Then Picton's nationality woke up, and he unbuttoned his mackintosh. "Now, sir," said he to Malcolm, as he rose from his seat in the boat, his head gracefully inclined towards his starboard shirt-collar, and his two tolerably large fists arrayed in order of battle within a few brief inches of the delinquent's features, "did I understand you to say that you had some idea of taking this gentleman and myself _to the other side of the bay_?" There was a boy in our boat--a fair-haired, blue-eyed representative of Nova Scotia; a sea-boy, with a dash of salt-water in his ruddy cheeks, who had modestly refrained from taking part in the dispute. "Come, now," said he to Malcolm, "pull away, and let us get the gentlemen up to the camp," and he knit his boy brow with determination, as if he meant to have it settled according to contract. "Yes," said Picton, nodding at the boy, "and if he don't"---- "I'm pullin' an't I?" quoth the descendant of King Duncan, a little frightened, and suiting the action to the word; "I'm a-pewlin," and here his oar missed the water, and over he tumbled with a great splash in the bottom of the boat. "I'm a-pewlin," he whined, as he regained his seat and the oar, "and all I want is to hae my honest airnins." "Then pull away," said Picton, as he resumed his seat in the stern-sheets. "Ay," quoth the Scotchman, "I know the Micmacs weel, and thae squaws too; deil a one o' 'em but knows Malcolm"---- "Pull away," said the boy. "They are guid-lookin', thae squaws, and I'm a bachelter; and I tell ye when I tak ye tull em--for I know the hail o' em--if ye are gentlemen, ye'll pay me my honest airnins." "And I tell you," answered Picton, his fist clenched, his eye flashing again, and his indignant nostrils expressing a degree of anger language could not express; "I tell you, if you do not carry us to the Micmac camp without further words, I'll pay you your honest earnings before you get there: I'll punch that Scotch head of yours till it looks like a photograph!" CHAPTER IX. The Micmac Camp--Indian Church-warden and Broker--Interior of a Wigwam--A Madonna--A Digression--Malcolm discharged--An Indian Bargain--The Inn Parlor, and a Comfortable Night's Rest. The threat had its effect: in a few minutes our boat ran bows-on up the clear pebbled beach before the Micmac camp.