"Hurrah!" he cried, "we have struck something worth while at last, if only we can coax this brave to go to camp with us. And Dick, your medicine has worked wonders already, for the papoose seems to be kicking no longer. I guess the cramps have been settled." The squaw beamed on them now. She was evidently awed by the wonderful success of the "paleface medicine man," who found no necessity for indulging in fantastic dances and such things, but chased the evil spirit out by simply sending a message down the child's throat that he must vacate! Again Dick endeavored to tell the brave that, if they would accompany the boys to where they had companions, all of them on the following day would go to the Nez Perces village with the Indians, and enjoy the hospitality of the red men. It ended in the others accepting, so that, half an hour later, they reached the camp, where their coming created no end of excitement; for every one expected it would soon lead to great things. If the boys had failed to secure any game in this, their last hunt, at least they had accomplished what was better; for, with the new prospects ahead of them, it began to look as though their troubles might all be in the past. Captain Lewis spent almost two hours in sign talk with the Indian that evening, after they had smoked the peace pipe between them. Together with what he was able to pick up, and the crude map fashioned by the brave on the smooth bark, he felt convinced that they would soon arrive at a river that eventually emptied into the great ocean which they had traveled thousands of miles to gaze upon. No longer were the weary explorers given over to hopelessness, as had begun to be the case of late. The future began to assume a rosy hue, and both boys felt certain the success that had been dangling before them as a tempting bait all these long months was about to become a certainty. When morning came they once more set forth, but now laughter was the rule instead of silence and long faces. The brave and his squaw had by degrees overcome their feeling of awe, and were quite friendly with the men. "I think," said Dick to Roger, as they rode slowly on, "I heard him trying to explain to the captain that his chief and most of the men in the village would be away at this time, for they expected to start on a big hunt, to lay in a store of jerked meat for the winter season. But that will not make any difference. He says his people will welcome us, especially after they know what a great medicine man is coming." At that both boys laughed aloud. "If you are wise," said Roger, "you will get ready to do a big business, because every old squaw that has an aching tooth will call upon you to chase the demon of pain away." "Oh! very well," replied Dick, carrying his honors easily, "I'll draw out the aching molars, and in that way bring freedom from pain. But all of us will be glad to rest for a while in the Nez Perces village."