out of the chief's tent at the moment; "but tie him up, Dick, and come
in, for we want to settle about startin' to-morrow or nixt day."

Having fastened Charlie to a stake, and ordered Crusoe to watch him,
Dick re-entered the tent where the council had re-assembled, and where
Pee-eye-em--having, in the recent struggle, split the blue surtout
completely up to the collar, so that his backbone was visible throughout
the greater part of its length--was holding forth in eloquent strains on
the subject of peace in general and peace with the Blackfeet, the
ancient enemies of the Shirry-dikas, in particular.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

PLANS AND PROSPECTS--DICK BECOMES HOME-SICK, AND HENRI METAPHYSICAL--THE
INDIANS ATTACK THE CAMP--A BLOW-UP.

On the following day the Indians gave themselves up to unlimited
feasting, in consequence of the arrival of a large body of hunters with
an immense supply of buffalo meat. It was a regular day of rejoicing.
Upwards of six hundred buffaloes had been killed, and as the supply of
meat before their arrival had been ample, the camp was now overflowing
with plenty. Feasts were given by the chiefs, and the medicine-men went
about the camp uttering loud cries, which were meant to express
gratitude to the Great Spirit for the bountiful supply of food. They
also carried a portion of meat to the aged and infirm who were unable to
hunt for themselves, and had no young men in their family circle to hunt
for them.

This arrival of the hunters was a fortunate circumstance, as it put the
Indians in great good-humour, and inclined them to hold friendly
intercourse with the trappers, who for some time continued to drive a
brisk trade in furs. Having no market for the disposal of their furs,
the Indians of course had more than they knew what to do with, and were
therefore glad to exchange those of the most beautiful and valuable kind
for a mere trifle, so that the trappers laid aside their traps for a
time and devoted themselves to traffic.

Meanwhile Joe Blunt and his friends made preparations for their return
journey.

"Ye see," remarked Joe to Henri and Dick, as they sat beside the fire in
Pee-eye-em's lodge, and feasted on a potful of grasshopper soup, which
the great chiefs squaw had just placed before them,--"ye see, my
calc'lations is as follows. Wot with trappin' beavers and huntin', we
three ha' made enough to sot us up, an it likes us, in the Mustang
Valley--"

"Ha!" interrupted Dick