.*897-]
stool, her feet protruded from beneath the blanket, covered with
prettily beaded moccasins.
* ‘ Her head was bent over the basket she was weaving, but aS
if she had felt our presence she looked up quickly. An almost
convulsive tremble shook her form the instant she saw us, but
she did not scream. • A frightened, wild look appeared in her
face, but her large, sparkling eyes had rather a soft, pleading
expression as she looked at us; then, with a blush plainly per
ceptible even through her dark skin, she dropped her pretty
lashes and sat motionless as a wild animal at bay.
“A moment we stood spellbound with admiration and surprise,
then Eaton grasped my arm and pulled me away. I heard a deep
sigh from him, and I must confess that for an instant I felt a mad
craving for the free wild life of the woods. Surely this beautiful
maiden would be willing to teach me the craft of her race.
“ Trembling with an excitement I could not understand, I hur
ried back with Eaton to where our cameras lay, and as soon as I
could pick mine up I started back. But Eaton, grasping my arm,
exclaimed:
" ' For heaven’s sake, man, what are you going to do? Keep
away from there if you value your life. Don’t you know that
Indians have a frantic terror of a camera. They call it the ey£
of the devil. Why, that old buck would shoot you on the spot,
The girl herself would plunge a dagger into your heart. Come
along with me. ’
“I stood looking at Eaton in amazement, for I had never heard
of this superstition, and started along with him. But before I
had gone ten steps, my love of adventure got the better of my
discretion.
“ ‘ Eaton, I’m going to have a picture of that girl if I die for
“ ‘ Well, you’re a fool, and you go it alone,’ he replied. ;
“ Having watched us beyond the edge of the thicket, the girl had
returned to her work. With a guilty air I sneaked up cautiously;
and finding the buck still aleep, stole around the corner of the
tent with my camera all ready, for the snap.
“ Yes, there she was, working away with her head bent over lien
work. Expectant as I was, the spell was even stronger than be
fore. The charming grace of this gentle wood nymph almost
made me forget my purpose, and I wondered .if Eongfellow’s
Minnehaha, or Multnomah of the Columbia could have been as
The Devil'i Eye.