Old
Smoky Wolf."

"He hates Black Eagle," said Raven Wing, sadly.

"Because he knows our warriors will choose Black Eagle to succeed Old
Smoky Wolf," added Hawk Eye.

As the boys neared camp, Slow Dog came out of the bushes by the river
bank. A scowl spread over his face on seeing the dead geese. "He is a
great hunter when the birds fly down to be killed," he sneered.

[Illustration: SLOW DOG CAME OUT OF THE BUSHES BY THE RIVER BANK.]

"Had they not changed their course, your arrow would have slain one,"
answered Raven Wing, quietly.

Slow Dog turned on his heel and walked to his tepee. The two boys
continued on their way. Presently they halted beside Old Smoky Wolf's
lodge. At the sound of approaching footsteps, the aged chief had bade
his wife go out to greet whoever the visitors might be.

Hawk Eye handed her one of the birds he had slain. "'Tis the first goose
brought to earth. Hawk Eye would present it to our chief," explained the
boy. As he and Raven Wing were about to turn away, Old Smoky Wolf
appeared in the doorway of the lodge. He gravely thanked Hawk Eye on
learning of the gift.

"You both shall come to the feast," he added kindly. The boys thanked
him and as they turned away, a smile spread over Old Smoky Wolf's
wrinkled face.

"My tribe are not women. A brave is no stranger in my village. These
boys will become great hunters. At the sound of their moccasins the
beaver will lie down to be killed," grunted the old chief.

[Illustration: {Hunter and buffalo.}]

CHAPTER II

PLANS AND PELTS

The sun grew warmer. The snow melted and trickled in little rivulets
down to the river. Crocuses bloomed and red-winged blackbirds cried amid
the yellowing willows in the bottoms. At last the ice broke in the river
and the waters rushed madly along between its banks.

The hunters, who had been industrious all winter, gathered together the
pelts of the animals they had killed. Buffalo robes and deer skins,
together with pelts of minks, martins, foxes, wolves, beavers, bears,
fishers, otters and raccoons. Thousands of muskrat skins were also made
up into bundles.

The packs were loaded into canoes and the hunters set off down stream
for the trading post at Mendota.

Raven Wing and Hawk Eye watched the canoes for some time. When the last
frail craft had turned the bend in the river, Raven Wing said to Hawk
Eye, "Let us make the trip also, and take our pelts to the trading
post."

[Illustration: R