A CHALLENGE. 333 



reserve ; that he was tired of talk about peace. This should 

 be done : Pah-Squal and two warriors, as witnesses, should 

 go with us to the fort, and speak face to face with the 

 big war-chief there, and in four sleeps be brought back 

 in safety to where they then stood. That they need have 

 no fear. Had we not trusted them ? Did not we only 

 five ride into their camp amongst their whole tribe ? Did 

 we not eat with them ? did we not lie down and sleep 

 among them in perfect confidence, setting no guard ? How 

 could we have done such things if our hearts had not 

 been straight ? Where they less brave than we were ? or 

 were their hearts crooked, and did that make them fear to 

 trust us ? 



This answer Pah-Squal took back to his councillors, and 

 they had a short confab together. 



He returned and said : " It is not good. The big white 

 war-chief must come and talk to us all, and bring beef and 

 flour, in one moon's time." 



Upon this X. feigned to get very angry. He said : " Now 

 I know you have been lying to me all the time ! You only 

 wanted beef and flour. Now I am sure you do not want 

 peace, but prefer war. I am glad of it. I am 'on the fight.' 

 if it is to be war, and not peace, let us begin NOW ! You 

 have your warriors here : I have mine. Decide instantly : 

 either for peace, and go with me to see my great war-chief ; 

 or for war, and we are ready." 



Then the bugler sounded the assembly. X. and party 

 drew their revolvers. The troopers fell in, carbine in hand, 

 and the frontiersmen, snatching up their rifles, took up such 

 positions as seemed to them most advantageous. 



