Jim advanced. "How!" he said. "The peace chief never comes except to
do us a favor. Baco, ask him what we can do for him."
As Tabywana pointed to his pipe he spoke to Baco. "He says, 'Let us sit
down and smoke,'" interpreted Baco.
"Certainly," Jim answered. His years of living among the Indians had
accustomed him to their ceremonies, and the four men crossed their legs
and seated themselves on the ground, forming a half-circle. Tabywana
began filling and lighting his pipe.
"Baco," Jim commanded, "tell Tabywana that we are always glad to meet
him and see him face to face. He is our friend."
Baco quickly translated the message. Tabywana began passing the pipe
from Jim to Bill. As Bill puffed at it he said to Jim, "Say, when the
old Chief gets as formal as this it means business."
The men, although eager to begin the proposed conversation, did nothing
to urge the Indian to declare himself. Both courteously awaited the
Chief's information, although both chafed at this delay in their work.
When the pipe had been returned to Tabywana he deliberately extinguished
the flame, and, holding the pipe under his blanket, began monotonously
to speak in his own tongue.
Jim and Bill both tried to follow the words, but their knowledge of the
language was exceedingly limited, so Baco translated for them. "He says
a stranger has been asking for you in the settlement."
"What kind of a stranger?" Jim asked, his mind turning at once to the
sale that was about to be effected. The Indian agent again interpreted
the Chief's reply. "One who jumps up and down in his saddle."