that's a guess," said Long Jim.

"Oh, no, it isn't. Jim, you must really learn to use your eyes. Look up
a little. See, those buzzards hovering over a particular spot. Now, one
darts down and now another rises up. I suppose they're still able to
pick a few shreds of flesh from the under side of the big buffalo
bones."

"I reckon you're right, Henry."

They reached the old camp presently, within the indicated distance, but
did not linger, pressing on over little prairies and across streams of
all sizes. They noticed again and again where the hunting parties left
the main army, and then where they came back.

"They've lots of ammunition," said Henry. "They must have the biggest
supply that was ever yet furnished by Detroit."

"Mebbe we kin git some uv it fur ourselves later on," said Tom Ross.

"That's not a bad idea, to get ammunition at the expense of the enemy.
Their bullets might not fit our rifles, but we could use their powder.
We may have our chance yet to raid 'em."

At noon they turned aside into the forest and sought a deep recess where
they could rest and plan. Foliage and earth were dry now and they
stretched themselves luxuriously, as they ate and talked. They reckoned
that they could overtake the army on the following night or at least on
the morning after, as its progress had been manifestly slower even than
they had thought. Taking cannon through the great woods in which not a
single road existed was a most difficult task. But every one of the five
felt the need of exceeding great caution. Besides the hunters they might
have to deal with the party that had left under Blackstaffe and Red
Eagle. For all they knew, this band might have taken a shorter course
through the woods, and chance might bring on an encounter at any time.

"If they should strike our trail they're likely to follow it up," said
the shiftless one. "Some o' 'em in lookin' fur game are shore to be far
in the rear, an' them too may stumble on us."

"'Pears to me," said Long Jim, "that we've come knowin' it, plum' into a
big hornet's nest, but we ain't stung yet."

"An' we ain't goin' to be," said the shiftless one confidently.

Thus did the knights of the forest discuss their chances, and they were
as truly knights as any that ever tilted lance for his lady, or, clothed
in mail, fought the Saracen in the Holy Land, and, buried in the vast
forest, their dangers were greater, they so few against so many.

Knowing now that they had