There was one shading from dark green through to red, only a drop of the
latter color on the very tip of the arrow where blood would first kiss
blood. Father Xavier looked at it in wondering admiration, and at last
asked Black Beaver what he called it.
"It is a devil-stone," replied the Indian. "More here," and he opened
the deeper basket in which were stored the unground and uncut stones,
and placed a superb gem in Father Xavier's hand. He had ground it
sufficiently to show that it was in two layers, white and green; in this
there was no touch of red, but in every other respect it was the
handsomer stone.
"Will you sell it to me?" asked the priest. "How much?"
The Indian smiled with an expression strangely like that of his
daughter, and put it back with alacrity in his basket, saying, "Me no
sell big devil-stone. No money buy."
"What do you mean to do with it?" asked Father Xavier.
"Make arrow-head--very hungry--no blood;" and he indicated the absence
of the red tint. "Very hungry--kill very much--never have enough!"
"Then you mean to keep it and use it yourself?"
"No," said the other. "Me no hunt game--hunt stones."
"What will you do with it?" asked the puzzled priest.
"Give it away," said Black Beaver--"give away to greatest--"
"Chief?" asked Father Xavier.
Black Beaver shook his head.
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