could see the plains far and wide around them.

"There they are at last," said Heywood eagerly, pointing to a certain
spot on the far-off horizon where living creatures of some sort were
seen moving.

"That must be a band o' red-skins," said Jasper, who trotted up at this
moment with the rest of the party.

"They are Sauteaux," [This word is pronounced _Sotoes_ in the plural;
_Sotoe_ in the singular] observed Arrowhead quietly.

"You must have good eyes, friend," said Pemberton, applying a small
pocket-telescope to his eye; "they are indeed Sauteaux, I see by their
dress, and they have observed us, for they are coming straight this way,
like the wind."

"Will they come as enemies or friends?" inquired Heywood.

"As friends, I have no doubt," replied the fur-trader. "Come, lads, we
will ride forward to meet them."

In a short time the two parties of horsemen met. They approached almost
at full speed, as if each meant to ride the other down, and did not rein
up until they were so close that it seemed impossible to avoid a shock.

"Have you seen the buffaloes lately?" inquired Pemberton, after the
first salutation had passed.

"Yes, there are large bands not an hour's ride from this. Some of our
young warriors have remained to hunt. We are going to the fort to
trade."

"Good; you will find tobacco enough there to keep you smoking till I
return with fresh meat," said Pemberton, in the native tongue, which he
could speak like an Indian. "I'll not be long away. Farewell."

No more words were wasted. The traders galloped away over the prairie,
and the Indians, of whom there were about fifteen, dashed off in the
direction of the fort.

These Indians were a very different set of men from those whom I have
already introduced to the reader in a former chapter. There are many
tribes of Indians in the wilderness of Rupert's Land, and some of the
tribes are at constant war with each other. But in order to avoid
confusing the reader, it may be as well to divide the Indian race into
two great classes--namely, those who inhabit the woods, and those who
roam over the plains or prairies. As a general rule, the thick wood
Indians are a more peaceful set of men than the prairie Indians. They
are few in number, and live in a land full of game, where there is far
more than enough of room for all of them. Their mode of travelling in
canoes, and on foot, is slow, so that the different tribes do not often
meet, and th