The Frontier Fort | Page 6

out there,"
observed Loraine.
"Not he; he would not have exposed himself in that fashion," said the
old man.
"Then my eyes must have deceived me, after all," said Loraine. "I'm
sure Mr Burnett, the leader of our party, will welcome you to the camp;
but he is asleep at present, and I should be sorry to disturb him
unnecessarily. I will, however, call up one of the men to get ready some
supper for you and your attendant."
"I shall be glad of some food, for I have not fired a shot for the last
three days, and my stock of provisions has run short," replied the old
man.
He now called up Greensnake, took off the saddles from the led horses,
and unloaded the baggage animals, placing the packs inside the circle
of carts.
Meantime, Loraine found out where Francois was sleeping, and,
arousing him, told him to get some food ready for their unexpected
guests.

Francois at first eyed the strangers askance. Satisfied, however, at
length, that he was a white man, and perhaps a person of more
importance than his costume might betoken, he set diligently to work to
boil the kettle and fry some buffalo meat; the old hunter, who had taken
a seat on a pile of wood near the fire, looking complacently on.
Loraine having assisted Francois in preparing the supper, prompted by
good feeling, and perhaps slightly by curiosity, took a seat by the side
of the stranger, that he might attend to his wants. Immediately
afterwards, the lad who has been introduced as Greensnake glided
noiselessly up in a fashion appropriate to his name, and squatted down
close to his master, waiting patiently until Loraine handed him a share
of the food. Having no cause to conceal the object of their journey,
Loraine explained that he and his companions were bound for Fort
Edmonton, and were pushing on as fast as they could travel, without
the risk of knocking up their horses.
"I wish that you were directing your course rather to Fort Duncan, for I
suspect that Captain Mackintosh and his small garrison are greatly in
want of assistance. From some information brought me by Greensnake,
I suspect that the Blackfeet have formed a plot to take it. Hearing that
the Captain holds the Indians cheaply, and is not likely to be warned by
what I might tell him, I am on my way to Fort Edmonton to advise that
he should be put on his guard, and that assistance may be sent him
without delay."
Loraine was struck by the old man's mode of expressing himself--so
different to the slang language used in general by the rough trappers
and traders of the Far West.
"This is important information, indeed!" he said, feeling anxious about
the safety of his young friend's family, and especially of that young
friend's two sisters; for although he had never seen them, Hector had
shown him their portraits, one of which, called Sybil, possessed a face
of rare loveliness. Effie, the younger, was very attractive; but Hector
declared that there never was, or never could be, anybody like Sybil.
Hector had told him that the portrait, not being his own, he could not
give it to him, but that he was welcome to look at it as often as he

liked--a privilege of which, it must be confessed, Reginald frequently
took advantage; and he had resolved, if possible, to pay a visit to the
residence of the fair original. Even had this not been the case, his
chivalry would have made him eager to set off to the assistance of
Hector's relatives. He felt that the matter was of so much importance
that he should be justified in calling up Mr Burnett to discuss what
measures should be taken. He, of course, knew that Hector would be as
anxious to go as he was; he, therefore, let him sleep on. Burnett, who
did not appear very well satisfied at being aroused from his slumbers,
came and sat down to hear the old man's account. He questioned him
narrowly, apparently not altogether crediting his statements.
"You may think what you will, Mr Burnett; but people are not apt in
general to doubt the word of Isaac Sass," said the old man at length, in
an offended tone.
"Are you Isaac Sass?" exclaimed Burnett. "I have often heard of you.
Then, I say, I don't doubt your word. But why are you so sure that the
fort will be attacked?"
"For a strong reason, which, as I don't wish to keep you longer from
your rest, I will give in the morning."
"A word for yourself, friend Sass, I ken?" observed Burnett.
"No, no; I can do without sleep," answered Isaac Sass; "but before I lie
down, I wish