f the Blackfeet. He watched in vain, though he made
out in the far distance two figures on the prairie going in a
south-westerly direction. The sun was nearly setting when he returned
to the house. He found his mother and Sybil engaged in their usual
work.

"It is too provoking to have that fellow stopping out there, as if he
were laying siege to the fort. My father won't allow me to go out, but
I must get some one to inquire the chief's intentions. It is absurd in
him to suppose that Sybil would ever be induced to marry him. He can
have no object in remaining, as his admiration cannot be very deep, for
he has only seen her once for a few minutes."

"I am not quite certain about that," remarked Sybil; "I think that he
has seen me more than once. Don't you remember, when we were out
riding, meeting with an Indian, whom you said was one of the Blackfeet,
and who made Effie and me a long speech, though as we did not understand
a word he said, we could not reply, but you talked to him, and laughed
in his face. I thought that I recognised his features, though he was
dressed and painted in so different a way that I may have been
mistaken."

"I remember perfectly, but it never struck me that he was Mysticoose,
though I cannot positively say that he was not," answered Norman. "I
don't exactly remember what he said, but I fancy that he was praising
the pale-faces generally, and expressing his desire to be their friend."

"Well, we cannot account for the wayward fancies of the Red men,"
observed Mrs Mackintosh; "but your father is anxious to retain their
friendship, and would be unwilling to do anything to offend them. You
must have patience; and I dare say in a day or two we shall be rid of
our visitors."

"I am very sorry to have been the cause of the annoyance; and had I
dreamed of the result, I would have kept out of the way of the chief,"
said Sybil, half laughing.

"Well, if the Blackfeet don't go to-morrow, something must be done to
make them move off," exclaimed Hector.

Captain Mackintosh, though he did not say so, was really as much annoyed
as his son.

No buffalo were to be seen in the neighbourhood, and it was evident,
therefore, that the Indians did not remain for the sake of hunting.
Among the men in the fort was an experienced _voyageur_ and trapper, Le
Brun by name, well versed in all Indian ways.

The captain having consulted him, he volunteered to go out at night, and
try to ascertain what