"Pale-face brothers," began Amos, turning to the white men, "chief of Tukudhs give you welcome to Council. He come here with peace in heart. His hunters all leave guns in camps, dey trust white man. But white man no trust Tukudh. Dey come with guns. Dey keep guns in hand. Old chief moche sorry."
The miners looked at one another when Amos ended, uncertain what to do.
"Stack yer guns, b'ys," demanded Old Pete, who was the only one among them without a rifle. "Be fair to the Injuns an' they'll be fair to us."
"Well said," replied Caribou Sol, and suiting the action to the word, he stepped forward and laid his weapon in the open space of ground, half way between the two parties.
One by one the rest of the miners went forward, and in the same manner deposited their rifles.
A general exclamation of "Ah, ah," from the natives signified their approval of this friendly act.
But still something disturbed the chief. He looked long and intently at the white men, and again spoke to Amos.
"De chief," explained the latter to the miners, "ask if white man all here?"
"No," responded Sol, who had been requested by his companions to act as spokesman, "there are two absent, the gray-haired man up in yon cabin, and Bill Pritchen."
"De chief only want Bill," was the response. "He no want ole man in cabin on hill."