“Brother Rae, have you reflected about this?”

“Why—­Brother Brigham—­no—­not reflected—­perhaps if we both prayed with hearts full of faith, the Lord might—­”

“Brother Rae!”

There was sternness in the voice now, and the young man trembled before the Lion of the Lord.

“You mistake me.  I guess I’m a good enough servant of the Lord, so my own prayer would restore this arm without any of your help; yes, I guess the Lord and me could do it without you—­if we thought it was best.  Now pay attention.  Do you believe in the resurrection of the body?”

“I do, Brother Brigham, and of course I didn’t mean to”—­he was blushing now.

“Do you believe the day of judgment is at hand?”

“I do.”

“How near?”

“You and our priests and Elders say it will come in 1870.”

“Correct!  How many years is that from now?”

“Twenty-three, Brother Brigham.”

“Yes, twenty-three.  Now then, how many years are there to be after that?”

“How many—­surely an eternity!”

“More than twenty-three years, then—­much more?”

“Eternity means endless time.”

“Oh, it does, does it?”

There had been gradually sounding in his voice a ring of triumph which now became distinct.

“Well, then, answer me this—­and remember it shall be as you say to the best of my influence with the Lord—­you shall be responsible for this poor remnant of the seed of Cain.  Now, don’t be rash!  Is it better for this poor creature to continue with his one arm here for the twenty-three years the world is to endure, and then pass on to eternity where he will have his two arms forever; or, do you want me to renew his arm now and let him go through eternity a freak, a monstrosity?  Do you want him to suffer a little inconvenience these few days he has here, or do you want him to go through an endless hereafter with three arms?”

The young man gazed at him blankly with a dropped jaw.

“Come, what do you say?  I’m full of faith.  Shall I—­”

“No—­no, Brother Brigham; don’t—­for God’s sake, don’t!  Of course he would be resurrected with three arms.  You think of everything, Brother Brigham!”

The Indians had meanwhile been growing puzzled and impatient.  He now motioned them to follow him.

By dint of many crude efforts in the sign language and an earnest use of the few words known to both, he succeeded, after a long time, in putting the facts before the chief and his son; They, after an animated conversation, succeeded with much use of the sign language in conveying to Joel Rae the information that the young man was not at all dismayed by the prospect of having three arms during the next life.  He gathered, indeed, that both father and son would be rather elated than otherwise by this circumstance, seeming to suspect that the extra member must confer superior prowess and high distinction upon its possessor.