Robber Dogs and an Indian Council 65 



council fire, my bed was unrolled and pre- 

 pared for me. My travelling companions 

 lay down near me in their rabbit-skin blank- 

 ets, and soon we were fast asleep. The next 

 day we resumed our journey, and after mak- 

 ing a few visits to other places, we reached 

 our home without any special adventure. 



The next year, when the Government offi- 

 cials met these Indians, for the purpose of 

 making a treaty with them, they were agree- 

 ably surprised and delighted with the 

 promptness and intelligence with which the 

 Indians discussed the various provisions of 

 the treaty being made with them. They 

 were also surprised that these Indians did 

 not make a stubborn demand for free rides 

 for every one of them in the " smoke-wag- 

 gons." This was so remarkable in contrast 

 to the actions of Indians in other places 

 that some of the white Commissioners could 

 not but ask the reason of the moderation of 

 their demands. 



" Oh," they said ; " that is all right. We 

 talked that out at our big council with a 

 'black-coat,' and we there found that it 

 would not do to have the people riding about 

 the country, when they ought to be home 

 looking after their affairs." 



