us over the water; and then a chorus of some thou- 
sand dogs howled such night music as I have never 
yet heard. The next morning we saw with pleasure 
how the Indians struck their tents, packed their horses 
and dogs, and gradually set themselves in motion to- 
ward the North Fork. We watched the march with 
our spy-glasses. The North Fork was only about 
three miles from us. The Indians crossed it, and set 
up their camp on the further shore. They also seemed 
to watch us, for they directed little mirrors toward us. 
Glad to be rid of our guests, we set in earnest about 
finishing the canoe at which we had hitherto worked 
but slowly. These canoes are made in the following 
manner: Small trunks of some wood that bends easily 
are split; out of these a boat-shaped frame-work is 
made with some cross-pieces inside; this is firmly 
bound with thongs of buffalo leather and willow bark, 
and all gaps are stopped with withes; and buffalo 
hides, sewed together, with the hair inside, are 
stretched as taut as can be over the whole. Then it is 
dried in the air, and the outside daubed over with a 
mixture of buffalo tallow and ashes. Our canoe was 
covered with three buffalo hides, and was about fif- 
teen feet long by a width in the middle of five to six 
feet. It was finished toward evening, but we still 
spent the night here, to dig up the buried barrels of 
spirits. The next morning our canoe was put into the 
water. Though everything seemed quiet in the In- 
dian camp, our leader preferred to cross the river 
somewhat further up. He detailed four men to draw 
The Sioux— 
