“Bully for yez!” greeted Pat. “We’ve arriv, in a land o’ plenty, ’mongst the Pierced Noses. Yez are in time.”
Reuben saluted the captain, who had turned back.
“The saddle bags, Cap’n, but we lost the hosses again.”
“You’ve done well, both of you, lads,” praised the captain. “Joe’s brought us some fish and roots, from Captain Clark. He’s waiting close ahead, with the Pierced Noses. Get on a horse, each of you, and eat as you ride. I think our troubles are over.”
Within an hour they all were at the village of the Pierced Noses, here on the open, fertile prairie of the kamass roots that tasted like pumpkin; and Captain Clark and Chief Twisted-hair made them all welcome.
XV
HOORAY FOR THE PACIFIC!
How beautiful was this broad prairie beyond the mountains, here where lived the Cho-pun-nish or Pierced Nose Indians while they caught salmon in the rivers and the women dug the kamass roots! But the fish and the roots were given so generously that all the party were made ill.