The captain's own communication from the Sioux chief was merely meant for an expression of goodwill. Two figures, one plainly a Sioux chieftain, and the other a soldier, were seen to be grasping hands as though in greeting. Beaver Tail by this crude method of picture writing evidently intended to convey the meaning that he had not forgotten his friend, the white chief, and, also, that he had kept his word that the Sioux should remain on peaceful terms with the travelers. "But you spoke of meeting with an accident in the rapids," Captain Lewis presently remarked. "That is something strange for clever boys like you to experience. Did you miscalculate the danger, or was it something that could not be helped?" "We closely examined our buffalo hide canoe yesterday, and it was in perfect condition, Captain," said Dick. "Yet, with only a slight blow against a perfectly smooth rock, it split open, and we had to jump overboard. We managed to get through the rough water safely, and drew the damaged boat ashore. Imagine our surprise and consternation, sir, when we found that a sharp-pointed knife blade had been run along the bottom of the canoe, making a deep cut that had easily given way when we struck the rock." "You startle me when you say that, Dick," remarked the captain, looking uneasy, though almost immediately afterward his jaws became set in a determined fashion, while his eyes gleamed angrily. "It must mean that we have a traitor in the camp; some one who has been bought by the gold of François Lascelles." "That was what we began to fear, Captain," Dick continued, "and we believed it only right to let you know what happened to us. We hope you will send some of the Indians, and one of our men, for the canoe. It could be brought secretly to the camp and examined, without the guilty one knowing about it." "A good idea, my boy, and one I shall act upon at once. Say nothing to a single soul concerning this outrage. If we expect to catch the traitor napping, he must not be put on his guard. But none of us could feel safe, knowing we had a snake in our midst. Depend upon it, the truth is bound to come out, and, when once we learn his identity, the traitor will be kicked out of the camp, if nothing worse happens to him." With this assurance the two boys rested content. They knew Captain Lewis was a man of his word, and felt sure that the man who had sold his loyalty for a sum of money offered by the French trader would before long rue the evil day he allowed himself to be thus tempted. Soon afterward they saw Captain Clark and his companion officer in conference, after which the former went over to the Mandan village, and, later on, vanished in the dense forest accompanied by two stalwart braves. They had gone, the boys knew to secure the hide canoe that told the story of treachery in the camp. CHAPTER VI STALKING THE BUFFALO