r several
months to come, and we may as well settle ourselves for the winter."

"There doesn't seem much to do in the way of settling," returned his
brother; "here we are, and here we must stay till spring comes round. I
wish it were with us now, for since we have started for the Ohio I have
become homesick."

"We'll soon get used to this life and shall feel better when Deerfoot
joins us."

They had removed the saddles and bridles from their horses and the pack
from the sturdy, faithful Zigzag, and brought them into their new home,
after which the animals, including Bug, the property of Mul-tal-la, had
been turned loose to browse with the others at the rear of the village.
Blankets were spread on the ground at one side of the tepee, to serve
as seats and couches, and the other conveniences, which made up most of
the burden carried thousands of miles by Zigzag, were distributed with
some taste about the interior. Their native friends had shown their
thoughtfulness by heaping a pile of dry sticks under the chimney, with
more placed within reach. The starting of the fire was left to the
lads. Nothing in the way of food was in sight, but the brothers had no
fear of being forgotten or overlooked. It was several hours before
nightfall, and they reclined on the furs to rest themselves before
going outside. A dozen or more curious men and boys were lounging near,
for the murmur of their voices reached the brothers, but no one
ventured to intrude upon their privacy.

"George, when we get back to Ohio we shall be able to tell a story that
will beat anything Simon Kenton can relate."

"How? There are not many that have passed through as much as he."

"But he has never been west of the Mississippi, and it isn't likely he
ever will go. We must have gone two thousand miles beyond. When we see
him again won't we make him open his eyes with our story of a winter
among a tribe of Indians far over toward the Stony Mountains?"

"It will be a great story, indeed; but Victor, how are we going to pass
the more than a hundred days that we must stay in this settlement?"

"Time goes fast enough when we are on the move, either shooting rapids
in a river, riding our horses or tramping on foot, but it is mighty
dull to sit still and do nothing, and we mustn't think of any such
thing."

"But what shall we do?"

"What shall we do? Lots of things. We can hunt and fish, play games
with the youngsters, learn to tramp on snowshoes when winte