"Ye didn't learn anything of Shannon or the horses, then?"
"Not a word. But I think he'll be safe if only the
Sioux find him."
The next day dawned so foggy that nobody could see across the river. The captains made preparations for the grand council. A pole was set up, near to a large oak tree, and a new flag hoisted to the top of it. The flag was striped red and white; in a corner was a blue square, like the sky, studded with stars. 'Twas the great flag of the United States nation—and Peter thought it beautiful.
The two captains dressed in their best. Captain Lewis wore a long coat of dark blue trimmed with light blue, down its front bright brass buttons, and on its shoulders bright gold-fringed epaulets. Captain Clark's coat was dark blue faced with red; it, too, had the brass buttons and the bright epaulets. Both wore their cocked hats, and their long knives, or swords.
The men also were ordered to put on their best, and to clean up even if they had no "best." Presents were laid out. By the time the fog lifted, at eight o'clock, the camp was ready.
Now it could be seen that over in the Sioux camp, also, the chiefs and warriors were preparing.
"They're painting and polishing, Merne," remarked Captain Clark, who had levelled the spy-glass, to peer.
That was so. Peter needed no spy-glass. He could make out figures of the chiefs and warriors sitting and
