nations, was
struck by the appearance of their features, which were those of the
Blackfeet, although they wore none of the distinctive ornaments of that
tribe, and introduced themselves as Peagons, whose territory lies to the
southward. Their chief, a plausibly mannered man, stated that they had
been induced to come to Fort Duncan by hearing that better value was
given for peltries there than was to be obtained from the Long Knives.
They seemed, however, in no hurry to begin business, and begged that
food might be provided for the party, as they had gone several days
without shooting a buffalo, hinting that some fire-water would be a
welcome addition, though they did not appear surprised when Captain
Mackintosh refused to supply the pernicious beverage.

The visitors did ample justice to the feast placed before them, and
would apparently have continued eating as long as any meat remained, had
not Captain Mackintosh suggested that darkness would come on before they
had time to commence trading.

At length, therefore, one of the packs was undone, and business
proceeded in the usual way.

They were thus engaged, when a little hump-backed Indian, whom nobody
had observed, crept in at the gate of the fort, and making his way up to
where Captain Mackintosh was superintending affairs, drew a piece of
paper from a leathern pouch and put it into his hand.

Captain Mackintosh having read it attentively, directing his head clerk
to go on with the trading, beckoned to the hump-backed Indian to
accompany him out of ear-shot of the trading party, and having
questioned him and received his answers, he summoned Le Brun.

Though the Captain had betrayed no emotion in presence of the strange
looking little Indian, his chief hunter remarked his agitation. "What
has happened, Monsieur Capitaine?" he asked.

"This is a matter of life and death, and I know that I can trust you, Le
Brun," said Captain Mackintosh, not directly answering him. "Take the
fleetest of our horses and ride after Monsieur Norman and the young
ladies. Spare neither spur nor whip. Desire them to return immediately
to the fort, as hard as they can gallop. Here, take this with you," and
he wrote a few words on a slip of paper to be delivered to Norman.

"Monsieur Capitaine can depend on me. I will make La Froule fly like
the whirlwind," said Le Brun, and doubling up the paper, he hurried away
to obey the order he had received.

"I would that I could go mys