d: "You see now for
yourselves. The powder already begins to grow, just as I told you it
would."

The fact that some small plants appeared where the trader had put the
gunpowder, was enough to convince the Indians.

Every one of them became anxious to raise a crop of gunpowder.

The trader sold them his stock, in which there was a large mixture of
onion seeds, at a very high price, and then left.

From this time, the Indians gave no attention to their corn crop. If
they could raise gunpowder, they would be happy.

They took great care of the little plants as they came up out of the
ground, and watched every day for the appearance of the gunpowder
blossoms.

They planned a buffalo hunt which was to take place after the powder
harvest.

After a while the onions bore a plentiful crop of seeds, and the Indians
began to gather and thresh it.

They believed that threshing the onion seeds would produce the powder.
But threshing failed to bring it. Then they discovered that they had
been cheated.

Of course the dishonest trader avoided these Indians, and did not make
them a second visit.

After some time, however, he sent his partner to them for the purpose of
trading goods for furs and skins.

By chance they found out that this man was the partner of the one who
had cheated them.

They said nothing to him about the matter; but when he had opened his
goods and was ready to trade, they coolly helped themselves to all he
had, and walked off.

The trader did not understand this. He became furiously angry, and went
to make his complaint to the chief of the nation.

"I am an honest man," said he to the chief. "I came here to trade
honestly. But your people are thieves; they have stolen all my goods."

The old chief looked at him some time in silence, and then said: "My
children are all honest. They have not stolen your goods. They will pay
you as soon as they gather their gunpowder harvest."

The man had heard of the trick played upon the Indians; but did not know
before this, that his partner was the one who had cheated them. He could
not say a word. He departed at once. Arriving at his home, he said to
his partner:

"We must separate. I have learned a lesson. I can not remain in business
with a dishonest man. You cheated the Indians for a little gain. You
have lost it, and I advise you, henceforth, to deal honestly with all
men."

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--In