in
fighting their foes, and that victory was certain. As Gilbert still
hesitated, the chief told him very plainly that go he must or take the
consequences; so, Fenton having agreed to help the chief, he resolved to
make the best of a bad matter. He and Fenton also intended to try and
learn the whereabouts of the white man and to protect him, whoever he
was, from their friends.

The whole force which had been marshalled overnight set forth some hours
before daylight--not marching like an English army, shoulder to
shoulder, but following each other in several lines, each headed by a
warrior of renown, like so many snakes stealing along the grass.
Gilbert and Fenton followed in the march, one behind the other. Thus
they proceeded across the country; the lines never interfering with, but
always keeping in sight of, each other. At night they encamped round
several fires, a strong guard keeping watch over those who slept. They
hoped, before the evening of the next day, to reach the territory of
their enemies. The following evening, after a short rest in a thick
forest, where no fires were lighted which might betray them, they again
set forward, expecting ere long to come upon a village, which they hoped
to take by surprise and put all the inhabitants to death.

"I will not assist them in so horrible a butchery," said Gilbert; "but
perchance while they are engaged in it we may find an opportunity of
escaping and letting the white man know the danger he and his friends
are in."

The Indians now advanced more cautiously even than before, taking
advantage of all the shelter the country afforded till night came on,
when, after going some distance, a sign from the chief was passed from
line to line. They halted in a thick wood, where they lay down, not a
word being uttered, Gilbert and Fenton following their example. As they
thus lay in perfect silence, they heard human voices, the laughter of
young people, the barking of dogs, and other sounds, coming, evidently,
from the village to be attacked. Soon the voices died away as the
inhabitants went to rest. The night passed by, the Indians watching
eagerly for the signal to advance. It was given about an hour before
dawn, when the band of warriors crept rapidly forward like tigers about
to spring on their prey. Gilbert felt much inclined to fire off his
piece to give the doomed inhabitants the alarm, but he feared that he
and Fenton would lose their lives; and that the