way beyond it. We waded across it, and creeping up, looked over
the bank. In the centre was a fire which, as it blazed up, threw a
strange light on the groups of fierce savages clustering round it. At a
little distance was a figure which attracted all my attention--it was
that of my brother. He was seated on a log of wood, close to which a
stake was driven in, and to this his wrists were tightly secured, though
his feet were free. His head was bent down; he sat perfectly quiet, as
if resigned to his fate. By the gestures of his captors I thought that
they were talking about him, and I feared that they were proposing
forthwith to put him to death. I dared not ask Sigenok what he thought;
the slightest sound might have betrayed us. Oh how I longed to rush
forward and join his fate, whatever that might be. I believe that I
should have done so when I saw him lift up his pale countenance, so
expressive of grief and pain, had not Sigenok held me back. He was, I
was sure, thinking of me, and how miserable I should be when he was
taken from me, and I was left alone in the world. Sigenok now made a
sign to me to retreat; keeping close to him as before, I unwillingly
left the spot. We crawled on till we rejoined our companions. It may
seem surprising that the Sioux should have been so completely off their
guard; but this arose from their despising their foes, the fact being
that the Ojibways are generally very unwarlike, and they, therefore,
believed that they would not venture to follow them. My companions'
plans were soon formed. It was arranged that the whole party should
creep forward as we had done, and that each man should single out one of
the enemy according to his position, and that at a signal from Sigenok,
the low croak of a frog, all should fire at the same moment. With the
sound of the first shot the men with the horses were to come galloping
on, as if a fresh party were approaching the scene of conflict. As,
undoubtedly, all the Sioux would not be killed, some might, otherwise,
attempt to rush on their concealed foes, but, with the fear of falling
into the hands of their enemies, they would now take to flight.

My heart beat quick as we now moved on towards the camp of our
treacherous foes. The night was very dark, and so noiseless were the
movements of the Indians that, till I actually touched Sigenok's heel, I
fancied at one time that I must be alone. The shouting and shrieking of
the Sioux as th