A STARTLING SPECTACLE. 37 



river. Here a spectacle met their eyes which caused 

 all three to start. 



Two persons sat by the verge of the stream, on which 

 floated a light birch canoe. One was a lady evidently 

 young, while her companion, a man of gentlemanly ap- 

 pearance, seemed considerably her senior. The latter 

 was busied over a fire, at which he appeared to be 

 cooking ; while the lady, engaged with her pencil, was 

 sketching the pretty view down the river. 



"Wai! this is a caution, now it is!" exclaimed old 

 Jake. " Who'd a thort to see a buck an' a doe like 

 that in this hyur location ? But, thunder, f ellurs ! do 

 ee see what ur a-gwine on behint at the edge o' the 

 timber?" 



The boys, startled by the -vehemence of the old 

 hunter's manner, looked in the direction indicated. At 

 first they were unable to perceive anything ; but shortly 

 they observed two Indians crouching from bush to bush, 

 trailing their rifles, and evidently stalking the travellers, 

 who were engrossed by their respective occupations, and 

 wholly unsuspicious of danger. That the intentions of 

 the two savages were hostile was apparent from their 

 attempting secrecy in their approach ; and that they 

 would effect their murderous purpose was also evident, 

 unless frustrated by the intervention of the trappers. 

 The edge of the timber was about one hundred yards 

 from the river; but several bushes and young pines 

 grew here and there in the intervening space, and 

 afforded good cover for the lurking savages, who, when 



