ed shore before the Indian town
and the Paleface visitors were conducted at once to the council house.
This was a long low building, its lower part being built of logs but its
sides and roof being of bark. It was open at one end, and at the other
end skins were hung up to shut out the wind. In the center of the rude
structure, whose floor was only the hard-trodden earth, was a fire, the
smoke escaping through a large hole in the roof.

All these things were observed by the boys in time, but first to attract
their notice as they entered, were the Indians, especially one of great
size--elderly and very dignified, seated on a bear skin spread over a mat
of bark. He shook hands with each as they stepped up, saying only "How."

Ree answered in the same fashion but John was so flustrated that he
stammered: "How do you do, sir?" in a manner which bored him a great
deal, as Ree jokingly recalled the circumstance long afterward.

But Capt. Pipe knew from the lad's tone that he spoke respectfully and it
pleased him. Other Indians seemed to feel the same, and the several minor
chiefs and medicine men who were present, shook hands with the boys with
a great show of dignity and formality. Then the young traders stated the
object of their visit and were shown to a seat opposite Capt Pipe and
pipes were brought out. They all smoked, the boys soon discovering that
it was not tobacco but "kinnikinick"--the inner bark of young willow
sprouts dried and pulverized--which was in the pipes.

Presently the great chief laid aside his pipe, a long-stemmed affair with
a curiously carved clay bowl, and all others immediately followed his
example. In another minute the speech-making began.

Capt. Pipe's was the first address, a brief preliminary statement. He
made a most imposing appearance as he stood very erect, his arms folded,
his head-dress of feathers reaching half way to the ground behind him,
the fringes of his shirt-like coat rustled by the movements of his body,
as he talked. Others followed, but the boys understood very little of
what was said. As Big Buffalo arose, however, there was a scowl on his
face which was far from pleasant. His gestures indicated hostility and
the Paleface lads knew that at heart he hated them. They wished Fishing
Bird were present to say a friendly word.

Capt. Pipe, himself, spoke a second time a little later, however, and
very earnestly Ree and John studied his grave and stern, but not unkind,
face, to