better than that, a well-behaved one. One o' the
Indians had been impertinent to the girl, so old Laroche, who seems to
be a fiery fellow, up fist, hit him on the nose, and knocked the savage
flat on his back. A tremendous howl was set up, and knives and hatchets
were flourished; but Mr Pemberton, who is in charge of Fort Erie, ran
in and pacified them. The Indian that was floored vows he'll have the
hair of old Laroche's head."

This taking the hair off people's heads, or scalping, as it is called,
is a common practice among the North American Indians. When a savage
kills his enemy he runs his scalping knife round the dead man's head,
seizes the hair with his left hand and tears the scalp off. Indeed this
dreadful cruelty is sometimes practised before death has occurred. The
scalp with its lock of hair is taken home by the victor, and hung up in
his tent as a trophy of war. The man who can show the greatest number
of scalps is considered the greatest warrior. The dresses of Indian
warriors are usually fringed with human scalp-locks.

"That's a bad business," said Jasper, who was concerned to hear such
news of his intended father-in-law. "Do ye know the name o' this
red-skinned rascal?"

"I heard it mentioned," said the guide, "but I can't remember it at this
moment."

"The boats are ready to start," said one of the steersmen, coming up
just then.

"Very good, let the men embark. Now, Jasper, we must part. Give us a
shake o' your hand. A pleasant trip to you."

"The same to you, friend," said Jasper, returning the guide's squeeze.

In another minute the boats were away.

"Now, friends, we shall start," said Jasper, breaking the deep silence
which followed the departure of the brigade.

"Good," said Arrowhead.

"I'm ready," said Heywood.

The canoe was soon in the water, and the men in their places; but they
started that morning without a song. Arrowhead was never inclined to be
noisy, Heywood was sleepy, and Jasper was rendered anxious by what he
had heard of his friends at Fort Erie, so they paddled away in silence.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE FORT, AND AN UNEXPECTED MEETING.

We turn now to a very different scene. It is a small fort or
trading-post on the banks of a stream which flows through the prairie.
The fort is very much like the one which has been already described, but
somewhat stronger; and there are four block-houses or bastions, one at
each corner, from which the muzzles of a few