st in concealing him from view. Taking his gun, and sticking a
brace of pistols in his belt, he descended, as Le Brun had done; but, to
reach the camp, he took a route on the side opposite that which the
scout had chosen. At first he walked upright, that he might the better
ascertain the course to take. There were lights in each of the towers
of the fort, which assisted him. No other objects were visible, even at
the distance of a hundred yards. As he got nearer the tents, he hoped
to be able to make them out against the sky. After he had gone some
distance, he stooped down and began to creep along in the Indian
fashion, trailing his gun. Every now and then he stopped to listen for
sounds. He was, he calculated, approaching the camp, when he fancied he
heard a rustling near him. It approached. He lay perfectly quiet. It
might be a snake or some animal. His eyes were of but little
assistance. "Should it be an Indian, I must try to take the fellow
prisoner; but it may be a hard matter to do that, unless he is unarmed,
and then I must hold a pistol to his head, and threaten to shoot him if
he cries out."

He had scarcely thought this, when he saw the head of a man lifted up as
if going to gaze around. Strong and active, with good nerves, he was
about to spring on the person, and seize him by the throat, when the
other must have made him out, and he heard a voice whisper--

"C'est moi, Le Brun!"

Norman, greatly relieved, made himself known.

"Venez avec moi, vite!" and the Canadian led the way, crawling along the
ground towards the lights glimmering from the fort. It was not until
they had been hauled up, and were safe inside, that Le Brun spoke. He
had, he told Captain Mackintosh, got close up to the camp, where he
heard the sounds of many voices, and the tramp of feet, as if a large
number of persons were collected, although only one fire burned in the
midst of the tents. He was afraid of approaching nearer, lest he should
be discovered. He waited in the expectation that the leaders would
gather round the fire, as is their wont, to discuss their plans. He was
rewarded for his patience, although they were too far off to enable him
to see them distinctly. He, however, counted at least six warriors, who
took their places at the fire, and one after the other got up and
addressed their companions. A few words only reached him; but he heard
enough to be convinced that they were discussing a plan to take