ers life to death."

"Come along to the fire, Fergus," said Dan, laughing; "I will argue that
out with you."

"It will be difficult to argue, then, for there iss no argument in it at
all. It is only a statement of opeenion."

"Well, but surely it is possible to controvert your opinion! Besides,
we are somewhat exposed where we stand. Even an arrow might reach us
from the near bank."

"Never you fear, Tan. They will not be so foolish as to fire now,
instead of attack at night. They are sly--whatever."

While the two friends were thus conversing, the Cree chief was arranging
the smaller of the canoes for the use of the young hunters--that is, he
took out all the lading, making it so light that it would skim over the
water like an egg-shell with the slightest impulse of the paddle.

"You'll have to put a big stone in the stern, Oke," said Archie, "to
make up for Little Bill's lightness--"

"For your heaviness, you mean," interrupted the invalid.

"No; I mean what I say, Billie, for you are light-headed as well as
light-hearted--a sort o' human balloon, ready to go up like a rocket at
any time--so that even an or'nary man like me weighs you down. Besides,
Oke, he steers better than me and I shoot better than him. Also, I like
the hardest work, so I always take the bow."

Arranging things according to directions, the Indian held the canoe
steady while the brothers stepped carefully in--for they had learned
from experience that the birch-bark canoe, besides being easily broken,
is apt to overturn on small provocation.

"Let not Arch-ee go near the river-bank on either side," said the chief
in a warning voice, as he was about to shove the frail bark out upon the
glassy water. "The Saulteaux might catch him. And let him not go far
up or down stream. Let him keep among the reeds round the island.
There are many ducks there. Shoot plenty, as if Arch-ee had no
suspicion--no fear of Indians."

"I say, Oke," demanded the lad, with what was meant for an overwhelming
frown, "do you mean to hint that I _have_ any fear of the Indians?"

"Okematan has the belief that Arch-ee never knew fear at all," returned
the chief, earnestly; "that he has the courage of the young
buffalo-bull."

"Well, I'm not quite so sure o' that," returned the boy, with a modest
look. "I would not myself put it quite so strong, you know. But you're
a wise chief, and I hope you've got a lot of brothers as wise as
yourself. Good-bye, Ok