CHAPTER 14 RED'S SLIP OF TONGUE
At Mr. Hatfield's shout, the Cubs, who had started toward the house,immediately turned back.
Dan was the first to reach the doorway of the hogan. He thought he couldguess why the Cub leader had called.
"Something else stolen?" he demanded.
"No such thing. Take a look at this!" Mr. Hatfield focused the beam ofhis flashlight on the floor of the hogan.
Dan sucked in his breath, completely taken by surprise.
Skillfully laid out in brilliant colors, was a sand painting. In scope itwas far more elaborate than the one which had been destroyed outside ofthe hut.
"Can you beat that!" Dan exclaimed. "How did it get here?"
Before Mr. Hatfield could voice an opinion, Mr. Holloway and the otherCubs had rushed up.
For awhile the hogan buzzed with excited conversation, as the boysspeculated upon how the painting had been transferred.
"It wasn't really transferred, though the basic design is the same," Mr.Hatfield pointed out. "Dan's painting was broken up so that the samematerials could be used here to make this much more elaborate picture."
"Who did it, and why?" Dan demanded.
"Not Ross, that's sure," contributed Red. "He doesn't have that muchskill."
"This picture was done by an expert," Mr. Holloway agreed. "An Indian,I'd judge. Note the skill with which the curving lines have been put on."
"Why was the picture made here?" mused Brad. "Why inside the hogan?"
"I think I can guess the answer," Mr. Hatfield replied. "Navajo sandpaintings usually are done inside a hogan--often in the home of theperson for whom a 'cure' is sought."
"And the custom is to destroy the painting before the day is done," Mr.Holloway added. "By tomorrow morning, we may find this picture wrecked aswere the others."
"Gosh, I hope not!" Dan exclaimed. "This painting is the best one yet."
"It will be just the thing to set off our handicraft exhibition at thepow-wow tomorrow," Brad declared. "We'll really have something nifty toshow the Den 1 Cubs when they show up for the canoe race!"
"Can't we take turns guarding the hogan tonight?" suggested Mack. "I'mwilling to take a trick."
Mr. Hatfield turned down the proposal. "Your parents wouldn't want you upall night," he said. "Furthermore, if you did stay up, you'd be no goodfor the pow-wow."
"But we don't want to lose this sand painting, Mr. Hatfield."
"Tell you what," Mr. Holloway volunteered. "My house is just up the hill,so it won't be a hardship for me to keep watch. I won't guarantee to stayhere all night, or to prevent destruction of the painting. But I'mwilling to check occasionally."
Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs thought the Den Dad would be taking too muchupon himself. However, he insisted he wanted to assume guard duty, sofinally it was agreed that he should assume responsibility for watchingthe river camp that night.
"Now, hike for home, boys," Mr. Hatfield directed when the matter hadbeen settled. "Get a lot of sleep tonight. Remember, tomorrow is the bigday."
The Cubs were thoroughly familiar with the program that had been planned.Early morning hours would be spent in last-minute preparations. Thepow-wow, a money raising project, would start before noon and continueinto the early afternoon. Parents and friends of both dens had beeninvited to attend.
In addition to an exhibition of craft items, a canoe race, and minorathletic events, the organization had planned an elaborate ceremonial.All Cubs planned to wear Indian costumes which they had made.
As a climax to the gathering, there was to be guitar music around a campfire and the serving of "treats" from a chuck wagon.
A silver plaque would be awarded the den which won the highest number ofpoints in both craft and athletic events.
Altogether, the Cubs felt that the pow-wow would be one of the mostsuccessful ceremonial affairs the organization ever had held. As an addedattraction, the leaders had planned a side trip to the ravine where theparents and Den 1 boys for the first time would be given opportunity toview the mysterious carved face.
"I wish we had found out who carved the big head," Dan remarkedregretfully. "I'll bet it was the same person who made this sandpainting."
"And very likely the same one who is hiding in the cave," Brad muttered.
"What was that?" Midge demanded, not catching the mumbled words.
"Oh, nothing, just talking to myself," Brad answered. He knew that Mr.Hatfield was not yet ready to reveal to the Cubs all of the observationsmade in the cave. Therefore, he remained silent.
Now that it was decided Mr. Holloway should remain to guard the camp, theCubs were without means of transportation into Webster City. Mrs.Holloway, however, offered to drive them into town. All reached theirhomes a little late, but in time for dinner.
"See you tomorrow early," Dan told Brad as they parted for the night."We've got a busy day ahead of us."
"Get a good night's rest," Brad advised. "Mr. Hatfield is putting us intothe canoe race as a team. Midge will be a substitute."
Dan was pleased to learn that he and Brad had been chosen to representthe den in the all-important race. The announcement was not exactly asurprise. For a long while everyone had taken it for granted that the twoCubs would be selected. By far, they were the best canoeists, with Midgea close second to Dan.
"I'll see you in the morning," Dan bade his friend goodbye.
True to his promise, he turned in very early after putting a fewfinishing touches on his Indian costume. When the alarm went off at seveno'clock the next morning, he was out of bed in a flash, ready and eagerfor a full day.
"You're certainly brimming with pep today," his mother observed as heraced down the stairs for breakfast. "It's a beautiful morning too."
Dan quickly assembled his belongings to take to Mr. Holloway's place.
