"We have some traps near here, I believe?"
"Pardieu!" said the Canadian, "within half a mile, at most, there is a large pond of beavers."
"That's true; for the last few days, Belhumeur, I scarcely know what I am thinking about; this captivity of my mother makes me mad; I must deliver her, cost what it may."
"That is my opinion, Loyal Heart, and I will aid you in it with all my soul."
"Tomorrow morning, at daybreak, you will repair to Black Elk, and beg him, in my name, to collect as many white hunters and trappers as he can."
"Very well."
"In the meantime I will go to the camp of the Comanches, to treat for the ransom of my mother; if they will not restore her to me, we will have recourse to arms, and we will see if a score of the best rifles of the frontiers will not give a good account of five hundred of these plunderers of the prairies."
"And if they should make you prisoner?"
"In that case I will send you my bloodhound, who will come to you in the river grotto; on seeing it come alone, you will know what that means, and will act accordingly."
The Canadian shook his head.