og
cabins and a larger one standing among the trees apart from the others.
Thin threads of smoke rose from the four cabins and several of the
tepees, but not from the larger cabin. It was certain now that there
were no dogs, as, scenting him, they would have given tongue earlier.
The fortune in which he trusted had not betrayed him.

His eyes passed again over the lodges and the smaller cabins and rested
on the larger one, which was built of poles and had a wooden figure,
carved rudely, standing at every one of the four corners. He noted these
figures with intense satisfaction, and, having followed bold tactics,
he became yet bolder, creeping through the forest toward the long cabin.

The snow was still falling in fine, feathery flakes, not enough to make
a real snow, but enough to cause great discomfort, and he exercised all
his skill and caution.

While the Indians slept, yet someone among them always slept lightly,
and he knew better than to bring such a swarm of hornets upon him. He
reached the long cabin and saw in it a door opening toward the eastern
forest and away from the village.

The door was closed with a heavy curtain of buffalo robe, but lifting it
without hesitation he entered. Then he stood a little while near the
entrance until his eyes grew accustomed to the dusk. The room, which had
a floor of bark, was empty save for skins of buffalo or other animals
hanging from poles, and two curtained recesses, in which stood totem
figures like those at the corners of the house.

Henry knew that it was a council house or house of worship. He had known
that as soon as he saw the figures outside. No one would enter it until
the chiefs came from a greater village to hold council or make worship.
Any possible trail that he might have left would soon be covered by the
falling snow, and, going within one of the curtained alcoves, he lifted
the wooden figure there a little to one side. Then he spread one of the
buffalo robes within the space and, folding his blanket about himself,
lay down upon it. Soon he was asleep, while nearly a hundred of his
enemies, men, women and children, also slept but fifty yards away.

Henry did not awaken while the night lasted. He had reached the limit of
endurance, and every nerve and muscle in him cried aloud for rest.
Moreover, his freedom from apprehension conduced to quick and sound
slumber, and it was long after daylight when his eyes opened and he
stretched himself. He remember