“Must be Injuns,” was Peaceful Jones’s comment. A brief consultation was held, and Tony Jadwin took it on himself to go forward and investigate. He skirted the clearing and passed among the trees, and that was the last the others saw of him for a full half-hour. “Got news fer ye,” he said, to James Morris, on returning. “Powerful news, too.” “What is it?” demanded the trader, quickly. “Who do ye reckon I see over yonder?” “Some Indians?” “Yes, a handful. But thet ain’t all. I see thet good-fer-nuthin’ Frenchman thet made so much trouble fer ye fer years.” “What, you don’t mean Jean Bevoir!” broke in Dave. “Thet’s exactly the pusson I do mean.” “I shouldn’t think he’d dare to show his face around here,” said Henry. “He must know that if he is captured it will go hard with him.” “An’ thet ain’t the whole o’ it,” went on Tony Jadwin. “Do ye remember thet Frenchman as run away from Fort Pitt—the feller thet had somethin’ to do with stealin’ them twins?” “You mean Benoit Vascal?” asked the trader. “Yes. Wall, he’s thar too, an’ he an’ Bevoir seem to be putty thick, ez near ez I kin figger it.” “Father, we ought to try to capture ’em both!” burst out Dave. “That’s the talk,” said Henry. “Why, it will never be safe around the trading post as long as Jean Bevoir is at large. He will incite other Frenchmen and also Indians to do us harm.” “Who else is in the party?” asked James Morris of Jadwin. “Two other Frenchmen—trappers who used to help Bevoir—and about a dozen Injuns—the crowd that used to be under Flat Nose.” “Yes, I remember that crowd,” said Dave. “They were certainly a bloodthirsty set.” “Sixteen all told,” mused James Morris. “I am afraid they are too many for us.” “Perhaps the Indians won’t fight,” suggested Henry. “They’ll fight right enough,” answered Tony Jadwin. “They have just enough rum in them to make ’em ugly. I think Bevoir had been supplyin’ ’em with liquor.” “His old trick,” murmured Dave. “And it always works—with such Indians as he gets to aid him in his dirty work.” The matter was talked over, and James Morris said he would take a look at the enemy himself. Dave begged to be taken along, and his parent consented. It was an easy matter to follow the trail Tony Jadwin had made. Walking through the snow, they made no noise, and soon reached the point of vantage the old trapper had occupied. They found the enemy encamped in the midst of a patch of wood, with some rocks on one side. Stationing themselves behind the rocks they readily saw and heard a good deal of what occurred. The four Frenchmen spoke in French, while the Indians used their native language. As a consequence, Dave understood but little of what was said. But Mr. Morris could speak French fairly well, and understood much of the red men’s dialect. He took in every word that reached his ears, and as he listened his brow darkened.