"Brad and I want to get there early," he explained. "We've been assignedto buy all the groceries and take them out to Mrs. Holloway."
"Do you need help getting supplies to the camp?" his mother inquired. "Ican borrow the car, if necessary."
"Brad and I won't have more than we can carry," Dan answered. "Thanks, alot, Mom. You'll be at the pow-wow?"
"I wouldn't miss it, Dan. I aim to see you win that canoe race."
"Sure hope I don't let you down, Mom. Or the den," Dan added with a grin."See you later."
He slammed out of the house, whistling as he went. The morning wasbright, with not a hint of a cloud in the sky. Dan drew a deep breath ashe started for Brad's house. He felt fine, as if he could whip his weightin Den 1 Cubs!
At the next corner, Dan ran into Red, who had been out making a lastminute collection of clothing to be sent to the Navajo reservation.
"I'm on my way to meet Brad and go to the grocery store," Dan told him."Want to come along?"
"Sure," Red agreed.
Brad was sweeping the garage when the two boys joined him at his home.The job was nearly finished though.
"Got a list of what we're supposed to buy?" he asked Dan.
Dan produced the scrap of paper Mrs. Holloway had given him the previousnight.
"All right, let's go," Brad said, setting his broom against the garagewall. "I'm through here."
The three Cubs walked briskly to the corner grocery where they did mostof their buying for the den. As they entered, Brad suddenly gripped Dan'sarm so hard that it hurt.
At the counter, buying supplies, were White Nose and Eagle Feather.
Dan and Brad decided to greet the pair casually. Red, however, becamegreatly excited upon seeing the Indians.
"Let's jump 'em!" he whispered to his companions. "They're the oneswho've been making trouble around our camp! Let's tell 'em a thing ortwo!"
"Quiet!" Dan warned, giving him a hard look.
"Pipe down," Brad muttered. "You want to get us into trouble?"
Red, however, was not to be silenced. Before Brad or Dan could stop him,he walked over to th
e two Indians.
"Good morning," he said, to attract the attention of the two Indians.
They responded to the greeting without friendliness, continuing with thebuying of supplies. Their very indifference further angered Red.
"I want to ask you some questions," he burst out. "And I want somestraight answers--see!"
"Red!" Dan remonstrated, trying to grab his arm.
Red pulled away. He had no intention of being silenced.
"First off, I want to know if you and White Nose weren't the ones thatwrecked our sand painting and then remade it inside the hogan?" hedemanded.
Eagle Feather now paid him the honor of being most attentive. His eyesflickered with interest as he demanded mildly:
"Sand painting?"
"Oh, you needn't pretend you know nothing about it," Red snapped. "You'veboth been hanging around our camp ever since you came to Webster City!"
"Your sand painting has been redone?" inquired Eagle Feather, speakingwith precise English.
"Late yesterday afternoon," Red informed him. "Oh, you know all aboutit!"
Dan tried vainly to pull his friend away from the grocery counter. ButRed, in one of his stubborn moods, would not budge.
"We know nothing about your sand painting," Eagle Feather saiddistinctly.
"The work was done by an Indian--we know that from the skillful way thepicture was put together," Red rattled on. "It must have been you andWhite Nose."
"We have no skill at sand painting," said Eagle Feather. "We know one whodoes have cleverness in his hands--"
Red broke in, not giving the Indian an opportunity to finish.
"I'll bet you've been living in the river cave on the park reservation,"he went on.
By this time Dan and Brad were thoroughly exasperated by the rash mannerin which Red was revealing information. They were particularly annoyedbecause they could see that their den mate was supplying the Indians withfacts of great interest to them.
"Where is this cave of which you speak?" Eagle Feather asked.
Dan stepped on Red's foot so hard that he howled with pain.
"Button your flapping lips!" Dan hissed into his ear.
Belatedly, Red realized that he had talked too much. He lapsed into acrestfallen silence.
But the damage had been done. Eagle Feather and White Nose were keenenough to know that Dan and Brad had sought to prevent their friend fromrevealing the exact location of the cave. They did not ask for moreinformation.
Instead, they spoke together in their own language. Then withoutcompleting their purchases or paying for the ones already ordered, theyhurriedly left the store.
"Now what got into them?" the storekeeper demanded, scratching his head."They order groceries and then go off without taking 'em along."
"And what was the idea of stepping on my foot?" Red demanded indignantlyof his friends.
"We ought to have stepped on your tongue," Brad retorted. "You've done itnow!"
"Done what?"
"You had to blurt out about that cave."
"Well, I thought they knew about it, and the sand painting too."
"You thought wrong," Brad said furiously. "You just fed them a lot ofuseful information. Now, unless I'm tangled up, they're out formischief."
"Mischief?" Red echoed blankly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Those Indians came here looking for someone," Brad told him. "When youmentioned the sand-painting and the cave, you evidently gave them justthe clues they needed."
"And now they're on the way to find that cave," Dan added. "If theyshould find the man they're looking for there--wow! Fireworks!"
"Gee, I didn't know," Red mumbled. "I'm sorry."
Brad thought fast. He handed the grocer the list of supplies, asking himto fill the order as quickly as he could.
"We've got to get out to the camp right away," he told the other twoCubs. "White Nose and Eagle Feather are looking for trouble. If they findthe cave and the medicine man they're after, there's no telling what theymay do! We've got to get there first and warn him!"