ened to keep them
from returning--not even an accident, as we've been supposing. One never
knows what may take place in the backwoods, and--and perhaps they were
forced to wait till morning."

Bob knew, and Alf knew as well, that it was but a plucky attempt to look
at fears in the best light--an effort to convince both against their
conviction that their evil forebodings were groundless.

But Alf was not easily convinced.

"I am sure that nothing except accident could have happened to prevent
at least your father or mine from returning to camp. They would know
that we should be worried. And no matter how far they went by canoe in
the morning, there has been plenty of time to walk the distance. I can't
help thinking that they came upon tracks of the moose, as they wanted,
and----"

"Hush," interrupted Bob kindly. "Don't let your imagination run away
with you like that, old man. Besides, you know what good shots both our
fathers are. They know the ways of most big game. No; I can't think that
you are right. Such an accident _might_ happen to one--even the finest
trapper; but, to both--believe me, it's out of the question. Now, turn
in like a good chap. I'll take first watch."

"You'll wake me as soon as the two hours are up?" pressed Alf, reluctant
to leave the watch when he might have first sign of news.

"Yes, I'll waken you. Don't worry about that. You are tired as a dog as
it is--what with fighting lynxes and other excitements. In two hours
you'll find that I'll be too ready for sleep to let you doze a second
over time."

CHAPTER IV

FRIENDS OR FOES?

So sudden had been the attack when the two men were snatched from the
waters of the treacherous Athabasca, that they were too confused to
realise what was taking place. No signs of any prowlers had been
previously evident, though possibly the fact that danger from that
quarter was unconsidered might have secluded what would have been
discernible by suspicious eyes.

Moreover, the men were so exhausted by the adventures through which they
had just passed that they were only able to offer feeble resistance,
and, by the time their scattered faculties were collected, they found
themselves lying bound in the centre of a chattering throng of Indians.

Such conduct was certainly surprising in these days, when the redmen are
a peaceable people who have learned to regard the pale-faces as
well-meaning friends, and have long since buried the hatchet of tribal