would be protected against the bad Sioux, and would return safe, escorted by United States warriors and loaded with presents.
At last Big White agreed to take his wife and child and accompany the Red Head and the Long Knife.
So much corn was brought to the boats that it all could not be loaded. Captain Clark presented the swivel cannon to the Minnetarees.
"With this big gun we have announced the great white father's peace words to his red children, all the way up the Missouri," he said, to Le Borgne. "Whenever it is fired, it will remind you of these good words, and you will think upon them, and live at peace with your neighbors."
"My ears will always be open to the words of the great white father," promised One-eyed.
Then the cannon was discharged, and the Minnetarees, much pleased, bore it into their village.
The start was to be made the next day. But John Colter was not going. He had asked permission to turn back, up the Missouri again, with the two trappers, Hancock and Dickson, to hunt the beaver. And Sa-ca-ja-we-a and Chaboneau were not going. The Bird-woman wished to go—she wished to go on with the Red Head, to the country of the white people, and learn more of their ways. Captain Clark offered to take her and little Toussaint and Chaboneau, and put little Toussaint at school when he grew up. However, Chaboneau shook his head.
