"Next mornin' we were on the anxious seat. The fate of the expedition hung on whether you fellows arrived pretty soon at those forks and proved that the cap'n had spoken truth. The chief sent out a lot of scouts; and Drouillard and one Injun started early with the note, to find you. They hadn't been gone more than two hours by sun, when in came a scout at a gallop, makin' signs. He said he'd seen men like us, with skin color of ashes, travelin' up-river in boats, and they weren't far away. Hooray!"
"Hooray!" cheered the listeners.
"That settled the business. Old Ca-me-ah-wait hugged us, and the other Injuns danced and sang, and away raced a gang of 'em—and next thing Drouillard and a crowd met Captain Clark. And now here you all are. So I reckon we're fixed. They'll trade us hosses."
The council was still in progress; but while camp was being made under direction of Sergeant Ordway, out from the council lodge came Shields and Drouillard, to the camp. Drouillard was grinning and capering, evidently very happy. His swarthy cheeks were painted with vermilion, he wore a Snake tippet and decorated shirt; he looked exactly like an Indian.
"What news, Drouillard?"
"Ever't'ing is all right. We are 'mong frien's. Dey all glad to haf Sa-ca-ja-we-a, an' she speak well for us. She find one woman who was capture' same time as she but escape'. An' dat chief, he her brudder.
