Then a warrior threw a handful of earth into the grave of the father and son.

The braves followed his example, then all the tribe.
As they were so doing, like phantoms in the dim light, Mount Saint Helens[D] blazed again--one volcanic flash, then another; then all was darkness, and the moon arose in a broad sea of light like a spectral sun.
The grave was filled at last.

Then they brought the Cayuse pony of Benjamin toward the grave, and a young brave raised the hatchet to kill it, that it might bear the dead boy into the unknown land.
There was a cry! It came from Gretchen.

The girl rushed forward and stood before the hatchet.

The pony seemed to know her, and he put his head over her shoulder.
"Spare him!" she said.