inutes, distinctly heard the sound of paddles.

He put his hands to his mouth forthwith, and uttered a peculiar cry.

Instantly the sound of the paddles ceased as Archie Sinclair, looking
over his shoulder, said--

"Did you hear that, Oke?"

Before Oke could reply, the cry was repeated.

"It is Fer-gus," said the Indian, answering to the cry, and steering in
the direction whence it came. "Are you sure, Oke?"

"Okematan never speaks till he is sure--waugh!"

"H'm! I'm not so sure o' _that_," muttered the boy to himself.

A few seconds put the matter at rest, for the voice of the Highlander
was heard, as they cautiously drew near, saying--

"Iss it _you_?"

"I think it is!" replied Archie; "why, man, where are you? I can see
nothing."

"Wow! man, but I am gled," said Fergus; "just follow your nose, Archie,
an' you'll be all right."

Another moment, and the canoe was checked by Fergus, who had stepped
into the water to prevent its being injured against the stones.

"You better gie me the paddle, Archie, an' sit beside Little Bill. It
iss tired o' paddlin' you will be by now."

"But where is Dan?" asked Archie as he complied with this request.

"That iss more than I can tell you, boy, but he's safe enough I doubt
not, for I heard him gie a cheer as he jamp into the wuds, an' it's
beyont the power o' a mortal Red-skin to chase an active man on a night
like this."

Thereupon Fergus gave a brief account of all that had happened after the
canoes were parted--as far as he knew it--and then an earnest council of
war was held as to what was the best course to pursue in the
circumstances. Being the youngest brave, (for Little Bill was ignored
in this matter), Archie was invited to give his opinion first. This was
well, because, being enthusiastic and irrepressible, he would probably
have given his opinion first at any rate.

"My opinion is," he said, promptly, "that we turn right-about, and go
back to find Dan, even though we should have to fight the whole
Saulteaux nation!"

"That iss well spoken," said Fergus with something of sarcasm in his
tone; "but as we hev only two guns amang us, a tomahawk, an' a knife or
two, without any claymores at all, I would like to know what we are to
fecht with? Moreover, what is to become o' Little Bill when we are
fechtin'? It iss _my_ opeenion that we put the command o' our
expeedition in the hands of Okematan, an' leave him to do what he thinks
best."

"Arch-ee