They halted on the bank opposite the United States camp. Sergeant Pryor waved his hat, and the captains sent the red pirogue across for him. He and Pierre and Private Potts returned in it. They brought with them young Pierre, who was old Pierre’s son. He was half Sioux, and traded among the Tetons; but just now he was visiting among the Yanktons. “They are friendly, are they, Sergeant?” inquired Captain Lewis. “Yes, sir. They treated us very handsomely, and the head chief is yonder, waiting to talk with you,” informed Sergeant Pryor. “Very good. You and young Dorion go back to them――we’d better send along some presents, hadn’t we, Will?――and tell the chiefs that we’ll speak with them in the morning. ’Twon’t do to let them think we’re in any more of a hurry than they are.” “Yes, sir,” answered Sergeant Pryor. He took over presents of corn and tobacco and iron kettles, with young Pierre to do the translating for him, and returned. Both camps settled down for the night. “Did yez have a rale good time with the Sioux, Nat?” queried Patrick Gass, that night around the fire, after a hearty supper on cat-fish. During the day a number of huge cat-fish had been caught, some of them weighing sixty pounds. Now all the men were curious to hear more from Nat Pryor and John Potts. “Tremendous,” declared Nat. “They wanted to carry us into camp in a blanket, but we told ’em we were not chiefs. They could wait and carry the captains. They gave us a fat dog, though, boiled in a pot――and I swear he was good eating.” “None for me, thank ye,” retorted Sergeant Pat. “An’ how far is their camp, an’ what kind is it?” “It’s about nine miles back, near the Jacques. All fine buffalo hide lodges――some elk hide, too――painted different colors. Fact is, they’re about the best Indians we’ve met yet.” “Ye didn’t learn anything of Shannon or the horses, then?” “Not a word. But I think he’ll be safe if only the Sioux find him.” The next day dawned so foggy that nobody could see across the river. The captains made preparations for the grand council. A pole was set up, near to a large oak tree, and a new flag hoisted to the top of it. The flag was striped red and white; in a corner was a blue square, like the sky, studded with stars. ’Twas the great flag of the United States nation――and Peter thought it beautiful. The two captains dressed in their best. Captain Lewis wore a long coat of dark blue trimmed with light blue, down its front bright brass buttons, and on its shoulders bright gold-fringed epaulets. Captain Clark’s coat was dark blue faced with red; it, too, had the brass buttons and the bright epaulets. Both wore their cocked hats, and their long knives, or swords. The men also were ordered to put on their best, and to clean up even if they had no “best.” Presents were laid out. By the time the fog lifted, at eight o’clock, the camp was ready. Now it could be seen that over in the Sioux camp, also, the chiefs and warriors were preparing.