ur friends agreed not to place the meat "en cache" till
they were on the point of starting, and we hoped to be able before that
time to send our people to bring it into the fort. We should have taken
some with us, but it required more smoking, and we could not wait till
it was thoroughly cured.

Alick had consulted the Cree chief as to what had become of the Sioux
who had attacked us.

"I am glad you have asked me," he answered: "though they may possibly
have returned to their own country, they are very likely to come back,
and endeavour to take the fort by surprise. They are cunning as they
are daring, and if they can obtain the opportunity, they are very sure
to take advantage of it. Perhaps they will wait till they can get
reinforced, so that they may make sure another time of gaining the
victory."

"They may think that they are sure," answered Alick; "but they may find
that they have made as great a mistake as before."

"Well, my friend," answered the chief, "be ever on the watch, and don't
trust them."

Such were nearly the last words the chief had spoken to us.

The heat was now considerable, and hardy as we were, we were glad to
rest in the shade during the hotter hours of the day, notwithstanding we
had a large fire burning during the night, to scare away the wolves and
bears; while one of us invariably kept watch, both for our own sakes and
that of our animals, which even many of the Crees would not scruple to
steal if they could do so without fear of discovery.

We had got within a few miles of the fort, when Alick, alongside whom I
was riding, said to me, "I wish that I had not come on this expedition.
I ought not to have left the fort so long, with only Sandy as
commandant. He is cautious and cunning enough in the field, but I am
afraid that inside the walls he may become less careful, and allow
himself to be taken by surprise."

I laughed at Alick's anxieties, for I had never seen him in such a
humour before.

"I hope you are not exercising the gift of second-sight," I said; "I
didn't know you possessed it."

"I trust that I do not," he answered. "Let us push forward, and we
shall soon reach the fort, and know what has happened."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

RETURN TO THE FORT--FIND IT DESTROYED--POOR SANDY AND HONEST PAT
MISSING--A WATCHFUL NIGHT--THE FISH-HAWKS--ROBIN'S SUSPICIONS--NO
HORSES--"UP, BOYS, UP!"--WE BEGIN OUR TRAMP--TURKEY EGGS VERY NICE FOR
HUNGRY MEN--THE SUNJEGWUN IS REACHED--