," he said heartily.

When they asked him about the White Man who lived beside the falls,
Etzooah's eyes sparkled. "He say he my friend, and I proud. Since he say
that I think more of myself. I walk straight. I am not afraid. He is
good. He make the sick well. He give the people good talk. He tell how
to live clean and all, so there is no more sickness. He moch like
children. He good to my boy. Give him little face that say 'Ticky-ticky'
and follow the sun."

Etzooah issued a command to his small son, and the boy shyly exhibited a
large cheap nickel watch.

"No other Kakisa man or boy got that," said the parent proudly.

"Is it true that this white man hates other white men?" asked Stonor.

Etzooah made an emphatic negative. "He got no hate. He say red man white
man all the same man."

"Then he'll be glad to see us?"

"I think he glad. Got good heart to all."

"Is he at home now?"

"He is at home. I see him go down the river three sleeps ago."

Those in the dug-out exchanged looks of astonishment. "Ask him if he is
sure?" said Stonor.

Etzooah persisted in his statement. "I not speak him for cause I hiding
in bush watchin' bear. And he is across the river. But I see good. See
white face. I know him because he not paddle like Kakisa one side other
side; him paddle all time same side and turn the paddle so to make go
straight."

"Where had he been?"

"Up to Horse Track, I guess."

Horse Track, of course, was the trail from the river to Fort Enterprise.
The village at the end of the trail received the same designation. If
the tale of this visit was true it might have something to do with the
hostility they had met with above.

"But we have just come from the Horse Track," said Stonor, to feel the
man out. "Nobody told us he had been there."

Etzooah shrugged. "Maybe they scare. Not know what to say to white man."

But Stonor thought, if anything, they had known too well what to say.
"How long had he been up there?" he asked.

"I not know. I not know him gone up river till see him come back."

"Maybe he only went a little way up."

Etzooah shook his head vigorously. "His canoe was loaded heavy."

Etzooah accompanied them to the point where the current began to
increase its pace preparatory to the first rapid.

"This the end my hunting-ground," he said. "Too much work to come back
up the rapids." He saluted them courteously, and caused the little boy
to do likewise. His parting remark was: "Tell t