I'm in a fever to set eyes on that same old Tartar, Alex Gregory.
Already I seem to dislike him immensely, and possibly I'll end by hating him good and hard.

He's more than a little to blame for Owen's troubles, whatever they may be.

Say nothing, Eli, but keep your eyes open." "What if the copper-skinned critters attack us--I've got my gun handy, and I give you my word there'll be the very old dickens to pay if they start rough-housing it with us," answered the young logger; and it was not in a boastful spirit that he spoke, for Eli usually showed a modest disposition; only he, too, had taken a great fancy to the new chum who had been sent to them by such a freak of fortune, and Cuthbert's intimation that the other must be the victim of oppression rather riled him.
"Oh, I have no idea they will try any funny business; they know we are armed, and besides they have their orders from the head boss.

You'll find that they only mean to tag after us, keeping on our heels until sure we mean to go to the post.

These chaps possibly saw that smoke signal the other Cree we met downstream sent up, and they knew Owen was somewhere around.