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Page:Rewards and Fairies (Kipling, 1910).djvu/205

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BROTHER SQUARE-TOES
179

him; only Cornplanter says, using his old side-name, "Big Hand, did you see us among the timber just now?"

'"Surely," says he. "You taught me to look behind trees when we were both young." And with that he cantered off.

'Neither of my chiefs spoke till we were back on our ponies again and half-hour along the home trail. Then Cornplanter says to Red Jacket, "We will have the corn dance this year. There will be no war." And that was all there was to it.'

Pharaoh stood up as though he had finished.

'Yes,' said Puck, rising too. 'And what came out of it in the long run?'

'Let me get at my story my own way,' was the answer. 'Look! It's later than I thought. That Shoreham smack's thinking of her supper.'

The children looked across the darkening Channel. A smack had hoisted a lantern and slowly moved west where Brighton pier lights ran out in a twinkling line. When they turned round, The Gap was empty behind them.

'I expect they've packed our trucks by now,' said Dan. 'This time to-morrow, we'll be home.'