said we could not hear; but as we stood leaning on our guns
in the deep shade of the forest, we could observe by their animated
gestures that they differed in opinion. We saw that the scout pointed
several times to the moon, which was just rising above the tree-tops,
and then to the distant horizon; but the chief shook his head, pointed
to the woods, and seemed to be much in doubt, while the whole band
watched his motions in deep silence but evident interest. At length
they appeared to agree. The scout took his place at the head of the
line, and we resumed our march, keeping close to the margin of the wood.
It was perhaps three hours after this ere we again halted to hold
another consultation. This time their deliberations were shorter. In a
few seconds our chief himself took the lead, and turned into the woods,
through which he guided us to a small fountain which bubbled up at the
root of a birch tree, where there was a smooth green spot of level
ground. Here we halted, and prepared to rest for an hour, at the end of
which time the moon, which now shone bright and full in the clear sky,
would be nearly down, and we could resume our march. We now sat down in
a circle, and taking a hasty mouthful of dried meat, stretched ourselves
on the ground with our arms beside us, while our chief kept watch,
leaning against the birch tree. It seemed as if I had scarcely been
asleep five minutes when I felt a light touch on my shoulder. Springing
up, I found the whole party already astir, and in a few minutes more we
were again hurrying onwards.

"We travelled thus until a faint light in the east told us that the day
was at hand, when the scout's steps became more cautious, and he paused
to examine the ground frequently. At last we came to a place where the
ground sank slightly, and at the distance of a hundred yards rose again,
forming a low ridge, which was crowned with small bushes. Here we came
to a halt, and were told that our enemies were on the other side of that
ridge; that they were about twenty in number, all Chipewyan warriors,
with the exception of one paleface--a trapper and his Indian wife. The
scout had learned, while lying like a snake in the grass around their
camp, that this man was merely travelling with them on his way to the
Rocky Mountains, and that, as they were a war-party, he intended to
leave them soon. On hearing this the warriors gave a grim smile, and
our chief, directing the scout to fall beh