“Tremendous,” declared Nat. “They wanted to carry us into camp in a blanket, but we told ’em we were not chiefs. They could wait and carry the captains. They gave us a fat dog, though, boiled in a pot――and I swear he was good eating.”
“None for me, thank ye,” retorted Sergeant Pat. “An’ how far is their camp, an’ what kind is it?”
“It’s about nine miles back, near the Jacques. All fine buffalo hide lodges――some elk hide, too――painted different colors. Fact is, they’re about the best Indians we’ve met yet.”
“Ye didn’t learn anything of Shannon or the horses, then?”
“Not a word. But I think he’ll be safe if only the Sioux find him.”
The next day dawned so foggy that nobody could see across the river. The captains made preparations for the grand council. A pole was set up, near to a large oak tree, and a new flag hoisted to the top of it. The flag was striped red and white; in a corner was a blue square, like the sky, studded with stars. ’Twas the great flag of the United States nation――and Peter thought it beautiful.
The two captains dressed in their best. Captain Lewis wore a long coat of dark blue trimmed with light blue, down its front bright brass buttons, and on its shoulders bright gold-fringed epaulets. Captain Clark’s coat was dark blue faced with red; it, too, had the brass buttons and the bright epaulets. Both wore their cocked hats, and their long knives, or swords.
The men also were ordered to put on their best, and to clean up even if they had no “best.” Presents were laid out. By the time the fog lifted, at eight o’clock, the camp was ready.
Now it could be seen that over in the Sioux camp, also, the chiefs and warriors were preparing.
“They’re painting and polishing, Merne,” remarked Captain Clark, who had levelled the spy-glass, to peer.
That was so. Peter needed no spy-glass. He could make out figures of the chiefs and warriors sitting and plaiting their hair and painting their faces and chests and arms.
The two captains waited until nearly noon. Then the red pirogue was dispatched, under Sergeant Pryor, accompanied by old Pierre, to bring the chiefs and warriors. The white pirogue was loaded with goods, but the red pirogue had been emptied for repairs. Even then the Sioux so crowded it that it scarcely could be rowed. A number of the young Sioux waded into the river and swam across.