BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT--THE BEAR
AND ITS CUB--I KILL THEM--ROBIN'S SOUP-POT--CREES OF THE PLAIN--OUR NEW
COMPANIONS--PICHETO--THE YOUNG CREE KILLS A BUFFALO--THE "POUND"--THE
HUNTING PARTY--THE CHIEF IS WILLING TO TRADE--OFFERS US HORSES FOR OUR
GUNS--THE FEAST.

As we approached the fort towards the end of the day we looked out for
the flag, which we expected to see floating over it, but it was not
visible.

"Can Sandy have forgotten to hoist it?" observed Alick. "It is yet too
early for him to have hauled it down. Expecting us, he would certainly
have kept it flying till dark."

"Perhaps your prognostications of evil may have come true," I said,
laughing, not at all thinking that such was the case.

"I trust not," answered Alick, in a grave tone. "I shall never forgive
myself if any misfortune has happened during my absence from the fort.
I ought to have remained at my post; though Sandy is so cautious and
vigilant that I considered he would take as good care of it as I could."

Martin and Robin now trotted up to us.

"What has become of the flag?" exclaimed Martin. "Robin says that he
has seen suspicious signs of Indians having been in the neighbourhood,
and see! I've picked up this arrow-head. It looks as if it had been
only lately dropped."

Robin confirmed what Martin had said, and expressed his fears that the
fort had been again attacked.

"We shall soon know the worst, at all events," said Alick; and putting
our horses into a gallop, we dashed forward.

We all uttered exclamations of dismay when, coming near where the fort
had stood, we beheld only a blackened ruin. The towers had been burned
to the ground, the palisades pulled down and destroyed, as was every
wooden building inside the enclosure.

"This has not happened by accident," observed Alick. "My worst
apprehensions are fulfilled. The Indians must have attacked the fort,
and having succeeded in capturing it, put the whole garrison to death."

"Perhaps some may have escaped, and are hidden in the neighbourhood,"
said Martin; and before Alick could stop him, he shouted out at the top
of his voice, "Hillo! any one hereabouts? Answer, friends."

"Stay!" cried Alick; "our voices may be heard by foes as well as
friends. Keep a look round; in case the former should appear, we may
have to fly for our lives."

We followed his injunctions.

"Alas! alas! poor Sandy and honest Pat and the rest. What has been
their fate?" I said to mysel