n pointing to Joe and Henri.

This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two little packs
containing Joe's goods were strapped upon them, and then the trappers
turned to depart. The Indians did not move until they had mounted; then
they rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to see the
Pale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few words to Cameron, and the
men were ordered to halt, while the former dismounted and led his horse
towards the band of savages.

"Peigans," he said, "you know the object for which I came into this
country was to make peace between you and the Pale-faces. I have often
told you so when you would not listen, and when you told me that I had a
double heart, and told lies. You were wrong when you said this; but I
do not wonder, for you live among nations who do not fear God, and who
think it right to lie. I now repeat to you what I said before. It
would be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with the
Pale-faces, and if they would make peace with each other. I will now
convince you that I am in earnest, and have all along been speaking the
truth."

Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and presented fully
one-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents to the astonished Indians,
who seemed quite taken aback by such generous treatment. The result of
this was that the two parties separated with mutual expressions of
esteem and good will. The Indians then returned to the forest, and the
white men galloped back to their camp among the hills.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

NEW PLANS--OUR TRAVELLERS JOIN THE FUR-TRADERS, AND SEE MANY STRANGE
THINGS--A CURIOUS FIGHT--A NARROW ESCAPE, AND A PRISONER TAKEN.

Not long after the events related in the last chapter, our four friends,
Dick, and Joe, and Henri, and Crusoe, agreed to become for a time
members of Walter Cameron's band of trappers. Joe joined because one of
the objects which the traders had in view was similar to his own
mission, namely, the promoting of peace among the various Indian tribes
of the mountains and plains to the west. Joe, therefore, thought it a
good opportunity of travelling with a band of men who could secure him a
favourable hearing from the Indian tribes they might chance to meet with
in the course of their wanderings. Besides, as the traders carried
about a large supply of goods with them, he could easily replenish his
own nearly exhausted pack by hunting wild animals and exchanging thei