"Well, maybe no real bears came for Sallie Malinda," said Sue, after a while. "I guess it was an Indian or some man who wanted my toy for his little girl. But I hope I get her back—Sallie Malinda, I mean."
Bunny managed to eat five of the cakes his mother baked, and he might have eaten another only his father called to him to hurry if he wanted to go to search for the missing toy bear.
Sue and Bunny went with Mr. Brown off into the big woods after breakfast. As they walked along they looked on either side of the path for a sight of the missing Teddy bear or Bunny's toy train. But they saw neither one.
"Whoever took them is keeping them well hidden," said Mr. Brown. "Now, we'll go to the Indian camp."
Though they called it a camp, it was more of an Indian village where the Onondagas lived. There were many tents, log or slab cabins, and one or two houses built as the white people built theirs. These were owned by the richer Indians, who had large farms and many horses and cows. Some of the Indians were very poor, and their cabins had only one room, where they cooked, ate and slept.
Eagle Feather was the head, or chief, of this particular tribe. He was not like the old-time or wild Indians. He owned a farm and he worked hard to grow fruits and vegetables.
When Eagle Feather saw Mr. Brown, with the two children, coming to the Indian village, the chief came out to meet them.
"How do!" he exclaimed in English that could be understood. "Eagle Feather glad to see you. Come in an' sit down. Squaw make tea for you, or maybe coffee. Coffee better; more has taste."
"No, thank you, we haven't time to eat now," said Mr. Brown. "We came looking for bear."
"For bear?" cried Eagle Feather in surprise. "No bear here. Bear maybe 'way off in woods. Why you no go there and shoot 'um?"