"Do you know the man to whom you delivered a letter just now?"
"Why do you ask?"
"To gain some information about him."
"Personally I know very little of him. All I can tell you is that he enjoys an excellent reputation through the whole province, and is generally regarded as a caballero and gallant man."
"That is something," the Canadian muttered, shaking his head; "but, for all that, I do not know why, but his sudden departure makes me very restless."
"Wah!" Eagle-head suddenly said, withdrawing from his lips the tube of his calumet, and bending forward, while bidding his comrades to silence. All remained motionless, with their eyes fixed on the Indian.
"What is it?" Belhumeur at length asked.
"Fire," the other replied slowly. "The Apaches are coming: they are burning the prairie before them."
"What?" Belhumeur exclaimed, rising and looking all around. "I see no trace of fire."
"No, not yet; but the fire is coming—I can smell it."