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Updated: June 14, 2025
Whatever may have been the private opinion of the braves as to this new and very unexpected style of address, the effect of it was pacific; for, after a little more palaver, the peace-party carried the day or, rather the night and, next morning, the Cree warriors went back to their tents and hunting avocations, leaving Okematan to return to the camp of his friends the buffalo runners.
"He is not young. He is fifty years old in wisdom. He is very strong for his size, and he is willing, which makes his strength double." "But he will never consent to leave Little Bill," said Dan. "Okematan had fears of that," returned the Indian, with, for the first time, a look of perplexity on his face. "If Arch-ee will not go without Leetle Beel, Leetle Beel must go too."
But the stab from which the Sioux chief could not have escaped was rendered harmless by the prompt action of Okematan, who threw up his left arm, turned the blow aside, and received a slight wound in doing so. There was no time to repeat the blow. With a yell of mingled defiance and disappointment the would-be assassin leaped the garden fence, bounded into the thicket, and disappeared.
On hearing the news that Okematan and Fergus had to give, the men most of whom were half-breeds connected with Cree families gave a cheer and voted for an immediate advance against the Saulteaux. This, after very brief palaver, was unanimously agreed to. "You'll not object to return with us, I suppose?" asked Dechamp of Fergus. "Iss it objectin' to a fecht you will mean?"
They will come slowly; step by step; with wide eyes glancing from side to side, and no noise, sly as foxes; timid as squaws! But by that time we will be far on our way back to Red River!" "Ay if we do not meet them comin' to attack us," said Fergus. "And how shall we proceed!" asked Dan. "As we came," answered the chief. "Okematan, with the two boys, will lead. Dan-ell an' Fergus will follow.
Now," continued Okematan, after a pause, "my advice is that we should teach the Paleface chiefs over the great salt lake a lesson, by receiving the poor braves who have been driven away from their own lands and treating them as brothers. Our land is large. There is room for all and our chiefs will never seize it. Our hearts are large; there is plenty of room there too.
Hearing this, Okematan made a stroke that sent his canoe ahead like an arrow, and Archie, who appreciated the situation, seconded the movement. "Stop!" exclaimed the strange Indian, in the Saulteaux tongue, but the Cree chief did not feel the duty of obedience strongly upon him just then. On the contrary, he put forth all his strength, but quietly, for he remembered that Dan Davidson was behind.
In pursuance of this deeply laid plan, the brothers crossed over to the small islet referred to, and, after apparently amusing themselves there for a short time, dropped down stream in a leisurely way, reaching the encampment before the evening had fairly set in. A council of war was immediately held. "You were right in your guess, Okematan," said Davidson.
They had not supposed them gifted with even ordinary powers as sportsmen, and had imagined that the poor invalid little Bill was utterly helpless. On the other hand, Okematan was not unacquainted with the sudden rise to unexpected celebrity of Indian boys in his tribe, and knew something about the capacity of even cripples to overcome difficulties when driven by that stern taskmaster, Necessity.
At a later hour that same evening, the other members of the two families who dropped in to make inquiries began to express anxiety, and Okematan, who called just to see how things were getting on, shook his head and looked owlish. Old Peg said nothing, but she evidently thought much, to judge from the deepening wrinkles on her forehead.
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