ngly to disentomb and carry the
brandy keg. Neither he nor Bounce knew whether there was enough brandy
to intoxicate the whole tribe, but they had no time to inquire minutely
into probabilities.

Vigorously, perseveringly, without rest or halt, did these two trappers
pursue their way that night, with the keg slung on a pole between them.
The stars glimmered down through the trees upon their path, as if they
wished them success in their enterprise. It was all-important that they
should reach the Indian camp before daybreak; so, although footsore and
weary from their late exertions after a long day's march, they
nevertheless ran steadily on at a long swinging trot, which brought
them, to their inexpressible joy, much sooner than they had anticipated,
to their journey's end.

It was two hours before dawn when they came suddenly upon the camp--so
suddenly that they had to crouch the instant they saw the watch-fires,
in order to avoid being discovered.

"Now, Gibault," whispered Bounce, "you'll have to remain here. Get into
a hiding-place as fast as you can, and keep close. You're clever enough
to know what to do, and when to do it. Only, lad, come near and have
your knife handy when the row is at the loudest, and see that ye don't
let the squaws cut out our livers when we're tied up."

Gibault nodded significantly.

"It's a curious fact," continued Bounce in a somewhat sad tone, "that
I'm more afraid o' the squaws than o' the men. Howsomdiver, it's got to
be done!"

So saying, Bounce shouldered the keg, and shaking his comrade by the
hand, as if he felt that he might be parting with him for ever, he
glided into the darkness of the forest, leaving Gibault to secrete
himself on the side of a mound, from which he could witness all that
went on in the camp.

From this point of observation the poor Canadian beheld what was not
calculated to allay his fears. The camp lay in a hollow, surrounded by
trees. On an open space were erected several leathern huts or tents, in
the midst of which blazed a large camp fire. Round this the forty
warriors were seated, eating their supper, while a number of squaws were
sitting in the entrances to their tents variously engaged. Horses
hobbled--that is, with the fore-feet tied together to prevent their
running away--were cropping the grass close to the tents. Not far from
them, and within the circle of light cast around by the fire, stood a
group of small trees. To each of th