it isn't first-rate livin'.'

"`Yer jokin',' says he, turnin' pale.

"`It's true, sir, as true as yer standin' there.'

"Well, would ye believe it; he turned--that Natter-list did--as sick as
a dog on the spot wot he wos standin' on, an' didn't taste meat again
for three days!"

Shortly after the conclusion of Joe's story they reached the camp, and
here they found the women and children flying about in a state of
terror, and the few men who had been left in charge arming themselves in
the greatest haste.

"Hallo! something wrong here," cried Cameron hastening forward followed
by Joe. "What has happened, eh?"

"Injuns comin', monsieur, look dere," answered a trapper, pointing down
the valley.

"Arm and mount at once, and come to the front of the camp," cried
Cameron in a tone of voice that silenced every other, and turned
confusion into order.

The cause of all this outcry was a cloud of dust seen far down the
valley, which was raised by a band of mounted Indians who approached the
camp at full speed. Their numbers could not be made out, but they were
a sufficiently formidable band to cause much anxiety to Cameron, whose
men, at the time, were scattered to the various trapping grounds, and
only ten chanced to be within call of the camp. However, with these ten
he determined to show a bold front to the savages, whether they came as
friends or foes. He therefore ordered the women and children within the
citadel formed of the goods and packs of furs piled upon each other,
which point of retreat was to be defended to the last extremity. Then
galloping to the front he collected his men and swept down the valley at
full speed. In a few minutes they were near enough to observe that the
enemy only numbered four Indians, who were driving a band of about a
hundred horses before them, and so busy were they in keeping the troop
together that Cameron and his men were close upon them before they were
observed.

It was too late to escape. Joe Blunt and Henri had already swept round
and cut off their retreat. In this extremity the Indians slipped from
the backs of their steeds and darted into the bushes, where they were
safe from pursuit, at least on horseback, while the trappers got behind
the horses and drove them towards the camp.

At this moment one of the horses sprang ahead of the others and made for
the mountain, with its mane and tail flying wildly in the breeze.

"Marrow-bones and buttons!" shouted one of