"Evenin', John. An' where'd you be comin' from now?"
"Been huntin' t' th' suth'ard. Thought I'd drop in an' see ye."
"From th' river tilt. Ye took un, didn't ye?"
"No, I didn't take no stove. I weren't in th' river tilt, an' don't know what yer talkin' about," lied the half-breed.
"Some one took un an' we was layin' it t' you. Now I wonders who 'twere."
"Well, _I_ wouldn't take it. Ye ought t' known _I_ wouldn't do a thing like that," insisted Micmac, with an air of injured innocence. "Maybe th' Mingen Injuns took it. There's been some around an' they says they'll take anything they find, an' fur too, if they find any in th' tilts. These are their huntin' grounds an' outsiders has no right on 'em. They gave me right t' hunt down t' th' suth'ard."
"Mountaineers as belong Mingen way up south, an' hunts between this an' th' Straits."
"I were thinkin' 'twere th' Nascaupees took th' stove if you didn't take un."
"Th' Nascaupees are back here a bit t' th' west'ard. I saw some of 'em one day when I was cruisin' that way an' I made tracks back fer I didn't want t' die so quick. They'll kill anybody they see in here, an' burn th' tilts if they happen over this way an' see 'em. Ye have t' be on th' watch fer 'em all th' time."
"I'll be watchin' out fer un an' keep clear if I sees their footin'," said Bob as he went out to bring in his things.
What Micmac said about the Nascaupees disturbed him not a little. Bob was brave, but every man, no matter how brave he may be, fears an unseen danger when he believes that danger is real and is apt to come upon him unexpectedly and at a time when no opportunity will be offered for defense. It was evident that these Indians were close at hand, and that he was in daily and imminent danger of being captured, which meant, he was sure, being killed. But he was here for a purpose--to catch all the fur he could--and he must not lose his courage now, before that purpose was accomplished. He must remain on his trail until the hunting season closed. He must be constantly upon his guard, he thought, and perhaps after all would not be discovered. No, he would _not_ let himself be afraid.
When he returned to the tilt Micmac John asked:
"Not so bad," he replied. "I has one silver, an' a fine un, too."