14: THE STORY OF THE TRAPPER 



ship. When MacKay came back and learned what had 

 happened, he warned the captain of Indian vengeance 

 and urged him to leave the harbour. These warnings 

 the captain scorned, welcoming back the Indians, and 

 no doubt exulting to see that they had become almost 

 servile. 



One morning, when Thorn and MacKay were yet 

 asleep, a pirogue with twenty Indians approached the 

 ship. The Indians were unarmed, and held up furs to 

 trade. They were welcomed on deck. Another canoe 

 glided near and another band mounted the ship s lad 

 der. Soon the vessel was completely surrounded with 

 canoes, the braves coming aboard with furs, the squaws 

 laughing and chatting and rocking their crafts at the 

 ship s side. This day the Indians were neither perti 

 nacious nor impertinent in their trade. Matters went 

 swimmingly till some of the Tonquin s crew noticed 

 with alarm that all the Indians were taking knives and 

 other weapons in exchange for their furs and that 

 groups were casually stationing themselves at positions 

 of wonderful advantage on the deck. MacKay and 

 Thorn were quickly called. 



This is probably what the Indians were awaiting. 



MacKay grasped the fearful danger of the situation 

 and again warned the captain. Again Thorn slighted 

 the warning. But anchors were hoisted. The Indians 

 thronged closer, as if in the confusion of hasty trade. 

 Then the dour-headed Thorn understood. With a 

 shout he ordered the decks cleared. His shout was an 

 swered by a counter-shout the wild, shrill shriekings 

 of the Indian war-cry ! All the newly-bought weapons 

 flashed in the morning sun. Lewis, the clerk, fell first, 

 bending over a pile of goods, and rolled down the com- 



