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Updated: May 4, 2025
At first it was supposed that this was another band of Indians proceeding, possibly, to join that from which they had just escaped; but the fugitives were speedily undeceived by the appearance of the men as they drew nearer. "I would be thinkin' that the man in the bow o' the first canoe is Antoine Dechamp," said Fergus, as he stood peering over the bushes at the advancing brigade.
A clear moon lit up the prairie all round, so that they could see its undulating sweep in every direction. "Anything wrong, Antoine?" asked Dan in a low voice, when they were out of earshot of the camp. "Nothing wrong, Dan." "Surely," continued the other, while Dechamp paused as if in perplexity, "surely there can be no chance of Red-skins troubling us on a clear night like this.
"Only that the horse of Okematan has been shot under him by some one, and that there is a would-be murderer in the camp." "Okematan! Has the traitor ventured to return?" exclaimed Kateegoose, with an expression of surprise that was very unusual in an Indian. "Ay, he has ventured," responded Dechamp, "and some one has ventured to fire at him with intent to kill. By good luck he was a bad shot.
Dechamp, being accustomed to lead, accepted the position at once, stepped off on the trail of Dan, which had been made distinctly visible when he went crashing through the underwood the day before. Fergus followed, and Bourassin came third. "Now, then," said Archie, looking into the chief's face, "come along, Oke.
This proposal, however, was not received with favour, as it would certainly be a matter of disagreement which half was to go out, and which to remain behind! "Where is Kateegoose?" asked Dechamp at this crisis. "Stuffin' 'imself, of course!" said Fred Jenkins, amid a general laugh.
Meanwhile Antoine Dechamp had been pressed into the service, and took his place as best-man to Fred Jenkins a position which he filled to admiration, chiefly owing to the fact that he had never served in such a capacity before.
"Some one over there," answered the Indian languidly, as he pointed in the right direction. "It does not need a medicine-man to tell me that," said Dechamp, sternly. "I heard the shot, and saw the smoke. Have you any idea who fired it, La Certe?" "I have not," replied the half-breed. "I was lying in my tent when I heard it. Kateegoose was smoking beside the fire.
Need we say that it was Fergus McKay, almost blind and dumb from exhaustion, for the parting from Dan Davidson which we have mentioned had proved to be the last straw which broke them both down, and it is probable that the frozen corpse of poor Dan would have been found next day on the snow, had he not been accidentally met by Dechamp, and taken in charge by the Indian Okematan.
During the time that the hunters were appeasing their appetites, it was observed that Antoine Dechamp, the leader of the expedition, was unusually silent and thoughtful, and that he betrayed a slight look of anxiety.
"But are you sure they will follow your advice?" asked Dechamp. "Yes, Okematan is quite sure." "Well, then, as I said, I will trust you," returned Dechamp, extending his hand, which the Indian gravely grasped; "and I will give you undeniable proof, by giving my young men orders to start after the buffalo at once without further delay."
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