The Colonials - 1903 Author:Allen French Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III INDIAN NATURE The bark hut of the Pottawottomi stood a little by itself, yet near the group of Chippewa wigwams. Aneeb had been first on the gr... more »ound, the soldiers came by accident, the Chippewa came in the hope of trading. Aneeb liked his neighbours not, and was preparing to depart. As Frank approached the lodge a young Chippewa left it. The white man gave the salute of an acquaintance, but the Indian made no response. " Good," said Frank. " He is disappointed." Emboldened, he entered the hut. More than once, in his wanderings, Frank had met the Pottawottomi. Celebrated among his people for integrity and courage, frequently called upon to act as war-chief, recent bereavements had caused Aneeb to withdraw for a time from the villages, and to wander with his family alone. Frank understood, therefore, the reason why he found the chief so far from the territory of his tribe. Familiar with Indian habits, he knew where to look in its darkness for the master of the lodge. There sat the chief, beside him his old father, Mukkwah, the Bear. The quick, keen-eyed old warrior smiled; even the face of Aneeb brightened, and Frank heard him speak softly the name the Indians had given him— " Saggitto! " As he took his seat in the place ofhonour, Frank caught the sound of the white girl's quickened breath. Aneeb passed him the pipe, and the three men smoked in turn. A crouching form in a dark corner rose and stooped again; it was a woman, dried and wiry, tying bundles. A boy attended her; the girl, too agitated to work, stood waiting in the shadow. As they smoked, the cloud on Aneeb's brow gradually passed. Frank, patient, observant, watched till it was gone. At last the chief turned on his visitor an open countenance. " Saggitto is welcome," he said. The young man saw ...« less