220 The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



scene before them. They were in a rudely built 

 chamber of unusual size, measuring some twenty- 

 five feet in length by twenty in breadth, at one end 

 of which a large wood fire blazed, its fitful flame 

 casting a flickering light on a semi-circle of grave, 

 motionless red men, who, sitting three deep on the 

 floor, wrapped in their buffalo robes, surrounded 

 three sides of the apartment. One glance at the 

 assemblage convinced the trio of the impossibility 

 of retreat, and nothing remained but to carry out 

 the rash adventure with hardihood. In the centre 

 of the semi-circle, near the fire, sat the chief, an old 

 warrior sixty years of age, who motioned them to 

 take their seats on the vacant side of the room. In 

 the midst of the same unbroken silence the white 

 men complied, and an ominous pause ensued, during 

 which the fierce eyes of the grim warriors flashed 

 in the fire-light as they gazed scowlingly at their 

 visitors. Well might the latter feel into what a 

 scrape their recklessness had drawn them. 



"Don't take your eye off the chief," whispered 

 McKenzie, "I shall address him, and if you sec 

 him make the smallest sign to his band, shoot him 

 through the heart, and make a rush for the door." 



His companions nodded in acquiescence, and then 

 McKenzie advanced towards the old chief, and 

 offered him the pipe of peace. With an indignant 



