"Red-man do not want to fight too many, but if not too many----" here the chief drifted off into silence, and Dick could see that he was thinking of something that boded ill for the British troops, whoever fell into his hands. Fritz as too busy by far with the bowl of chowder and some flat cakes of baked flour to pay much attention to the conversation. "My companion's name is Fritz," said Dick, rescuing the remains of the meal from that busy party, "and my own is Dick." The chief nodded to indicate that he understood and would remember their names. "We are going back to our own hunting grounds," said the Indian. "We have been away for twelve moons now, and they should be ready for us once more." "What is the matter, game all gone?" queried Dick. "No," replied Telca, shaking his head slowly. "If white boys stay with their red friends, Telca will tell about it tonight." "We will certainly stay as long as possible with our new friends," said Dick, "and I hope our roads are to be together. Which way do the chief and his people travel? You must be from far away, for your tongue is new to me." "We come across the high mountains," the chief answered, pointing to the west. "We are going home, now." "I wish we were already yet going home too," sighed Fritz. "I thought you were glad to go on this trip," said Dick. "Was I glad?" asked Fritz. "Of course, but I would be glad some more to get to the end and back." "Well, we'll get there if we keep at it," replied Dick, rising. "But if we can, I think we had better start when you are ready, chief, and put as much space between us and our enemies as possible." "We start now," agreed Telca, giving some commands in his native dialect to the other Indians. Instantly all was hurry and bustle in the camp and after gathering up the few utensils and the food, all the tribe filed off to the shore and slid the canoes out into the water. They embarked as before and were soon strung out in a long, snake-like line, keeping fairly close to the shore and paddling silently and swiftly north and west. They continued as long as the light lasted, and when it got too dark to see things plainly at any great distance, the chief turned his canoe toward the low shore and beached it again on the sands. The proceedings of earlier in the day for camp making were repeated and before long several little fires were twinkling in the forest and the Indians were preparing to spend the night in this spot. Their meal consisted of some smoked meat, boiled to make it tender, and some potatoes which they roasted in the hot coals of the fire. After the Indians had eaten, they all sat around one large fire, smoking the long, root pipes, filled with fragrant tobacco. Fritz and Dick didn't smoke, but they both took a few puffs from the large peace-pipe which was passed around from man to man as a token of friendship and good-will. "Now will our friend and brother tell the Indians of his plans?" asked the chief, addressing Dick.