He had become quite
docile, understood many sentences, and could be made to understand by
words and signs all that was required of him. He also attempted to use
words in conveying his wants to others, and they noticed with pleasure,
his fits of passion were less frequent, and when they had passed away
he seemed ashamed of them.

Taking their course down the valley, which grew broader and gradually
assumed the appearance of a primitive forest, and pursued their way
along the stream that kept its course at the base of the mountain on
their right until night, when they encamped on its bank. At early dawn
they again commenced their journey, and leaving the stream, took their
course farther to the left, as the chief persisted in his belief that
their whole course had been wrong, and that in order to find their
friends, they must take another direction. Howe readily assented to
this; for, in fact, he was so completely bewildered that he was at a
loss what course should be pursued. The forest now began to lose much
of its grandeur, the soil grew sandy, and every species of verdure had
a stunted and gnarled appearance. At night they encamped on the verge
of a broad prairie that stretched far away towards the horizon. They
had much difficulty in procuring a supply of water for their horses
that night, the surface around where they were having a parched, arid
appearance; so different from the fresh verdure of the forest through
which they had been travelling, as to cause a feeling of momentary
sadness to come over them. This was, however, dispelled by the chief
who was highly elated at having struck the prairie.

"Over yonder," said he, stretching his hand towards the wide expanse
before them, "our friends await us. Let not our hearts fail us, for
before two more suns shall set, we will be among them!"

"So soon! Oh, what joy!" said Jane, transported with the thought.

"They may have left the encampment, and pursued their journey, if they
had the good fortune to get out of the hands of the Crows; and, then,
it may be many days before we overtake them."

"No," said the trapper. "If your father is living, he never leaves the
ground on which he was encamped, until he ascertains the fate of his
children. Probably he has built a cabin, and is cultivating a patch of
ground around it. He will never leave it if we do not return. If it is
not so, I have a wrong conception of the man."

With the chief for a guard, they lay down to s