"The best precaution," said the Indian chief, again speaking, "when you deal with a loyal enemy is to have every faith in his word; to have no suspicion of any kind in your mind." "Very good, chief. It is very likely after all that you are right. I will not discuss the matter with you, though I repeat I am very much surprised to hear you speak thus. I only ask of you one thing--that is, to remain neutral in this affair until the actual moment of action has come." "Numank-Charake loves Bright-eye; he is his brother. He will do whatever the hunter wishes; still regretting that he is constrained to act against his wishes," he answered. "I take all the blame on myself," said Bright-eye; "and shall be the first to own my error, if indeed I am found to be in error. A man can say no more, even if he were speaking to his father." The Indian said no more, but bowed his head in token of acquiescence. But he smiled with such a keen and subtle irony that the hunter was so deeply moved as to blush. "I fear nothing for myself," he cried. "Eh, what!" exclaimed Charbonneau, stretching out his arm towards the river, "What is going on?" Every eye was fixed upon the spot indicated by the hunter's sudden exclamation. "It is a canoe," said George Clinton. "Manned by two men," observed Charbonneau. "And those two men," said the chief, after one glance from his eagle eye, "are two palefaces. He knows them well. One is the old hunter called Sharpear, the other the son of my nation--Leave-no-trail." "My father and my grandfather!" cried Bright-eye, in utter surprise. "Surely, chief, you must be mistaken. Why should they come here?" "Very likely," observed Oliver, gently, "the same motive leads them here that has led us." Meanwhile the canoe, impelled by vigorous arms, approached with extreme rapidity, and soon was at no very great distance from the camp of the hunters. Then it turned rapidly towards the shore, and its bow was soon stuck in the sand. Two men landed. Numank-Charake had been right. These two men were indeed the father and grandfather of the young hunter. They were coming to the encampment. The five adventurers all leaped up, and eagerly rushed to meet the two old men. After the first compliments had passed and welcomes had been exchanged with effusion between the newcomers and their friends, the Canadians seated themselves by the fire, and, upon the invitation given, ate some mouthfuls of fresh-cooked venison and drank some brandy. "We have been to see our relative, Lagrenay, the squatter of the Wind River," said the old man. "It appears he had received a very pressing message from Tom Mitchell, the outlaw." "Yes," said Bright-eye, "we were there when it was delivered. We know all about it. But, as far as I am concerned, I am afraid--" "Of what are you afraid, my son?" asked François Berger, in a rather imperious tone of voice. "That all this pretended facility and frankness on the part of the pirate chief hides a snare."