POKE EECEIYES A CUe'oSITY AND TELLS A YAEN. 343 



open water with a keen, careful eye. We slowly came 

 ap and followecl him as, parting the reeds, he wound 

 along the shore some quarter of a mile, till where the 

 grass began to groAV thin. Then beaching the canoes 

 where they could not be seen from the lake, we unpacked 

 cm* provisions, and, seated where .we could overlook all 

 the water, and yet not be seen, ate our dinner and took 

 our noonday nap. 



The propriety of Mike's caution in a little while 

 became apparent. A canoe came out from one of the 

 outlets of the lake a mile down, and crossed over to the 

 side where we were sitting. In it was a single Indian. 

 This was followed at a short distance by another with 

 three women, and both boats disappeared in a cove. 

 Had we been on the lake we should have been seen, or 

 had we continued our course we must have met them, 



*' What's that mean, Mike ?'» 



" Injins." 



*' Yes ; but what are they doing ? Is there a tribe of 

 them here, and are they on a war party, or what ?" 



"No; it's a band ; they've got their squaws Avith 'em. 

 They're travellin', fur they paddle, leastwise the squaws 

 do, as ef they were tired. And there's more on 'cm 

 somewhars, for there's too many squaws there fur that 

 cue red-skin. Keep quiet and they'll show their hand.'* 



Before night three other canoes passed the lake in the 

 same direction, and turned round the projecting point 

 where the first appeared. 



The evening came on apace. Tbo sun set — a globe of 



