A moment before there had been nothing.

The sudden appearance was even more startling than the strange canoe that crossed their track on Lake of the Winds.
Iberville knew at once that it was a mirage, and the mystery of it did not last long even among the superstitious.

But they knew now that somewhere in the north--presumably not far away--was a large band of Indians, possibly hostile; their own numbers were about fourscore.

There was the chance that the Indians were following or intercepting them.
Yet, since they had left the Ottawa River, they had seen no human being, save in that strange canoe on Lake of the Winds.

To the east were the dreary wastes of Labrador, to the west were the desolate plains and hills, stretching to the valley of the Saskatchewan.
Practically in command, Iberville advised watchfulness and preparation for attack.