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On hearing the news that Okematan and Fergus had to give, the men most of whom were half-breeds connected with Cree families gave a cheer and voted for an immediate advance against the Saulteaux. This, after very brief palaver, was unanimously agreed to. "You'll not object to return with us, I suppose?" asked Dechamp of Fergus. "Iss it objectin' to a fecht you will mean?"
Meanwhile Okematan, having entered the camp, was met by Dechamp, and led by him to a retired part. "You have an enemy here, Okematan," he said, inquiringly. "It would seem so," returned the Indian gravely. "Friends do not shoot each other's horses; and if the poor horse had not tossed his head when the shot was fired, his rider would have bit the dust."
"True, true," returned Dechamp with a hearty air; "and, to say truth, I myself did not do not believe you false. If you tell me the truth, Okematan, and give me your word that this report is a mistaken one, I will believe you and trust you." The Indian seemed pleased with the assurance thus heartily given, but still maintained his dignified gravity, as he said "Okematan always tells the truth.
"Bourassin has just come in with the report that they are in great numbers away to the nor'-west, so we will make a fair start first thing in the morning." As he spoke, Dechamp glanced with evident surprise at Duncan McKay. "Why did you let him come?" he said in an under-tone to Dan, as they were tying up the horses. "How could I prevent him?" replied Dan.
"Be still, Fergus McKay," said Dechamp, with that firmness of manner and tone which somehow command respect; "I know all about it. Take one bit of bread, one swig more of tea, and you go with me to Fort Garry, to tell the Gov'nor what you know. He will send help at once." Great was the relief of Fergus when he heard this.
At all events if I take Fergus with me I shall send him back before reaching the Settlement, and say nothing whatever about my reason for going there. `Pressing business, you know, will be sufficient." "I'm not so sure of that," returned Dechamp with a laugh. "Men are apt to want to know the nature of `pressing business. However, it may be as well to take Fergus.
Displaying his possessions with much pride, he assured Dechamp that he had paid for the whole outfit, and meant to return in the spring a rich man with means enough to buy a horse and cart, and start with the buffalo-hunters for the plains. "You have a horse to sell they say?" he remarked to his friend in a careless way. "Yes and a good one too," answered Dechamp.
La Certe capsized his mug of tea but regarded it not; and while the former proceeded to remove the shawl from Fergus's neck and chafe his cold hands, the latter assisted Dechamp to drag the exhausted man a little nearer to the fire, and poured a cup of warm tea down his throat.
Then Dechamp jumped in beside him, and drove off in the direction of the Hudson's Bay Company's establishment, Fort Garry, while our worthy couple returned to their hut to indulge in a final and well-earned pipe and a mug of the strongest possible tea. Winnipeg city, with its thousands of inhabitants, now covers the spot to which Antoine Dechamp drove his friend Fergus McKay.
But on search being made, neither Dechamp nor Bourassin was to be found, and our hero was returning home with the intention of taking a small hunting canoe and going off by himself, when he chanced to meet with La Certe. That worthy seemed unusually depressed, and returned Dan's greeting with very little of his habitual cheerfulness. "What's wrong with you, Francois?" asked Dan, anxiously.
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