"Do you, Sybil, wish to see this savage chief?" asked Effie.

"By all means," answered Sybil. "I should like to make a sketch of him
while he is bartering his peltries." And she took up a sketchbook and
pencil from the table.

"Let me bring your paint-box," said Effie, "for you will make a much
more interesting drawing if you colour it."

"I will try, if Norman will get a mug of water and hold it for me. We
must not let the chief discover what we are about, or the poor savage
may fancy we are bewitching him," said Sybil, laughing.

On going out of the house, they proceeded to the spot in front of the
store where the trading business was transacted. Captain Mackintosh, a
fine-looking man of middle age, and two of his clerks, stood on one
side, a quantity of goods piled up near them; while on the other was
seen an Indian chief, standing near several bales of peltries, and
attended by a band of nearly twenty followers. His appearance was
picturesque in the extreme. His head was adorned with a circlet of tall
plumes. His dress consisted of a coat of dressed deer-skin, tastefully
ornamented with beads and quill-work, as were his leggings, with long
tassels, while a white wolf-skin cloak hung over one shoulder, and
necklaces, composed of the teeth of bears and other animals, hung about
his neck. He had been keenly bargaining with his host; but no sooner
did the young ladies appear than he glanced towards them, his eyes
wandering from one to the other, until they settled on Sybil with a look
of evident admiration. She, however having begun her sketch, continued
drawing, regarding the Indian much as if he had been a lay figure
dressed up to copy.

Captain Mackintosh had at length to recall his attention to the matter
they were engaged on. The assistants on each side continued to weigh
the peltries, and hand over the articles given in exchange; but the
young chief seemed to have lost all the interest he had previously
shown, and instead of haggling as before over the price, made no
objection to any of the goods offered him, which his attendants packed
up as they received them, and carried out of the fort.

The trading being over, instead of following his people, the young chief
advanced to Captain Mackintosh, and addressed him in a long speech, the
meaning of which neither Sybil nor Effie could understand. Had they
done so, they would have been very much surprised to find that
Mysticoose was offering to make