At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in a quiet tone, “Be ready, lads, for instant action.  When I give the word ‘Up,’ spring to your feet and cock your guns; but don’t fire a shot till you get the word.”  He then stepped forward and said,—­

“The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know that they have hid the Pale-face prisoners.  We do not wish to quarrel, but if they are not delivered up at once the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not be friends.”

Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and said, “The Peigans are not double-tongued.  They have not seen Pale-faces till to-day.  They can say no more.”

Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in a firm tone, “The first Peigan that moves shall die!  Up, lads, and ready!”

In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to their feet, and cocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless, scowling at the savages, who were completely taken by surprise at the unusual suddenness and informality of such a declaration of war.  Not a man moved, for, unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in open fight; and as they looked at the formidable row of muzzles that waited but a word to send instant death into their midst, they felt that discretion was at that time the better part of valour.

“Now,” said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe stepped up beside him, “my young warrior will search for the Pale-face prisoners.  If they are found, we will take them and go away.  If they are not found, we will ask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them gifts.  But in the meantime, if a Peigan moves from the spot where he sits, or lifts a bow, my young men shall fire, and the Peigans know that the rifle of the Pale-face always kills.”

Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately said, “Seek ’em out, pup,” and Crusoe bounded away.

For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither through the camp, quite regardless of the Indians, and snuffed the air several times, whining in an excited tone, as if to relieve his feelings.  Then he put his nose to the ground and ran straight forward into the woods.

Dick immediately bounded after him like a deer, while the trappers kept silent guard over the savages.

For some time Crusoe ran straight forward.  Then he came to a spot where there was a good deal of drifted snow on the ground.  Here he seemed to lose the trail for a little, and ran about in all directions, whining in a most piteous tone.

“Seek ’em out, pup,” repeated Dick encouragingly, while his own breast heaved with excitement and expectation.

In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course, and led the way into a wild, dark spot, which was so overshadowed by trees and precipitous cliffs that the light of the sun scarce found entrance.  There were many huge masses of rock scattered over the ground, which had fallen from the cliffs.  Behind one of these lay a mound of dried leaves, towards which Crusoe darted and commenced scraping violently.