"

As he spoke, the Indian returned to the camp with the cat-like tread so
characteristic of the Red-man.

"A big band has been here," he said. "They slept on the island last
night, and the signs show that they do not come as friends."

"Are you sure of that?" asked Dan.

"Okematan is sure of nothing. Even the sun may not rise to-morrow."

"Had we not better, then, return at once to the Settlement, and tell
what we have seen?" said Dan.

"If we did, the Saulteaux would see us and give chase. Their canoes are
big and have strong men in them. They would overtake us soon and our
scalps would be swinging at their belts to-morrow."

"Not pleesant to think of--whatever," said Fergus.

"What, then, do you advise?" asked Dan. "You understand the ways of the
wilderness, and we will follow your lead."

The chief appeared to think for a few moments.

"We will remain where we are," he said; "only we will send the boys off
in one of the canoes, as if to shoot some ducks for us. The Saulteaux
will think that we are lazy, idle men, who like to lie in camp and sleep
or smoke while the boys hunt for us. When night comes we will escape in
the dark and go down the river to warn the settlers."

"But what if they attack us before night comes on?" asked Dan.

"They will not do that," answered the Indian, gravely. "They know that
we are well supplied with powder and shot. They know that some one must
lead in every attack, and that such leaders would be doomed to death.
Saulteaux do not love death. They prefer life. They will not come till
it is dark."

"Ha! ha!" laughed Fergus, who seemed greatly tickled with the latter
part of the chief's observation, "fery goot! ho! fery goot!--they do not
love death, an' it iss life they will be preferrin'. Ay, ay! It iss
the Heelandman that will be of much the same opeenion, only, when
fightin' hes got to be done, he's not afraid to do it in daylight."

"He may not be afraid, Fergus," said Dan, "yet I suspect that the
Red-man's tactics are often the wisest, for what would be the use of
making an attack in daylight, at the cost of several lives, when the
attack might be made quite as well, if not better, at night, without the
loss, perhaps, of any life at all?"

"I will not be sayin'," returned Fergus, who was of an argumentative
disposition, "anything at all about attackin' by day or by night. I
will only be remarkin' that the Heelandman iss like the savitch in that
he pref