Not once, but again and again in earlier days, he fended danger from me like that.

I can shut my eyes and see his waving hair, his white brow, his steel blue eyes, his unfaltering hand.

I don't remember that I had time or even thought to pray.

I gripped the baby, and the knife, and waited for the thing I must do if an arrow or a shot sailed past the chief and felled father.

They stood second after second, like two wooden men, and then slowly and deliberately the chief lighted his big pipe, drew a few puffs and handed it to father.