r and grass
near at hand; and if your men will do as I direct them, we will quickly
put up a wigwam for Clarice, the black woman, and me."

Manley and I offered to act under her directions; but, except that we
cut some rough sticks, and transported some bark, she really gave us
very little to do,--performing nearly the whole of the architectural
operations with her own hands.

I was thankful that Clarice would thus have shelter, and be able to
obtain the rest which she so much required.

Maysotta had shot several small animals, and these, with the provisions
we had brought, afforded us an abundant supper.

The night was passed without any interruption, and early the next
morning we set off for Winnemak's camp. I offered to take Maysotta on my
horse, but she declined, saying that she would proceed on foot, as she
hoped to shoot some deer by the way.

We rode as fast as we could; indeed, I was most anxious to get back,
both on account of the unhappy captives, and because I hoped to hear
news of Uncle Jeff.

As we got into the neighbourhood of the camp, we caught sight, on the
summit of a slight elevation, of a single horseman, who sat his steed
without moving, apparently unable to make out who we were, as, lifting
his hand to his brow, he peered at us from under it. We had got within
speaking distance before I recognized our host Winnemak. His whole
appearance and bearing were totally changed. With a magnificent crown of
feathers on his head, a jacket of rich fur handsomely trimmed,
glittering bracelets and earrings, a spear in his hand and a shield at
his back, as he firmly sat his strongly-built mustang, he looked every
inch a warrior chief.

"I did not know you at first, but I do now," he said, smiling; "and the
White Lily is truly welcome to my tents."

Clarice thanked him, and we rode to the camp together. He told us that
he purposed visiting the chiefs of all the neighbouring tribes and
forming a confederation, in order to resist effectually any future
invasion of our common enemies the Arrapahas. "For such a purpose a
chief must be habited as becomes a chief," he added, to account to us
for the change in his costume.

I scarcely listened to him, however, as I was eagerly waiting to inquire
if Uncle Jeff had arrived at the camp; and I was much disappointed to
find that nothing had been seen or heard of him.

[Illustration: WINNEMAK IN FULL DRESS.]

CHAPTER VIII.

I SEEK OUT PIOMINGO--A STR