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Okematan was not the only person who opened his eyes on the return of the Sinclair boys to camp next day with their heavily laden canoe. The Davidson and McKay families were much more emphatic in their astonishment, for the boys, they knew, had not hitherto performed any exploits in shooting.
"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.
Accordingly, Duncan junior mounted his horse, and accompanied Dan, Peter, Fergus, Okematan, Morel, Jenkins, and others to the plains, where they found that the main body of the hunters, under Antoine Dechamp, had arrived just before them.
"Well it's not unlikely that there may be something of the sort going if we meet." "Did you ever hear of a McKay objectin' to a fecht, Antoine?" Dechamp laughed. "Well," he said, "I know Okematan won't object to turn back, and show us the way to the place where he met the reptiles." "Okematan was on his way to seek for help," said the Indian quietly.
But they were proud warriors and refused by word, look, or movement, to indicate their suspicions. They carried bows in their hands, arrows in their quivers, tomahawks and scalping-knives in their belts, but they scorned to make any visible demonstration of being on guard in the midst of Paleface friends, though they gave intense and undivided attention to the movements of Okematan.
He has for many moons watched the behaviour of Okematan, and he has long suspected that the heart of the serpent dwells in the breast of that chief. Now he is sure." "But what about your people?" demanded the camp-chief. "They are not at war with us. Are they all villains because one among them turns out to be bad?"
I will ask Okematan or Fergus McKay to ride with me. Why did you not speak to Fergus instead of to me?" "Because he has not been spoken to by any one," answered Dechamp; "and I would not be the first to put suspicion into his head about his own brother. Besides, your head is clearer; and your interest in Duncan, for Elspie's sake, is greater than his, no doubt." "Well, you may be right, Antoine.
"The two boys will sleep and rest while food is preparing," continued the chief. "The moon will set before we have done eating, and it will be very dark. The Saulteaux will not attack while the light lasts. When it is quite dark we will go." "If we fix to leave and they chance to attack at the same time, it iss meetin' them we will be, Okematan," said Fergus.
"Okematan will open his eyes if we take back a goose or two like these; why, they are swans almost!" whispered Archie, as the birds approached in the form of an angle. "Take the big fat one on the left the one now squintin' down at the decoys." Billie obeyed, and fired. The result was, in a manner, threefold.
"Nothing would please me better, but, duty before pleasure! I've promised to spend a week along wi' Little Bill at the Whitehorse Plains. Billie has taken a great fancy to that chief o' the half-breeds, Cuthbert Grant, and we are goin' to visit him. I've no doubt that Little Bill would let me off, but I won't be let off." "Then I must ask Okematan to go with me," said Dan.
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