“Do you know him?” asked Gardiner.
“Like a book!—and he’s just the man we want, for he’s a war-chief of the Nez Perces.”
“Good! He is welcome.”
The young chief crossed the river, and rode up to the assembled group that awaited his coming. He dismounted with an easy grace, and in a manner that denoted his belief that he was among friends.
“How d’ye do, Multuomah?” cried Glyndon, extending his hand, cordially.
The young chief recognized him pleasantly.
“The Gray Hunter!” he returned. “It is good. He can tell these white men that Multuomah is their friend.”
“That’s so. You are the youngest chief of the Nez Perces, but you are the smartest one of the lot.”
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CHIEF’S BRIDE.
Multuomah inclined his head in a gratified manner at this praise. Lieutenant Gardiner and the surveyors gazed upon him curiously. He was a fine specimen of the warlike nation to which he belonged—the powerful Sahaptin tribe. The name of Nez Perces was given to this tribe by the early French voyageurs, as a custom once existed among them of wearing a bone ring in the cartilage of the nose, which was pierced for that purpose, hence Nez Perces, or in English Pierced Noses; and though the custom is discontinued, the name still remains.