Part 23 (1/2)
”Plenty--you will find thenani the hand of William Clark, peered with curiosity into Lewis's alain, for that the whiteman to him, showed him the arrow-mark, and sent him back to see how many of the dead buffalo showed arroith si a sheaf of arrows Grinning, he held up the fingers of two hands
”Tell hi, Dorion,” said Lewis ”We could have killed many more if we had wished We see that the Sioux can ride Now, let us see if they can talk at the council fire!”
The two leaders hastened to their own encampment to reed from their tents clad as officers of the army, each in cocked hat and full uniform, with sword at side
With the fall of the sun, the dru the street su also the chiefs to the council lodge Here the headabout the little fire, the peace pipe resting on a forked stick before the for the arrival of the white chiefs--who couldchief of black skin beat his head upon the ground; and who, moreover, could ride stripped and strike the buffalo even as the Sioux
The white leaders were in no haste to show thenity of their station; but they ca as they marched at the head of their men, all of ere in the uniform of the frontier
York, selected as standard-bearer, bore the flag at the head of the little band Meriwether Lewis took it froe, and thrust the staff into the soil, so that it stood erect beside the lance and shi+eld of Weucha, chief of the Yanktonnais Then, leaving their own uard without, the thite chiefs stepped into the lodge, and, with not toofor them, took their own places in the seat of honor They removed their hats, shook free their hair--which had been loosened fro about the locks spread out on their shoulders
Exclanified Sioux chiefs
Clearly the appearance and the conduct of the two officers had ood ith Meriwether Lewis, holding in his hand the great peace pipe that he had brought, arose
”Weucha,” said he, Dorion interpreting for him, ”you are head man of the Yanktonnais I offer you this pipe Let us smoke We are at peace
We are children of the Great Father, and I do not bring war I have put a flag outside the lodge It is your flag You ht you must take it down, roll it up, and put it in a parfleche, so that it will not be torn or soiled Whenever you have a great feast, or meet other peoples, let it fly at your door It is because you are a chief that I give you this flag I gave one to the Omahas, another to the Otoes Let there be no ive you this medal, Weucha, this picture on white iron See, it has the picture of the Great Father hiive you this writing, where I have n, and where the red-headed chief, s, so that any who come here may know that you are our friends, that you are the children of the Great Father
”Weucha, they told us that the Sioux were bad in heart, that you would say we could not go up the river Our Great Father has sent us up the river, and we o Tomorrow our boats must be on their course If the Great Father has such o back to him and say the Sioux would not let us pass? You have seen that we are not afraid, that we are chiefs--we can do what you can do Can you do e can? Can youyou who has a black skin, like the man with us? Are any of your rouse, at fifty paces with the rifle? All of ive you these presents--these lace coats for your great men, these hats also, such as ear, because you are our brothers, and are chiefs A little powder, a few balls, I give you, because we think you want theive you a little tobacco for your pipes Ifpaper to the Great Father, and tell him that you are his children”
Deep-throated exclamations of approval met this speech Weucha took the pipe He arose hie fashi+on, and spoke as the born leader that he also was He pledged the loyalty of the Sioux and the freedoive you the horse you rode this ,” said Weucha to Lewis, ”the black runner To you, red-haired chief, I give the white-and-black horse that you rode It is well that chiefs like you should have good horses
”Too a little ith you up the river We want you for our friends, for we know yourto other tribes--to the Otoes, the Oround and knock their heads on the ground, as the black man did when the red-headed chief raised it above him
”The Great Father has sent us two chiefs who are young but very wise
They can strike the buffalo They can speak at the council Weucha, the Yanktonnais, says that they o on We know you will not lose the trail We know that you will come back You are chiefs!”
CHAPTER II
THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER
Late in the night the Yanktonnais dru after a dozen Sioux had spoken, and after the thite chieftains had arisen and left the council fire The people of the village were feasting around half a hundred fires The village was joyous, light-hearted, and free of care The hunt had been successful
”Look at thee of the bluff and turned back for a last glie scene ”They are like children I swear, I almost believe their lot in life is happier than our own!”