seat upon the mat beside him. "I am only a voice. A bird that calls
'beware' from the branches, and then flits away. Why watch the old
wolf, and let the cub play free? Would you make yourself a
laughing-stock among your people, by letting the Englishman escape into
the Baron's hands? Pemaou, son of the Baron, stands with his followers
outside the Englishman's window. What does he seek? I am no Ottawa.
I am a free man, bound to no clan, and to no covenant, and friend to
the Ottawas and Hurons alike. But I do not like to see a wise man
tricked by a boy. I have spoken."

Longuant rose. "My brother's voice speaks the truth," he said,
gathering his robes to leave me. "My brother sent his words, even as
he flung his spear at Pemaou, straight at the mark. Only one word goes
astray. My brother is not the free man he vaunts himself. He is tied
by hate;" and pushing out his lip till his huge nose pendant stood at a
right angle, he went on his way to be my willing, but entirely
unhoodwinked agent.

I went to my canoes, stumbling a little, for I was tired. It was dark
now, and the fires glowed brazenly, so that the Indians showed like
dancing silhouettes. The sky was cloudless, and to the east lay a band
of uncertain light that meant the rising moon. This was the time that
I had planned to use in action, and the knowledge that I was powerless
to accomplish anything myself made me so irritable that I could not
bear to speak even to Pierre and the men. I sent them to a distance,
and sat down on the sand so torn and frayed by anxiety that I was like
a sick man.

And here, after long minutes, Singing Arrow found me. She came running
down the beach, slipping on the rolling pebbles, and careless either of