"The trapper of this district is my brother. I have visited him."
"It was a short visit for so long a journey. The trail is but three days old."
Ah-tek assented gravely. Evidently he cared very little whether or not his explanation was accepted.
"How many days to Winnipeg?" asked Sam.
"I have never been there," replied the Indian.
"We have summered in the region of the Missináibie," proffered Sam. "Now we go to Winnipeg."
The Indian's inscrutable countenance gave no indication as to whether or not he believed this. After a moment he knocked the ashes from his pipe and arose, casting another sharp glance at May-may-gwán. She had been busy at the sledge. Now she approached, carrying simply her own blankets and clothing.
"This man," said she to the two, "is of my people. He returns to them. I go with him."
The Chippewa twisted his feet into his snow-shoes, nodded to the white men, and swung away on the back trail in the direction whence our travellers had come. The girl, without more leave-taking, followed close at his back. For an instant the crunch of shoes splintered the frosty air. Then they rounded a bend. Silence fell swift as a hawk.
"Well, I'll be damned!" ejaculated Dick at last. "Do you think he was really up here visiting?"