the storm three of the Indian tents, or lodges, were struck by
lightning. In one of these a Canadian was killed; in another all the
inmates--an Indian, his wife, two children, and two dogs--were killed,
and a gun beside them was melted in several parts as though it had been
lead.

Then there fell a shower of hail, the stones of which were solid angular
pieces of ice larger than a hen's egg, by which some of the people were
severely wounded before they found shelter under the carts and
overturned tents.

It was a terrible display of the power of God, and yet, strange to say,
so far is such a scene incapable of influencing man's fallen nature for
good, that occasions such as these, when the camp is in disorder, are
often taken advantage of by Indians to approach and steal the horses.

Being well aware of this propensity of the red man, Baptiste Warder and
his captains kept a sharp look-out. It was well they did so, for, after
the storm, a formidable band of Sioux was discovered within a short
distance of the camp.

Their wily chief was, however, equal to the occasion. He assumed the
role of an injured man. He had come to remonstrate with the
half-breeds, and charge them with cruelty.

"My warriors," said he, "killed only one of your people, and for that
one you murdered eight of my braves."

The half-breeds spoke the chief fairly, however, and entertained him and
his followers hospitably, so that the affair was amicably settled, and
they went away in peace. But dark eyes had met in deadly hatred during
the conference.

The party of Indians who had joined the hunters with Victor and his
comrades were Saulteaux, (Pronounced Sotoes), and the bitter enemies of
the Sioux. Some time after the Sioux had taken their departure, a band
of about fifty of these Saulteaux left the camp stealthily, and pursued
a detached party of their foes for about ten miles. They overtook them
at a small stream. The unsuspecting Sioux prepared to swim over to
them, mistaking them at first for friends, but a volley which killed
three undeceived them. The fire was instantly returned and a smoke
raised to alarm the country. The Saulteaux retreated, while the Sioux,
gathering force, pursued, and it is probable that the whole of the
assailants would have been scalped if night had not favoured them. In
this raid seven Sioux were killed and three wounded. Of the Saulteaux
three were killed and four wounded.

Again the camp was visite