“I remember perfectly, but it never struck me that he was Mysticoose, though I cannot positively say that he was not,” answered Norman. “I don’t exactly remember what he said, but I fancy that he was praising the pale-faces generally, and expressing his desire to be their friend.”
“Well, we cannot account for the wayward fancies of the Red men,” observed Mrs Mackintosh; “but your father is anxious to retain their friendship, and would be unwilling to do anything to offend them. You must have patience; and I dare say in a day or two we shall be rid of our visitors.”
“I am very sorry to have been the cause of the annoyance; and had I dreamed of the result, I would have kept out of the way of the chief,” said Sybil, half laughing.
“Well, if the Blackfeet don’t go to-morrow, something must be done to make them move off,” exclaimed Hector.
Captain Mackintosh, though he did not say so, was really as much annoyed as his son.
No buffalo were to be seen in the neighbourhood, and it was evident, therefore, that the Indians did not remain for the sake of hunting. Among the men in the fort was an experienced voyageur and trapper, Le Brun by name, well versed in all Indian ways.
The captain having consulted him, he volunteered to go out at night, and try to ascertain what the Indians were about.
“We must never trust those Redskins,” he observed; “they don’t remain here without an object.”
His offer was accepted. Soon after dark he lowered himself down at the rear of the fort, and crept round, making a wide circuit, so that, should any of the Blackfeet be on the watch, he might escape observation. Captain Mackintosh directed a man to wait with a rope, to help him in again on the same side.
A careful look-out was kept during his absence round the fort. Some time having passed, and Le Brun not making his appearance, Captain Mackintosh began to fear that he had been discovered by the Indians, and captured. They would scarcely, however, he thought, venture to put him to death. Two hours or more went by; still he did not return. The Captain, therefore, began to consider whether it would be expedient to send out another man to try and ascertain what had happened. He was turning over in his mind who he should employ in this somewhat dangerous service, when Norman came up to him.