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.

"Let me go," he said; "I am sure that I can get up to the camp without
being discovered, and I will be exceedingly cautious. It is not,
indeed, likely that the Indians will be on the watch; for, should they
have caught Le Brun, they will not suppose that we shall send another
person to look for him. I will only get near enough to hear what they
are saying, and creep away again as noiselessly as a lynx."

"No, no, Norman; I am convinced of your courage and discretion, but I
cannot allow you to risk your life for such an object," said his father.

"But I run no risk of losing my life," answered Norman; "they would not
venture to kill me."

"They would not if they knew who you were; but finding a spy in their
neighbourhood, they might shoot you down without inquiry," observed
Captain Mackintosh.

"I don't want to be shot," said Norman; "depend upon it, I'll take good
care to avoid that."

At length, Captain Mackintosh, reflecting that he could not send any one
else on an expedition to the dangers of which he was unwilling to expose
his own son, gave permission, charging Norman to approach the camp with
the greatest possible caution, and only to do so provided he could hear
the voices of the Indians, and had reason to believe that they were
sitting in council.

Norman, well pleased at the confidence placed in him, hurried off to
prepare for his expedition, by putting on a dark suit, which would
assi