He added slowly: "The White Chief hears the promise of the Pottawattomies.

It is enough.

He can go forth in peace upon the morrow, with all his warriors, squaws, and pappooses, and the people of my nation will walk with them as guards.

It is our pledge; we will counsel no longer." At a simple commanding gesture of his long arms, the circle melted away through the narrow opening as silently as it had gathered, the dark figure of each warrior silhouetted for an instant against the red glare of the fire, before it suddenly disappeared in the darkness beyond.

At last Little Sauk alone stood between us and the blaze.
"Come," he commanded gruffly, "White Chief go back to his people." Enclosed by that same phantom guard of savages, we passed out through the limits of the camp; but now the rabble paid not the slightest heed to our presence.