The red-man was evidently flattered by Dick's speech, and after motioning to the boys to lower their hands, which Fritz did with a groan, he turned to two of the canoe parties and indicated that the boys might seat themselves in the center of the light crafts and help paddle them. It was a long paddle across the bay and it was fortunate that the day was a calm one, or they would never have attempted the trip. As it was, it required several hours of hard paddling to reach the distant shore, and all the party gave grunts of satisfaction on arriving safely. The Indians were aware of the proximity of the British troops when they started out, and that was their reason for going over to the opposite shore. The squaws of the tribe all scuttled away into the woods to start their cooking, it being the custom amongst the red-men to have the women do most of the hard work. The braves drew the light birch canoes from the water and prepared to make themselves comfortable while waiting for their meal. "You should a few lessons take from dot tall fellar," said Fritz, stretching his arms. "What sort of lessons?" asked Dick. "You see the way he dreats his squawk?" continued Fritz, adding syllables to his vocabulary. "I don't see him doing anything but ordering and bossing her around." "It you vould like, perhabs, to be the head of dot houses you and Ben's sister is going to have----" Here Fritz dogged a pine cone and hid safely behind a tree, while Dick searched vainly for more missiles. "I vill be goot," yelled Fritz, enjoying Dick's confusion immensely, "and nefer speak of such things any more." "If you'll promise," said Dick, "I will forgive you this time." At that Fritz came out from behind his tree, and linking arms with Dick they sauntered off to one of the fires. The chief was seated beside this blaze, watching the final preparations for his meal, and he motioned the boys to join him. "Um white boys eat with Telca," he said, and Dick was pleased to find that he knew so much English, for he knew that mutual explanations and possible plans would have to be gone over by both of them, and his own ignorance of this band's peculiar dialect prevented their carrying on any extended conversation in the red-man's tongue. "Not wait here long," said Dick, looking at the sun. "Redcoats after white men and we must hurry." "Where are the Redcoat soldiers?" asked the chief, helping himself to some of the fish chowder and then pushing the pot toward the boys. "We ran away from them this morning," replied Dick. "They follow us soon, along the other shore, and there are many of them, too many for even the brave redmen to fight."