"'The boy shall be well within fourteen moons. I shall stay if the chief will send everywhere word that I am here. But who is the chief of the Wah-hi-tis?'

"'Know you not?' replied one of the medicine men who knew the great desire of Black Fox to keep his and his son's name secret. 'It is Black Fox.'

"A strange look came into the Healer's face but he said nothing.

"On the third day came Laughing Eyes to see the patient.

"Yet as she entered the room, she it was who knew.

"'Natawara, my son! Natawara is here! Wonderful is the Great Spirit.'

And she took him in her arms even as she did when he was but a youth.

"'It is Natawara, Natawara, son of Black Eagle!'

"The news traveled fast. Black Fox came at a great pace.

"'The Healer is your brother. It is Natawara.' A great light was in his eyes. Brother and brother clasped hands, for each was filled with a great joy.

"'It is good,' said the Healer.

"'You are our chief,' said Black Fox.

"'Not so,' was the reply. 'The leader is here and here lies the leader to come. My kingdom is elsewhere. I would that he who is saved should not feel the call to battle except for the things that are worth the fight.'

"'So I shall teach him,' spoke up White Cloud, a great resolve in her eyes.

"'So it shall be, my brother,' announced Black Fox.

"But when the fourteen moons had come and gone so also had Natawara."

Jim Lee paused.

There was a silence of many moments. It spoke the appreciation of the three girls.

"There's a lesson in the story for today, isn't there?" said Mrs.

Saunders.

CHAPTER XVII

AUNT MADGE RETURNS TO THE CITY

Jim Lee left on Thursday to join his regiment. There was a quiet leave-taking between Mary Lee and the man. Neither showed emotion--it was kept within the depths of their hearts. On Friday Tom Marshall left with several men for the mine. Mr. Saunders was to follow a few days later.

Mary Lee received some disquieting news on the same day. Dr. Payson informed her that with the return of Dr. Anderson he intended to join the first a.s.signment of physicians and nurses bound for France. He felt, however, that her services could be used by Dr. Anderson to good advantage. Her experience would be of great help and under Dr.

Anderson she would continue to progress.

Sat.u.r.day afternoon found the old Campfire Group awaiting the train which was late.

"Won't Aunt Madge be pleased with our Red Cross work at the school?"

commented Grace Olcott.

"Wonder if she'll be displeased at our group's merging with the Red Cross work?" remarked Edith.

"Of course, she won't," answered Ruth. "Will she, Mary Lee?"

The girls had an idea that Mary Lee's opinion and decision on most things was usually sound.

"I'm sure she won't. She'll feel that it was a very democratic and sensible thing to do," was Mary Lee's answer.

The train was in at last and the waiting girls stood on tiptoe watching the pa.s.sengers as they came from the coaches.

"I see her, I see her," called Letty. "And there's Dr. Anderson and Bob, too."

But the other girls were no less quick in seeing the Andersons and there was excited gesticulating as well as calls. Finally, Mrs.

Anderson saw them. She waved her hand and drew her husband's attention to the girls. The doctor lifted his hat and smiled at them.

Bob made his way through the throng for he also had espied them.

He was the first to get to the gate.

"h.e.l.lo girls!" he called. "h.e.l.lo, Mary Lee, it's good to see you."

"I'm glad to see you, too," answered the girl. By that time Aunt Madge had also arrived and the former had embraced and kissed all the girls.

"Well, Mary Lee," she said, when it was her turn, "when I see you I feel I'm at home."

"It certainly does seem so," added her husband who was keenly interested in his favorite. "Dr. Payson has been giving me some good reports of you, young lady."

Several of the girls had come in cars, so it was an easy matter to take everyone home.

Mary Lee was seated with the Andersons. Bob was in the car with Ruth.

As they sped homeward, the conversation between Ruth and Bob naturally turned to Mary Lee.

"Do you know that Jim Lee and Tom Marshall were here? And that Jim Lee joined the army?"

Bob didn't know a thing about it as Mary Lee had not written to tell him. Ruth was not a bit averse to telling him all about Jim Lee.

"He's so nice and so romantic. And he's turned over his share of the money from his mine to Mary Lee. And Tom Marshall has returned to the mine. You'd like them both, Bob."

"Guess I would," replied Bob. "Wish I could have gone with Mr.

Marshall to the mine. I'm glad Mary Lee has seen Mr. Lee and I'm glad he's nice," he added.

"Isn't it all wonderful?" Ruth concluded as they reached the home of the Andersons.