to the clear light of the fire instantly low murmurs
ran round the crowd, for to many of them he was well known. Then silence
fell upon them. His presence there was clearly a shock to many of
them. To take prisoner one of the Mounted Police and to submit him to
indignity stirred strange emotions in their hearts. The keen eye of
Copperhead noted the sudden change of the mood of the Indians and
immediately he gave orders to those who held Cameron in charge, with the
result that they hurried him off and thrust him into a little low hut
constructed of brush and open in front where, after tying his feet
securely, they left him with an Indian on guard in front.

For some moments Cameron lay stupid with weariness and pain till his
weariness overpowered his pain and he sank into sleep. He was recalled
to consciousness by the sensation of something digging into his ribs. As
he sat up half asleep a low "hist!" startled him wide awake. His heart
leaped as he heard out of the darkness a whispered word, "Jerry here."
Cameron rolled over and came close against the little half-breed, bound
as he was himself. Again came the "hist!"

"Me all lak' youse'f," said Jerry. "No spik any. Look out front."

The Indian on guard was eagerly looking and listening to what was going
on before him beside the fire. At one side of the circle sat the Indians
in council. Copperhead was standing and speaking to them.

"What is he saying?" said Cameron, his mouth close to Jerry's ear.

"He say dey keel us queeck. Indian no lak' keel. Dey scare Police get
'em. Copperhead he ver' mad. Say he keel us heemse'f--queeck."

Again and again and with ever increasing vehemence Copperhead urged his
views upon the hesitating Indians, well aware that by involving them in
such a deed of blood he would irrevocably commit them to rebellion. But
he was dealing with men well-nigh as subtle as himself, and for the very
same reason as he pressed them to the deed they shrank back from it.
They were not yet quite prepared to burn their bridges behind them.
Indeed some of them suggested the wisdom of holding the prisoners as
hostages in case of necessity arising in the future.

"What Indians are here?" whispered Cameron.

"Piegan, Sarcee, Blood," breathed Jerry. "No Blackfeet come--not
yet--Copperhead he look, look, look all yesterday for Blackfeet
coming. Blackfeet come to-morrow mebbe--den Indian mak' beeg medicine.
Copperhead he go meet Blackfeet dis day--he catch you-