The man didn't answer quickly, but after a moment, he nodded and grunted out, "Go ahead."
"I will pray without speaking. You may pray, also."
As Eagle Heart began his prayer to the Creator, he asked Him to heal this man and to make his father-in-law whole again. And then, as usually happened, he beheld what was within this man's body. It was with some astonishment he realized what was plaguing his father-in-law; it surprised him because he realized much of the man's illness was from a weakness in his mind. As soon as he recognized this, the Creator showed him the exact herb he must use to make the man well, and He directed Eagle Heart to place the herb into a tea and to have his father-in-law drink some of it now, then more of it tomorrow.
When he finished his prayer, Eagle Heart said, "The Creator has shown me what ails you, and He has made the remedy known to me; he has shown me the precise herb I must now locate. Once I find it, I will make a tea with it, and you must drink some today and then again tomorrow. After doing this, you will be well. Do you understand?"
His father-in-law merely nodded, but it was enough. After speaking to his father-in-law for a little while longer, he, at last, took his leave from the wickiup, and, straightening up, he set off to find the particular herb required.
****
From out of the corner of his eye, Gray Falcon watched the evil one sneak a stick into line beside those that were already off to the side, giving the evil one twelve sticks instead of the eleven he had won fairly.
Gray Falcon did little more than raise a single eyebrow as he cast a glance across the gaming table. He smiled at the man, although his expression could hardly be considered one of good humor. After a moment, he said, "Darkness has fallen upon us. Do you wish to break so we both might eat some food?"
The evil one didn't answer. He merely grunted, causing Gray Falcon to say, "I admit it is dark and growing ever darker outside this trading room. Many hours have passed since we began our game, and a man can become tired. But, do not think my eyes are so weary, they no longer see."
"What are you accusing me of, Injun?"
"Accusing?" asked Gray Falcon. "I have no need to accuse you. But, I am keeping track of the number of your sticks I am holding for you. There should be eleven of them here to the side of me, because, as you can see, you received eleven points for your roll. There should only be eleven because you lost all of your other sticks in the previous roll, as well as losing one of your ponies."
"A pony? I own horses, not ponies. Can't believe I'm playin' with a stupid Injun who doesn't know the difference between a pony and a horse, nor how to count," complained the evil-spirited one, Maká'pato'si. "I kept one stick from the previous throw. There should be twelve sticks, not eleven."
Gray Falcon's stare at the man was bold, yet he smiled nonetheless and said, "You lost the last throw." Gray Falcon picked up the stick which had been so covertly pushed into the evil one's line-up. He set it aside.
Then, picking up the bowl, he shook it, and, as Eagle Heart had earlier instructed him to do, Gray Falcon decided what his next roll would be before he finished his roll. Slamming the bowl on the table a few times, he let the pieces fall where they will.
Bending forward, he added up the amount of his roll and, counting out fifty sticks, handed them to Maká'pato'si. He said merely, "These are for my roll."
"Fifty?"
"Count them yourself."
"Yes, I see ten points and another fifteen." Maká'pato'si pointed to each of the items and their points. "But," he continued, "all this adds up to is twenty-five, not fifty."
Gray Falcon smirked at the man. "You forgot to add the large crow's claw. Do you see it is standing? It counts for twenty-five, and when added together, the total is fifty."
"Idiot Injun," cursed Maká'pato'si. Leaning over the bowl, as though to more carefully peer into it, he came in so closely to it, he bumped the table supporting the bowl, and the big claw—the one object garnering the highest points—fell over. "I don't see any large claw standing, Injun. What are you tryin' to do, cheat me?"
"Indeed, I believe there is one amongst us attempting to cheat." Gray Falcon sneered.
"You're accusing me of cheating? Me, an upright and honorable man?" Maká'pato'si pushed back his chair and drew his pistol, aiming it directly at Gray Falcon.
Smiling, Gray Falcon said, "I see you are upright and standing, but honorable? I think not. The game has barely begun and already you seek to win by cheating, and now you try to win by force? You can walk away now if you wish, but in doing so, you lose everything you own to me. These are the rules of the game. If you stay and play, you might win back your possessions, but if you leave now, because the game has already commenced, you lose it all."
"Not if I kill ya first!" Maká'pato'si aimed the gun, and Gray Falcon could see the evil one's finger was shaky on the trigger. But, a knife, quickly flung, slammed into the weapon, flinging it to the floor. It misfired harmlessly.
Picking up the musket, Gray Falcon threw it at Mitchell, the superintendent, saying, "While we play this game, keep this away from the man who calls himself Calhoun." Turning back to the evil one, Gray Falcon announced, "Now, Maká'pato'si, you must decide. Do you leave and lose all you own to me, or do you stay and play?"
Watching the scrawny man carefully, Gray Falcon conjectured the evil one had little choice in his decision, since his attempt at cold-blooded murder had backfired.
The evil one frowned, yet he pulled out his chair and sat down so forcefully, Gray Falcon was left wondering if the man had done himself injury. Gray Falcon said, "Maká'pato'si, I believe it is your turn."
Carefully, Gray Falcon watched as the evil one picked up the polished bowl and, thumping it powerfully on the table several times, let the pieces fall where they might. It was not a good throw, worth only ten points.
With ill humor, Maká'pato'si counted out ten sticks and handed them to Gray Falcon, who set them out on the table beside him. Then, picking up the bowl, he, too, thumped it on the table several times before letting the pieces fall where they would.
Glancing causally into the bowl, he could see his throw was worth fifty-five. Humorlessly, he grinned at the evil one.
