“Perhaps that is the best plan,” Nat said.  “What do you think, Jonathan?”

Jonathan gave an assenting grunt, and they turned their faces towards the lake, still walking at the same leisurely pace.  Not once did any of the three look back.  As they neared the water, James found the temptation very strong to do so, but he restrained it, and sauntered along as carelessly as ever.

The canoe was lifted from its hiding place and put in the water.  As they were about to step in, the bushes parted, and the Owl stood beside them.

“Where are my brothers going?” he asked quietly.

“We are going fishing,” Nat answered.  “The noise in the woods will have frightened game away.”

“There is food in the camp,” the Owl said.  “The French give food to their brothers, the redskins.”

“My white brother wants fish,” Nat said quietly, “and we have told him we will catch him some.  Will the Owl go with us?”

The Indian shook his head, and in a moment the canoe put off from the shore, the Indian standing, watching them, at the edge of the water.

“That’s a badly puzzled redskin,” Nat said, with a low laugh.  “His braves have not come up yet, or he would not have let us start.

“There, that is far enough.  We are out of the range of Indian guns.  Now, lay in your paddles, and begin to fish.  There are several canoes fishing further out, and the redskin will feel safe.  He can cut us off, providing we don’t go beyond them.”

The Indian was, as Nat had said, puzzled.  That something was wrong he was sure; but, as he was alone, he was unable to oppose their departure.  He watched them closely, as they paddled out, in readiness to give a war whoop, which would have brought down the fishing canoes outside, and given warning to every Indian within sound of his voice; but, when he saw them stop and begin to fish, he hesitated.  If he gave the alarm, he might prove to be mistaken, and he shrank from facing the ridicule which a false alarm would bring upon him.  Should they really prove, as he believed, to be spies, he would, if he gave the alarm, lose the honour and glory of their capture, and their scalps would fall to other hands—­a risk not to be thought of.

He therefore waited, until six of his braves came up.  He had already retired among the trees, before he joined them; but the canoe was still visible through the branches.

“The men we tracked have taken to the water.  They are fishing.  The Owl is sure that they are not of our tribe; but he must wait, till he sees what they will do.  Let three of my brothers go and get a canoe, and paddle out beyond them, and there fish.  I will remain with the others here.  If they come back again, we will seize them.  If they go out further, my brothers will call to the redskins in the other canoes, and will cut them off.  The Owl and his friends will soon be with them.”

“There is another canoe coming out, Nat,” James said.  “Hadn’t we better make a run for it, at once?”