“When the Big Knives come upon such people in the wilderness,” Clark answered, “they shoot them down that they may not eat the deer.  But they have never talked of it.”

He turned from them once more; they went away in a dejection to wring our compassion, and we thought the matter ended at last.  The sun was falling low, the people beginning to move away, when, to the astonishment of all, the culprits were seen coming back again.  With them were two young men of their own nation.  The Indians opened up a path for them to pass through, and they came as men go to the grave.  So mournful, so impressive withal, that the crowd fell into silence again, and the Colonel turned his eyes.  The two young men sank down on the ground before him and shrouded their heads in their blankets.

“What is this?” Clark demanded.

The North Wind spoke in a voice of sorrow:—­

“An atonement to the Great White Chief for the sins of our nation.  Perchance the Great Chief will deign to strike a tomahawk into their heads, that our nation may be saved in war by the Big Knives.”  And the North Wind held forth the pipe once more.

“I have nothing to say to you,” said Clark.

Still they stood irresolute, their minds now bereft of expedients.  And the young men sat motionless on the ground.  As Clark talked they peered out from under their blankets, once, twice, thrice.  He was still talking to the wondering Monsieur Gratiot.  But no other voice was heard, and the eyes of all were turned on him in amazement.  But at last, when the drama had risen to the pitch of unbearable suspense, he looked down upon the two miserable pyramids at his feet, and touched them.  The blankets quivered.

“Stand up,” said the Colonel, “and uncover.”

They rose, cast the blankets from them, and stood with a stoic dignity awaiting his pleasure.  Wonderful, fine-limbed men they were, and for the first time Clark’s eyes were seen to kindle.

“I thank the Great Spirit,” said he, in a loud voice, “that I have found men among your nation.  That I have at last discovered the real chiefs of your people.  Had they sent such as you to treat with me in the beginning all might have been well.  Go back to your people as their chiefs, and tell them that through you the Big Knives have granted peace to your nation.”

Stepping forward, he grasped them each by the hand, and, despite training, joy shone in their faces, while a long-drawn murmur arose from the assemblage.  But Clark did not stop there.  He presented them to Captain Bowman and to the French and Spanish gentlemen present, and they were hailed by their own kind as chiefs of their nation.  To cap it all our troops, backwoodsmen and Creole militia, paraded in line on the common, and fired a salute in their honor.

Thus did Clark gain the friendship of the forty tribes in the Northwest country.

CHAPTER XVIII