XXI THE GRINNING INDIAN
When Hugh passed out of the narrow channel into the wider one, he ran hiseyes searchingly along the opposite shore, alert for any signs of humanbeings. Then he looked to the right and left, up and down the channel andthe shores of the small islands. He saw nothing to cause himapprehension. Putting more strength into his paddle strokes, he crossedas quickly as he could, and ran the bateau in beside a leaning cedar treewith branches that swept the water. The bow touched the shore, and Hughclimbed out and made the boat fast. He felt sure it would be concealedfrom down channel by the thick foliage of the cedar. From up channel thebateau was not so well hidden, but this place seemed to be the only spotthat offered any concealment whatever, so he was forced to be content. Hewould not be gone long anyway, and he was well satisfied that Ohrante andhis band would not return soon to the Bay of Manitos.
This was by no means the first time Hugh had been through untracked woodsand over rough ground, yet he found the trip to the ridge top longer andmore difficult than he had expected. The growth, principally ofevergreens, was dense and often troublesome to push through. The bedrock,a few feet from shore, was covered deeply with soft leaf mould anddecayed wood and litter, forming a treacherous footing. Sometimes hefound it firm beneath his feet, again he would sink half-way to hisknees. Wherever a tree had fallen, lightening the dense shade, tangles ofground yew had sprung up. The rise on this side of the point was gradualcompared with the abrupt cliffs of the northwest side, but the slopeproved to be, not an unbroken grade, but an irregular succession of lowridges with shallow gullies between. By the general upward trend,occasional glimpses of the water behind him, and the angle at which thesunlight came through the trees, Hugh kept his main direction, going inas straight a line as he could. Under ordinary circumstances he wouldhave used his hatchet to blaze his way, so that he might be sure ofreturning by the same route, but he hesitated to leave so plain a trail.It was not likely that Ohrante would come across the track, but Hugh wastaking no chances. If the giant Iroquois should come down the channel andfind the bateau, a blazed trail into the woods would make pursuitaltogether too easy. Though he was in too great a hurry to take anyparticular care to avoid leaving footprints, Hugh did not mark his trailintentionally and even refrained from cutting his way through the thickplaces. The whole distance from the shore to the summit of the highestridge probably did not exceed a mile, and did not actually take as longas it seemed in the climbing.
He hoped that he might come out in a bare spot where he could see acrossthe water, but he was disappointed. The ridge was almost flat topped andtrees cut off his view in every direction. Going on across the summit,however, he pushed his way among the growth, to find himself standing onthe very rim of an almost vertical descent. He looked directly down uponthe tops of the sturdy trees and shrubs that clung to the rock bythrusting their roots far into holes and crannies. Beyond stretched thelake, rich blue under a clear sky. A little to his left, a projectingblock of rock a few feet below offered a chance for a better view. He lethimself down on the rock and took an observation. The lake was not toorough to venture out upon, when the need of crossing was so great. Henoted with satisfaction that the breeze was only moderate. The direction,a little east of north, was not unfavorable for reaching the mainland,though steering a straight course for the Kaministikwia would beimpossible.
Hugh turned to climb back the way he had come down. He gave a gasp,almost lost his footing, and seized a sturdy juniper root to keep himselffrom falling. Directly above him, on the verge of the ridge, stood astrange man, from his features, dark skin and long black hair evidentlyan Indian,--but not Ohrante. It flashed through Hugh's mind that on levelground he might be a match for this fellow. They were not on level groundthough. The Indian had the advantage of position. Moreover Hugh's onlyarms were the hatchet and knife in his belt. The Indian carried a musketready in his hand. That he realized to the full his advantage was provedby the malicious grin on his bronze face. There was no friendliness inthat grin, only malevolence and vindictiveness.
Hugh knew himself to be in a bad position. Probably the Indian was one ofOhrante's followers, and they were a wild crew, outlaws and renegades,their hand against every man and every man's hand against them. Thepicture of the prisoner being tortured in the firelight crossed the boy'smind in a vivid flash, and a shudder crept up his back. Then the grin onthe Indian's face sent a wave of anger over Hugh that steadied him. Hemust be cool at all costs and not show fear.
Moving a step, to a more secure footing, he looked the fellow straight inthe eyes. "Bo jou," Hugh said, using the corruption of the French "Bonjour" common among traders and Indians.
"Bo jou, white man," the other replied in French.
Both were silent for a moment. Hugh did not know what to say next and theIndian seemed content to say nothing. Suddenly Hugh made up his mind,resolving on a bold course.
"What is this place?" he asked. "Is it island or mainland?"
"Ne compr'ney," was the only answer.
Hugh took the phrase to be an attempt to say that the other did notunderstand. He repeated his questions in French, then tried English, butthe Indian merely stared at him, the sardonic grin still distorting hislips, and replied in the same manner. Either he really did notunderstand, the two French phrases being all the white man's speech heknew, or he did not wish to talk. Yet Hugh made another attempt atconversation.
"I was driven here in the storm last night," he volunteered, "and mycanoe wrecked and my companion drowned. We were on our way down shorefrom the New Fort with our winter supplies, but they are all lost. Whatis this place? I never saw it before and I do not like it. This morning Iheard strange sounds, unlike any I ever heard made by man or animal. Thedevil was at large I think," and he crossed himself in the French manner.
During the speech Hugh had kept his eyes closely fixed on the Indian'sface. He thought when he mentioned the strange sounds that he detected aquiver of interest, but it was gone in an instant. The fellow merelyrepeated his singsong "Ne compr'ney." There was no use saying more.Determined not to show that he expected or feared any violence, Hughstarted to climb up the projecting rock. Somewhat to the boy's surprise,the Indian made no move to stop him. However, he kept his gun ready forinstant use.
After gaining the top Hugh was in a quandary how to proceed. He did notbelieve the man's intentions were friendly. Would it be wise to strikefirst? At the thought, his hand, almost unconsciously, sought his knife.Before he could grasp the handle, the Indian made a swift movement, andthe end of the musket barrel rested against Hugh's chest. The flint-lockmusket was primed and cocked, ready to fire. Resistance was useless. Hughstood motionless, looked the fellow in the eye and feigned anger.
"What do you mean?" he cried, trying to make his meaning plain by hisvoice and manner even though his captor could not understand the words."What do you mean by threatening me, a white man, with your musket?"
The gun was moved back a trifle, but the bronze face continued to grinmaliciously. To show that he was not afraid, Hugh took a step forward,and opened his mouth to speak again, but the words were not uttered. Ashis weight shifted to his forward foot, he was seized from behind, andthrown sidewise, his head crashing against the trunk of a tree.