"All right. Tell them that some of their young men have stolen a horse from their great father at Washington, and we want it returned or we will hold no council. We're willing to be friends, but we aren't afraid of them."
"I do not know much of dees Sioux tongue, but I will try," engaged Drouillard. And by signs and a few words he delivered the message.
The Indians consulted a moment together; then one of them replied.
"I t'ink dey say dey haf not seen a hoss," translated Drouillard. "But if it is found it will be return'."
"I t'ink so, too," added the funny Cruzatte—although everybody was aware that he did not understand a word of Sioux.
However, by the signs that were made, Peter would have interpreted the same as Drouillard. He and the Oto boys had practiced for hours, talking sign language.
The boats stopped for the night off the mouth of a river on the left or the south. This night only a few men were allowed ashore, to guard the cook fires; the remainder slept aboard the boats, with their guns ready. The captains named the river Teton River, but it was soon renamed Bad River, for very good reason.
In the morning everybody, except the boat guards, landed. The captains ordered the United States flag hoisted, again, on a pole, and the awning was stretched, as at the camp where the Otoes had been entertained.
