“I doubt if the Otoes would sell him. How long have you been with the Otoes, Peter?” Little White Osage had been listening as hard as he could, trying to guess what these long speeches were about. That last question, to him, awakened an answer. “Al-ways,” he uttered, slowly. “First Osage, then Oto.” “Do you know where Kentucky is?” Little White Osage shook his head. “No.” But he pointed to the east. “There.” “Where are your father and mother?” “There,” and Little White Osage pointed to the sky. “Do you know where St. Louis is?” “There,” and he pointed south. “Do you know where we’re going?” “There,” and he pointed north. “When did you leave the Otoes?” “Two days.” “Why?” “Me――white; you white. I ’Nited States.” And Little White Osage stiffened proudly. “Bedad, spoken like a good citizen,” approved Patrick Gass. “Faith, George, lad, ’twould be a shame to return him to the Injuns――to them oncivilized rascals. Can’t we smuggle him aboard? An’ then after we’re all under way the two captains can do with him as they plaze.” His gray eyes danced at the thought, and he scanned George questioningly. George’s blue eyes were twinkling. “I dare say that on our way up river we’ll meet more traders coming down, and he can be sent to St. Louis that way. But we’re liable to be in a scrape, Pat, if we’re found out.” “What’s an Irishman without a scrape?” laughed Pat “Listen, now,” he bade, to Little White Osage, who had been attending very keenly. “After dusk ye slip aboard the big boat. Understand?” Little White Osage nodded. They had planned something good for him, and he was willing to agree to whatever it was. “Slip aboard the big boat,” and Pat pointed and signed, to make plain, “an’ hide yourself away for’d down among the supplies. Kape quiet till after the council, or the Otoes’ll get ye. I’ll be findin’ ye an’ passin’ ye a bit to ate. An’ when we’re a-sailin’ up the big river wance more, then ye’ll have to face the captains, an’ what they’ll say I dunno, but I’ll bet my hat that Cap’n Clark’ll talk the heart o’ Cap’n Lewis, who’s an officer an’ a gintleman, into lettin’ ye stay if there’s proof ye have no-wheres else to go.” And Patrick Gass chuckled. “Sure, they can’t set ye afoot on the prairie.” There were too many strange words in this speech, but Little White Osage caught the import. “I hide,” he said, obediently. “In big boat.” “Right-o!” encouraged George. “And if you’re found, stand up for yourself.” “No tell,” blurted Little White Osage. “Talk to ’Nited States chiefs. No tell.”