Silent, almost motionless, the rest of the party remained standing on the bit of beach in the thick darkness of the sheltering bushes. Hugh’s eyes were fastened on the black, silent island across the narrow channel. Had Ohrante changed his plans? He felt his younger brother’s hand on his arm, and turned about. He could just distinguish a low, hissing sound, which he realized was the Indian making his report to Blaise.
The sound ceased and the boy’s lips were at Hugh’s ear. “There are four men camping there. One is an Iroquois. They wait for Ohrante to come. Then they go to the island.”
“He hasn’t come yet, then?” Hugh whispered back.
“No, these are new men except the Iroquois. They come to join Ohrante. They have liquor, but the Iroquois will not let them drink until the chief comes.”
“Then the only thing we can do is wait.”
“That is all. We can watch the island from here. When Ohrante comes we shall know it.”
XXXV
THE FALL OF THE GIANT
As the wait might be long, the party decided to snatch a few minutes’ sleep, one of them remaining on the lookout for the arrival of the Chief of Minong. It was some time after midnight, when Keneu, who was doing guard duty, discerned something moving on the lake, coming down shore. He laid his hand on the half-breed boy’s forehead, and Blaise woke at once.
“A canoe,” the Indian whispered.
Blaise raised his head to look. “The men from the Grand Portage. What idiots! Why not keep closer in?”