epees and not look like they never saw nothing before."

And sure enough the surrounding circle broke up and slunk away.

Ahchoogah turned a bland face back to the policeman, and through Mary
politely enquired what had brought him to Swan River.

"I will tell you," said Stonor. "I come bearing a message from the
mighty White Father across the great water to his Kakisa children. The
White Father sends a greeting and desires to know if it is the wish of
the Kakisas to take treaty like the Crees, the Beavers, and other
peoples to the East. If it is so, I will send word, and my officers and
the doctor will come next summer with the papers to be signed."

Ahchoogah replied in diplomatic language that so far as his particular
Kakisas were concerned they thought themselves better off as they were.
They had plenty to eat most years, and they didn't want to give up the
right to come and go as they chose. No bad white men coveted their lands
as yet, and they needed no protection from them. However, he would send
messengers to his brothers up and down the river, and all would be
guided by the wishes of the greatest number.

At the beginning of this talk Clare had gone inside to escape the
piercing stares. While he talked, Ahchoogah was continually trying to
peer around Stonor to get a glimpse of her. When the diplomatic
formalities were over, he said (according to Mary):

"I not know you got white wife. Nobody tell me that. She is very
pretty."

"Tell him she is not my wife," said Stonor, with a portentous scowl to
hide his blushes. "Tell him--Oh, the devil! he wouldn't understand. Tell
him her name is Miss Clare Starling."

"What she come for?" Ahchoogah coolly asked.

"Tell him she travels to please herself," said Stonor, letting him make
what he would of that.

"Ahchoogah say he want shake her by the hand."

Stonor was in a quandary. The thought of the grimy hand touching Clare's
was detestable yet, if the request had been made in innocence it seemed
churlish to object. Clare, who overheard, settled the question for him,
by coming out and offering her hand to the Indian with a smile.

To Mary she said: "Tell him to tell the women of his people that the
white woman wishes to be their sister."

Ahchoogah stared at her with a queer mixture of feelings. He was much
taken aback by her outspoken, unafraid air. He had expected to despise
her, as he had been taught to despise all women, but somehow she struck
respect int