and given the seat of honor.

Every animal of field and forest, and every bird of the air, had gathered in the immense cavern. There was silence for a moment. Then a great eagle flapped his wings. He stood on a jutting rock in sight of all.

"Your acts of kindness, oh, warrior, are known to us," said the eagle. "You have hunted only for food, as the animals hunt. Your arrows have not been shot to take life without a reason. No bird nor beast has been left by you to suffer and die.

"Therefore, I, the eagle, king of birds, give you of my courage. You shall fear no warlike band, however many. Alone you shall conquer the enemy."

"And I," said the bear, "give you of my gift of healing. You shall be able to cure yourself, and also your fellow warriors, of any wounds you may receive in battle."

"My fleetness is yours," said the deer. "You shall outstrip all others and run like the wind."

The wolf stretched himself and walked noiselessly into the circle. "When you creep into the enemy's camp," he said, "no eye shall be able to see you. Thus may you rout your enemies, and no one shall know who is striking the blows.""I am small," said the field mouse; "I leave no tracks on the grass, and send no sound into the air. I give you my power, that none may follow your trail nor hear your footfall."

"No one can give a better gift than I," said the owl. "You shall see in the dark as I do. The night shall be to you like the day."

"You have fed me," said the dog. "You have taken me into your lodge and let me lie by the warm fire. I give you in return my power of smell that you may follow the trail of your enemy."

Suddenly there was no cave in sight, no animals in council. Where he had been praying under the open sky, the warrior chief stood alone. Was it all a dream?

From the grass came a faint strange smell. He followed it fast as the fleetest deer. In what seemed but a moment he was in sight of the sleeping foe.

He entered their camp as silently as the field mouse. Like the eagle he had no fear. He struck out with his weapons. In great surprise the painted Indians awoke and jumped to their feet.

Wounded men fell under blows that could not be seen nor heard. Their chief lay still upon the ground.

"There is magic here," they cried. "We cannot fight against magic." And they aroused their band and fled, leaving everything behind them.

Then the victor sped with the fleetness of the deer to his own tribe. The men, waiting for the battle signal, followed him to the deserted camp. They returned laden with weapons, the finest of bows and arrows, spears, war bonnets, stores of food, and other spoils of war.

Joy spread among the people. In the village of wigwams feasting took the place of fear.

"I wish I had been that warrior," said Swift Elk."You may have a chance to be just as brave to-morrow," answered his mother. "I depend on you to take your father's place here if he goes into battle."

The children could keep awake no longer, but Good Bird did not close her eyes. The dawn came on, the sun rose, and there was no attack.

For many days and nights the young braves took their turn in watching. There were no further signs of an enemy, and no one ever found out how the strange feather came to be dropped near the camp.