about noon
Our success had been greater than we expected , and as we could not carry all our skins , Mr Tidey and Dan set off to the farm , to bring back a couple of horses to convey them home . Uncle Denis considering that it would be unwise to leave so much property without protection , asked me to remain in camp , while he and Dio continued trapping . This of course I willingly undertook to do , keeping my gun in readiness to shoot any animal which might approach . It was about noon , and as I was getting hungry I had placed a piece of venison to roast before the fire , and had sat down to watch it , when I was startled by seeing standing at no great distance from me an Indian who had approached so silently that I had not been aware of his presence . I rose to my feet , holding my rifle ready , should he come as a foe . But his bow was at his back and his arrows in the quiver . He spread out his hands to show that he held no weapons in them , and then , coming forward , sat down opposite to me .