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Show 234 THE CALIFORNIA AND OREGON TRAIL. presented a picturesque spectacle that evening. A score . or rnore of Indians were seated around it in a circle, their dark naked forms just visible by the dull light of the smouldering fire in the centre. The pipe glowing brightly in the gloom as it passed from hand to hand round the lodge. Then a squaw would drop a piece of buffalo-fat on the dull embers. Instantly a bright glancing flame would leap up, darting its clear light to the very apex of the tall conical structure, where the tops of the slender poles that supported its covering of leather were gathered together. It gilded the .features of the Indians, as with animated gestures they sat around it, telling their endless stories of war and hunting. It displayed rude garments of skins tl1at hung around the lodge; the bow, quiver and lance, suspended over the J'esting-place of the chief, and the rifles and powder-horns of the two white guests. For a moment all would be bright as day; then the flames .would die away, and fitful flashes from the embers would illumine the lodge, and then leave it in darkness. Then all the light would wholly fade, and the lodge and all within it be involved again in obscurity. As I left the lodge next morning, I was saluted by l10wling and yelping fr01n all around the village, and half its canine population rushed forth to the attack. Being as cowardly as they were clamorous, they kept jumping around me at the distance of· a· few yards, only one little cur, about ten inches long, having spu~It enough to make a direct assault. He dashed valiantly at the leather tassel which in the Dahcotah fashion was trailing behind the heel of my moccason, and kept his hold, growling and snarling all th h'l h . e w I e, t ough every step I made almost Jerked him over on his back. As I kne~ that the eyes of the whole village wer th h · · f eon e watc to see 1f I showed any-s1gn o THE OGILLALL4.H VILLAGE. 235 apprehension, I walked forward without looking to the right or left, surrounded wherever I went by this magic circle of dogs. When I came to Reynal's lodge I sat down by it, on which the dogs dispersed growling to their respective quarters. Only one large white one remained, who kept running about before me and showing his teeth. I called him, but he only grow led the more. I looked at him well. !-Ie was fat and sleek; just such a dog as I wanted. 'My friend,' thought I, 'you shall pay for this ! I will have you eaten this very morning!' I intended that day to give the Indians a feast, by way of conveying a favorable impression of my character and dignity; and a white dog is the dish which the customs of the Dahcotah prescribe for all occasions of formality and importance. I con~ suited Reynal ; he soon discovered that an old woman in the next lodge was owner of the white dog. I took a gaudy cotton handkerchief, and laying it on the ground, arranged some ver~ milion, beads, and other trinkets upon it. Then the old squaw was summoned. I poin~ted to the dog and to the handkerchief. She gave a scream of delight, snatched up the prize and van~ ished with it into her lodge. For a few more trifles, I engaged the services of two other squaws, each of whom took the white dog by one of his paws, and led him away behind the lodges, while he kept looking up at them with a face of innocent sur~ prise. Having killed him they threw him into a fire to singe; then chopped him up and put him into two large kettles to boil. Meanwhile I told Raymond to fry in buffalo fat what little flour we had left, and also to make a kettle of tea as an additional item of the repast. The Big Craw's squaw was briskly at work sweeping out the lodge for the approaching festivity. I confided to my host ·- |