people had suffered irreparable
loss.

The administration of the law by the officers of the police with firm
and patient justice put an end also to the frequent and bloody wars that
had prevailed previously between the various tribes, till, by these wild
and savage people the red coat came to be regarded with mingled awe and
confidence, a terror to evil-doers and a protection to those that did
well.

To which class did this man belong? This Cameron was utterly unable to
decide.

With this problem vexing his mind he ate his breakfast in almost
complete silence, making only monosyllabic replies to the trader's
cheerful attempts at conversation.

Suddenly, with disconcerting accuracy, the trader seemed to read his
mind.

"Now, Mr. Cameron," he said, pulling out his pipe, "we will have a smoke
and a chat. Fill up." He passed Cameron his little bag of tobacco. "Last
night things were somewhat strained," he continued. "Frankly, I confess,
I took you at first for a whiskey runner and a horse thief, and having
suffered from these gentlemen considerably I was taking no chances."

"Why force me to go with you, then?" asked Cameron angrily.

"Why? For your good. There is less danger both to you--and to me--with
you under my eye," replied the trader with a smile.

"Yet your man would have murdered me?"

"Well, you see Little Thunder is one of the Blood Tribe and rather swift
with his knife at times, I confess. Besides, his family has suffered at
the hands of the whiskey runners. He is a chief and he owes it to these
devils that he is out of a job just now. You may imagine he is somewhat
touchy on the point of whiskey traders.

"It was you set him on me," said Cameron, still wrathful.

"No, no," said the trader, laughing quietly. "That was merely to startle
you out of your, pardon me, unreasonable obstinacy. You must believe me
it was the only thing possible that you should accompany us, for if you
were a whiskey runner then it was better for us that you should be under
guard, and if you were a surveyor it was better for you that you should
be in our care. Why, man, this storm may go for three days, and you
would be stiff long before anyone could find you. No, no, I confess our
measures may have seemed somewhat--ah--abrupt, but, believe me, they
were necessary, and in a day or two you will acknowledge that I am in
the right of it. Meantime let's trust each other, and there is my hand
on it, Cameron."

There was no r