“Too bad, my lads,” observed Captain Lewis, as he came up to them; “but your patience will have to hold out a few more days, it seems.”
“Jasper Williams—is he away, then?” asked Roger.
“Yes,” answered the commander, “he did not expect us to get up here so soon, it seems; and, only three days ago, started out on another wide detour, to find what the hostile Sioux were doing; for we’ve had more or less trouble with them at times. He may not be back for a week or so.”
“Of course we’re disappointed,” said Dick, bravely hiding his chagrin, “but I guess we’ll have to stand it, and wait for him to come in.”
“There may be some way of reaching him and letting him know that we are here in the Mandan village, where we have met with a warm welcome,” the captain went on.
“In what way, may I ask, sir?” questioned Dick, eagerly.
“I understand that Williams left word with our friend, the Mandan chief here, that he would swing around in a few days to a certain salt-lick; and that, if the other wished to send him out any word, he could have a brave meet him there.”
“Oh! perhaps we might go with that messenger!” exclaimed Roger, immediately.
“It might be so arranged, I suppose,” the captain observed, smiling at the eagerness exhibited by the boy, which he could easily understand. These lads had quite won his heart in the days they had spent with the explorers.