The voyageur Liberté and the soldier Moses Reed were missing from the camp; a party had been sent out to capture them as deserters. Eight hundred and thirty-six miles had been logged off, from St. Louis, in the three months. Here the story opens. OPENING THE WEST WITH LEWIS AND CLARK I THE COMING OF THE WHITE CHIEFS “They are many,” reported Shon-go-ton-go, or Big Horse, sub-chief of the Otoes. “How many?” asked We-ah-rush-hah, or Little Thief, the head chief. “As many,” replied Big Horse, “as five times the fingers on two hands.” “Wah!” gravely grunted the circle, where the chiefs and warriors squatted in their blankets and buffalo robes. For August, the Ripe Corn month, of 1804, had arrived to the Oto Indians’ country in present Nebraska beyond the Missouri River; but now at their buffalo-hunt camp north of the River Platte the chiefs of the combined Oto and Missouri nations sat in solemn council instead of chasing the buffalo. Through a long time, or since the month when the buffalo begin to shed, the air had been full of rumors. Five moons back, when the cottonwood buds first swelled, down at the big white village of “San Loui’” there had been a ceremony by which, according to the best word, all this vast land watered by the Missouri River had changed white fathers. The Spanish father’s flag had been hauled down, and a different flag had been raised. Indians had been there and had seen; yes, Shawnees, Saukies, Delawares, Osages――they had been there, and had seen. The Spanish governor, whose name was Delassus, had made a speech, to the white people. He had said: PROCLAMATION March 9, 1804. _Inhabitants of Upper Louisiana_: By the King’s command, I am about to deliver up this post and its dependences! The flag under which you have been protected for a period of nearly thirty-six years is to be withdrawn. From this moment you are released from the oath of fidelity you took to support it. The speech was hard to understand, but there it was, tacked up on the white man’s talking paper. Moreover, the good governor had made a talk for the Indians also, his red children. He had said: Your old fathers, the Spaniard and the Frenchman, who grasp by the hand your new father, the head chief of the United States, by an act of their good will, and in virtue of their last treaty, have delivered up to them all these lands. They will keep and defend them, and protect all the white and red skins who live thereon. For several days we have fired off cannon shots to announce to all the nations that your father, the Spaniard, is going, his heart happy to know that you will be protected and sustained by your new father, and that the smoke of the powder may ascend to the Master of Life, praying him to shower on you all a happy destiny and prosperity in always living in good union with the whites.