ties with some more smoke, Oke, till Billie and I finish our tea.
We can't shoot with half-empty stomachs, you know."

"They must be three-quarters full by this time--whatever," remarked
Fergus, wiping his clasp-knife on the grass.

Just then, Dan Davidson, who had gone to explore the islet, returned
with the information that some hunters must have recently visited the
same place, for he had discovered the remains of an encampment at the
extreme eastern side, which looked as if it had been recently occupied,
for bones of wild-fowl were scattered about, the meat on which was
neither dried nor decayed.

On hearing this, Okematan rose quickly, put out his pipe, and stuck the
tomahawk in his belt. The sluggish good-natured air of contentment with
which he had been smoking vanished; the half-sleepy eyes opened, and a
frown rested on his brow as he said, shortly--

"Okematan goes to look."

"May I go with you?" asked Dan.

"No. Okematan goes alone. It is known that a band of Saulteaux have
been seen. They are roused just now by the actions of the great white
chief and the words of my Nation. Rest here till I come. Go on eating.
If they are here they may be watching us now."

"D'ee hear that, Little Bill? You've got to go on eating," said Archie.
"Our guide commands it. If you disobey, the rascally Saulteaux will
come down upon us somehow."

But Archie's light-heartedness was not shared by his older companions.
They knew too well that the disturbed state of the country at the time,
and especially the ill-will engendered between the Crees and Saulteaux
by the ill-advised action of Lord Selkirk's agents, rendered an
explosion not improbable at any time, and a certain feeling of
disappointment came over them when they reflected that the hunting
expedition, which they had entered on with so much enthusiastic hope,
might perhaps be brought to an abrupt close.

"If there's to be any fighting I shall only be in your way," said the
invalid in a tone in which there was much of sadness, though none of
fear.

"Not a bit of it, Little Bill," returned Dan, quickly. "You'll be in
nobody's way in the canoes. You're as light as a feather. If we had
even to take to the bush, Archie could run with you; an' when he gets
tired, Fergus and I would think no more o' you than a grasshopper."

"Iss it carryin' him you will be taalkin' of?" said Fergus. "Ay, ay! I
would be forgettin' that he wass on my back if I had him there.