Part 40 (1/2)
”I heard only one,” returned the girl.
”That is because you have not heard much firing of guns. Adolay is not yet as old as her father. The traders from the great fresh lake must have come to our land, and that is the reason why our people have forsaken the old home.”
As he spoke the flotilla rounded a point on the river, and came in sight of MacSweenie's canoe making for the land after having picked up the geese.
An impartial observer would not have found it easy to determine which party expressed more surprise.
”Fire-spouters!” shouted the new arrivals.
”Eskimos!” exclaimed Mowat.
”Savitches--whatever!” said MacSweenie. ”Wow! but this _iss_ goot luck!
Gif way, my boy, an' we will meet them more than half-way.”
Suddenly the trader ceased to paddle, and raised a hand to shade his eyes from the sun.
”Tonal', man!” he growled with a Gaelic expletive which it is impossible to spell, ”iss that a birch-bark canoe that I am seein'?”
”It is that,” answered the interpreter, ”an' I do believe that--that--”
”Man! Tonal',” interrupted the trader, as he dipped his paddle violently into the water. ”It's wis.h.i.+n' I am that I may never see the Grampians again in this world if yon iss not n.a.z.inred himself wi' his daater in the bow! It iss my belief there will be rechoicing in the Dogrib camp this night--though wi' such a band o' Eskimos there will be no small risk o' fechtin' also!”
By this time the canoe and flotilla were so near that n.a.z.inred recognised the trader, and threw up a hand in salutation, whereupon MacSweenie and Mowat, taking off their caps, treated the party to a rousing British cheer, which was so congenial to the lively Eskimos that they burst into a sympathetic howl, mingled with laughter and some fair attempts to imitate the cheer, while they splashed up the water with their paddles, and otherwise conducted themselves jovially.
Of course n.a.z.inred would not condescend to conduct so undignified, but in his way he expressed great satisfaction at the happy meeting.
Then all the paddles were dipped again with vigour and the whole party made for the fort--the two canoes leading.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.
THE LAST.
”I will be thinkin',” said MacSweenie to Mowat, ”that it will be safer for our two canoes to go first to the fort an' leave the Eskimos behind the point till we warn the Indians o' their arrival; for there iss no knowin' what these fiery savitches may do if their old enemies come on them all of a sudden. Tell n.a.z.inred that.”
The interpreter obeyed, and as the chief was of the same opinion, a halt was called; Cheenbuk was consulted, and ultimately the Eskimos in their kayaks were left concealed behind the nearest point below the fort, while the two canoes advanced side by side.
”We will take them by surprise, Tonal'. I'm fond o' givin' people a surprise,” said MacSweenie in an undertone as they drew near to the little wharf that had been run out from the land in front of the main building. A few Indians were watching the arrival with some curiosity.
But there was one pa.s.senger in n.a.z.inred's canoe who cared little for interfering with human plans--namely, Attim, whose s.h.a.ggy head rested on the gunwale as he gazed and snuffed anxiously.
The moment the canoes came within a few yards of the sh.o.r.e, the excited dog plunged over the side with a huge bound. He was a magnificent swimmer, and reached the land in a few seconds. Springing up the bank, he shook a shower from his sides and bounded into the bushes, with the certain knowledge, no doubt, that he had reached home at last, and that his faithful nose would not fail to guide him to the tent of Isquay.
”O ye rascal!” growled MacSweenie, ”you've let the cat out o' the bag-- for I make no doubt that every man an' wummin o' the tribe knows you by sight.”
And the Highlander was right, for in a few minutes the whole camp was roused, and the sight of the dog told them that n.a.z.inred had come back.
But had he found his daughter? That was a point which every one who could walk, run, or hobble, hurried to the wharf to ascertain.
But the point was cleared up sooner than they expected, for, before they reached the wharf, a graceful figure was seen to be bounding through the bushes, apparently in hot pursuit of the dog.
Immediately after that a treble scream was heard to issue from a coppice behind the fort. It was followed by an equally treble squeal, with a ba.s.s accompaniment of barking. No one took the trouble to inquire the cause of this, for they knew, somehow, intuitively.