t as
well as the most powerful of the nations east of the Rocky Mountains,
and less addicted to treachery or cruelty than most other tribes.

Two days later the Sioux made their appearance. They formed only a
small band of warriors, but were a wild-looking though fine set of men;
erect, muscular, tall fellows, with the free bearing of practised
warriors, and in all the paint, charcoal, feathers, and leather-costume,
bear-claw collars, etcetera, peculiar to the western wilderness.

Their object, they said, was to smoke the pipe of peace with their
enemies the Saulteaux, and to see with their own eyes the wonderful
things that by report the Palefaces were doing in Red River.

"The Sioux have heard," said their principal chief, at a palaver with
the Governor, "that the Palefaces are building wooden Wigwams in number
like the stones on the shores of Lake Winnipeg; that they are growing
much grain; that they have set up many strange things which they compel
the wind to work for them, and so grind their grain; that they have
great heaps of powder and ball, and big wigwams that are bursting with
things that the Sioux love to exchange for the meat and skins of the
buffalo and other beasts great and small. We have come to see all this
with our own eyes, for most of us are young men who have only heard of
such things from our fathers. Waugh!"

Of course everything was said to encourage this laudable desire for
knowledge. The visitors were shown over the fort. Food was given to
them, and tobacco; then the pipe of peace was smoked with a band of
Saulteaux, which chanced to be on a friendly visit to the settlement at
the time, after which, as was customary on such occasions, both parties
mixed together and strolled about to see the settlers.

One party of them found their way to Prairie Cottage. At some of the
houses nearer the fort they had learned the method of lifting the latch
of a door so as to obtain entrance. Finding no one outside at the
cottage, they entered the central hall with the soft, quiet tread of the
panther. As no one chanced to be there, they continued their
explorations with childlike simplicity, and thus most unexpectedly found
themselves in the bedroom of Dan Davidson, where Little Bill had just
read himself and his brother-invalid into a sound sleep. Both wakened
up at once, and the boy sat bolt upright in blazing astonishment, but
Dan, who had heard of their arrival in the Settlement, received th