w a rude breastwork had been raised, so that the
party, when in it, could fire through little openings in the breastwork
without exposing themselves to view.

To this fortress they retired the instant the Indians made their
appearance. Fortunately all the members of the little party had come
in.

"They're holdin' a council o' war," said Bounce, carefully examining the
priming of his piece. "It's as like as not they'll attack us, but
they'll get a hearty and an oncommonly warm welcome."

"They'll not attack us," said Redhand. "They know that white men never
travel without plenty of powder and ball, and they don't like taking a
place by storm."

"Ay," remarked Waller sarcastically, "'cause they knows that the first
man as comes on is sartin sure to fall, an' they knows that they can't
come on without somebody comin' first."

"But there's brave fellers among the redskins," rejoined Bounce. "I
knowed a set o' young fellers as banded theirselves together, and swore
they'd go through fire an' water, thick an' thin, but they'd niver turn
back from the face o' danger wherever they met it. So, one day they wos
crossin' a river on the ice, an' the first on 'em fell in, an' wos
carried away by the current; an' what does the second do, but he walks
straight into the hole, an' wos drowned too; an' the nixt wos goin' to
foller, when the old warriors ran at him an' forced him back. If they
hadn't stopped him, I do b'lieve--"

"They're makin' up their minds to do somethin' or other," interrupted
March.

"I sincerely hope they won't fight," murmured Bertram earnestly. "It is
fearful to think of the blood that is shed by these men needlessly."

From the conduct of the Indians it became evident that on this occasion
they sympathised with the artist in his desire not to fight, for one of
their number dismounted, and, advancing unarmed towards the trappers,
made signs of friendship.

"It's as well to be bold an' appear to trust 'em," said Redhand, laying
down his rifle and leaping over the breastwork; "keep your guns ready,
lads, an' if ye see treachery, let drive at once. Don't be afraid o'
hittin' me. I'll take my chance."

After a few minutes' conversation with the Indian, Redhand returned to
his party.

"That redskin," said he, "tells me they're on an expedition to hunt the
buffalo on the prairie, and that they're good friends of the white men,
and would like to have a talk with us before they go on; but I don't