For one moment Dan felt an impulse to knock the man down, and then fight
the whole party until death should end the matter; but the good-humoured
look on his jailer's face, the fact that the man had saved his life the
day before, and the certainty of defeat with such odds against him,
induced him to quell the evil spirit and to hold out his hands.

"Pardon, Monsieur," said the chief, with the politeness of a French
half-breed. "I am sorry you refuse to give me your parole. I would
rather see you like the rest of us; but my orders are strict, and I must
obey."

Before Dan could reply, a sound struck on their ears, which caused the
whole party to listen, immovable and in perfect silence.

It was the wild, plaintive, beautiful song of the voyageur which had
floated to them on the morning air, softened by distance to a mere echo
of sweet sound. After listening intently for a few moments, the guide
said gently: "Voyageurs."

Again they listened to the familiar sound, which increased in volume and
strength as it approached, proving that the voyageurs were descending
the river towards them. As yet nothing could be seen, for a
thickly-wooded point intervened. Presently the song burst on them in
full resonant chorus; at the same moment two large north-canoes--in all
the brilliancy of orange-coloured bark, painted bows and sterns,
red-bladed paddles, with crews of scarlet-capped or bare-headed men
swept round the point with quick stroke, in time to the rapid measure.

A cheer was the irrepressible impulse of the men on shore, causing the
newcomers to stop and listen.

"Perhaps," said Dan, "they may be your foes of the Hudson's Bay
Company."

"That may be so," returned the Nor'-west Chief, gravely.

The unfurling of an "H.B.C." (Hudson's Bay Company) flag proved that it
was so, to a certainty, and the depressed Nor'-westers did not cheer
again; but the H B C men came on, paddling with wild vigour and cheering
hilariously.

"They seem in great spirits," growled the Nor'-west leader. "We are
almost as strong as they, boys, and have the advantage of woods and
cliffs. Shall we fight and keep our prisoners?"

"What is that white thing in the bow of the first canoe?" said one of
the men.

"It looks like a flag," said another.

"If so, it is a flag of truce," observed Dan. "They have something to
say, and do not want to fight."

"That may be trite, but we won't let _you_ be at the conference,"
returned the leade