nk, together with skins of deer and hides of buffalo.

"You need not look for a gun," said Hawk Eye in a low voice, noticing
that Raven Wing paid little attention to the display on the counters.
"You already have Slow Dog's gun; it is a fine one. But you are in need
of powder and bullets, as I am."

As he finished speaking, a white man of about thirty, tall and muscular,
came forward and asked them in the Sioux language what they wanted.

Both boys held up their guns and answered that they wished ammunition
for their weapons.

"What have you in exchange?" asked the trader.

[Illustration: "WHAT HAVE YOU IN EXCHANGE?" ASKED THE TRADER.]

"We have pelts; they are in our canoes on the beach," said Hawk Eye.

"Bring them here and we will trade," smiled the trader.

As the boys turned to go back to the river, the trader asked; "How
came you by the fresh scalps at your belts?"

"We killed two thieving Chippeways," answered Hawk Eye. Here he paused,
thinking it best not to mention Slow Dog, for he was a Sioux and the
tribe must not be humiliated by the telling of his treachery. "We took
their canoes. Will you trade also for canoes?" Hawk Eye continued after
a brief silence.

"I will go with you and look at them," answered the trader. Beckoning to
three Indians, he accompanied the boys to the river.

"My Indian brothers will help you carry the pelts," he explained as they
went along.

On arriving at the shore, the trader's eyes glittered as he looked at
the beautifully built Chippeway canoes. "I will take them in trade," he
said.

"We would rather part with our own canoes," answered Hawk Eye. "We would
be proud to return to our village in our enemy's canoes and with their
scalps at our belt."

The trader smiled at the boy's words. "In that case I will be content to
take the Sioux-built craft," he said. "The Sioux excels the Chippeway in
horsemanship, but does not equal them in canoe building."

In the meantime the three Indians had shouldered most of the cargo. When
Hawk Eye and Raven Wing had shouldered the balance, they all set off for
the post.

The trader had shown much generosity, agreed the boys as later on they
loaded their purchases in the Chippeway canoes. How delighted would be
Light Between Clouds with the scarlet cloth, thought Hawk Eye. Bending
Willow will appear even more beautiful with the necklace of bright beads
at her throat, thought Raven Wing.

CHAPTER XVIII

JOURNEY'S END

E