Nesis looked foolish, and quickly turned her head away.
Over their tea and bannock they became almost cheerful. Motion had made them both hungry.
Ambrose glanced at their slender store. "We'll never hang out to the lake at this rate," he said laughing.
"I set rabbit snare when we sleep," Nesis said quickly. "I catch fish.
I shoot wild duck."
"Shall we leave one of the canoes?" asked Ambrose.
She shook her head vigorously. "Each tak' one. Maybe one bus' in rapids. You sleep in your canoe now. I pull you."
Ambrose shook his head. "No sleep until to-night," he said.
Ambrose was lighting his pipe and Nesis was gathering up the things when suddenly Job sprang up, barking furiously. At the same moment half a score of dark faces rose above the bank behind them, and gun-barrels stuck up.
Among the ten was a distorted, snarling, yellow face. Ambrose snatched up his own gun. Nesis uttered a gasping cry; such a sound of terror Ambrose had never heard.
"Shoot me!" she gasped, crawling toward him. "You shoot me!
Angleysman, quick! Shoot me!"