ave a head, there
seemed but little chance of seeing its tail." He advised his father to
try and cut it short.

Meantime, Le Brun, having slipped away, unseen by the Indians, had gone
up on the ramparts, crept round to a part whence he could observe their
tents. He had not been long there when he saw a large body of men
issuing forth, and rapidly approaching the fort. Hurrying down, he gave
the information to Captain Mackintosh.

"There is no time to lose, monsieur," he said. "If we don't turn these
fellows out, they'll try to obtain possession of the fort, as I suspect
they all along intended to do."

On hearing this, Captain Mackintosh ordered his men, who had been drawn
up on either side, to close round their visitors, and some, who had been
concealed, to show themselves.

The chief, on seeing this, stopped short in his speech, knowing that his
treacherous design, it such he had intended, must have been discovered.

"What does this mean?" he asked, in a tone which showed that his
self-confident air was more assumed than real.

"It means, my friend, that you must quit the fort if you do not wish to
be shut up within it, and come another day to finish your address,"
answered Captain Mackintosh. "I wish to be your friend, but I must be
obeyed."

The appearance of the garrison showed the chief that the captain was in
earnest; and though he and his followers looked as if they were about to
make a rush, thinking better of it, they beat a hasty retreat, when the
gate was closed behind them. This was not done too soon, for they had
got but a short distance off when a number of warriors from the camp,
uttering loud shouts, galloped up, evidently expecting to indulge in the
plunder of the fort. The young chief, no longer able to constrain the
rage he felt at his disappointment, turning round, made gestures
significant of his intended vengeance; then, putting spurs to his horse,
he galloped off beyond range of any rifle-shot which he might well have
expected would be sent after him. He was seen at a distance haranguing
his people; but if he was urging them at once to attack the fort, they
did not appear willing to risk their lives in an attempt which was
likely to prove a failure.

The following day, having struck camp, they moved away to the southward,
and Le Brun, who followed them to a considerable distance, reported that
they appeared to have no intention of stopping in the neighbourhood, but
were probably