s is an American expedition under Deerfoot the Shawanoe, on its way
from the Pacific Ocean."

The man turned and said something to a companion near him. They seemed
amused by the reply, and the former speaker called back:

"Won't you join us in camp?"

"We shall be glad to do so. We are hunting for a ford."

"I don't think you will find any. We will send our canoes to you and
you can swim your horses over."

"We shall be very much obliged, and shall be glad to stay with you till
morning."

A few minutes later two canoes, each in charge of a single man, put out
from the southern shore and were paddled across the Missouri to our
friends. The luggage was removed from the back of Zigzag and placed in
one of the boats, which was so deeply laden that it could carry no one
beside the white man. The other was buoyant enough, though severely
taxed, to sustain the four. The horses swam beside the boats.

When Deerfoot took his place he said to the white man:

"My brother has worked hard. Will he not let Deerfoot take the paddle?"

"I have no objection," replied the other, with a grin, "if you think
you know how to do it better than I."

"No better than my brother, but I hope nearly as well."

"Just watch him," added Victor. "If there's anybody on either side of
the Mississippi that can beat that Shawanoe handling a canoe, I'll eat
him, boots and all."

Deerfoot had no wish to display his skill, but since it was impossible
for him to paddle without doing that he quickly won the admiration of
the fellow, who was tired and glad to be relieved from work. He noted
the easy grace and slight effort with which the dusky youth drove the
craft athwart the current, quickly leaving the other boat behind, and
called to his companion:

"Pete, he knows his business! Never seen his like. Hitch your canoe
fast and he'll tow you over without using more than one hand and with
both eyes shet."

Deerfoot acted as if he did not understand the words, and impelled the
craft so accurately that when it touched shore it did so at a point
precisely opposite the spot where he and his companions had entered the
craft.

While our friends were crossing the Missouri the explorers completed
their preparations for the evening. They had toiled hard all day in
pulling, pushing and paddling the boats up stream, for there were not
many places where progress could be made by any other means. The
pirogues were furnished with sails, and now and then a