Having thus been offered hospitality and having by proxy accepted it, Cameron was in position to discuss with the Chief in a judicial if not friendly spirit the matter he had in hand.
Breakfast over, Cameron offered his tobacco-pouch to the Chief, who, gravely helping himself to a pipeful, passed it on to his neighbor who, having done likewise, passed it in turn to the man next him till the tobacco was finished and the empty pouch returned with due gravity to the owner.
Relations of friendly diplomacy being thus established, the whole party sat smoking in solemn silence until the pipes were smoked out.

Then Cameron, knocking the ashes from his pipe, opened up the matter in hand, with Jerry interpreting.
"The Sioux snake," he began quietly, "will be hungry for his breakfast.
Honest men do not run away before breakfast." "Huh," grunted Running Stream, non-committal.
"The Police will get him in due time," continued Cameron in a tone of quiet indifference.

"He will cease to trouble our Indian brothers with foolish lies.

The prison gates are strong and will soon close upon this stranger with the forked tongue." Again the Chief grunted, still non-committal.
"It would be a pity if any of your young men should give heed to these silly tales.

None of your wise men have done so.