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 travel by horse," Frank asserted. "You are never out of sight of their lodges."

"Their women have red cheeks, and their men are in number of the buffalo," the other Pawnee asserted. "They have great guns that shoot a mile and speak twice."

"If they are so powerful and many, why do they send such a little company into this country, when the Spanish father sent half a thousand soldiers at once?" inquired Skidi. "These are spies."

"They brought us forty-six of our relatives, from the Potawatomi," said an Osage. "They asked for horses to go on with, but we sold them few. Now by orders of the great father at Wash'ton we are to make peace with the Kansas. The great father wishes his red children to fight no more."

"It is all because there is talk of war between the Spanish and the Americans," Frank wisely declared. "That we heard. The Americans wish to keep the Indians from the war trail, so that they can march in here and take the land."

"We do not want the Americans in here," spoke Skidi. "Our Spanish father warned us against them. They are poor and stingy or they would have sent a large company and an old chief to treat with us. They will get no help from the Pawnee, and they must go back."