s that we had stumbled
upon some Indian hut, but I felt it safer to explore its interior before
permitting the others to venture closer.

"Hold the horses here, Tim; let me see what we have ahead first."

I approached the place from the rear, peering in through the narrow
openings between the upright poles. The light was so poor I was not able
to perceive much, but did succeed in fully convincing myself that the
dismal shack was unoccupied. The door stood unlatched and I pushed it
open. A single glance served to reveal everything the place contained.
Without doubt it had been the late abode of Indians, who, in all
probability had fled hastily to join Black Hawk in his foray up Rock
River. There was no pretense at furniture of any description--nothing,
indeed, but bare walls and trampled dirt floor, but what interested me
most was a small bit of jerked deer meat which still hung against an
upright and the rude stone fireplace in the center of the hut, with an
opening above to carry away the smoke. I had found during the night a
fair supply of hard bread in my saddle-bag, and now, with this additional
gift of Providence, felt assured, at least, of one sufficient meal. I
stood there for perhaps a minute, staring wonderingly about that gloomy
interior, but making no further discoveries, then I returned without and
called to the others.

"It is all right, Tim, there is no one here. An old Indian camp, with
nothing but a junk of jerked deer meat left behind. Elsie, gather up
some of that old wood yonder and build a fire. Kennedy and I will look
after Miss Beaucaire."

It was bright day by this time, the red of the rising sun in the sky, and
I could trace the radius of swamp land stretching about us on every hand,
a grim, desolate scene even in the beauty of that clear dawn. We had
been fortunate enough to approach the spot along the only available
pathway which led to this little oasis, and a more secure hiding place it
would be difficult to find. The tree growth and heavy underbrush
completely concealed the miserable shack from view in every direction,
and what faint trail we had left behind us since we took to the water of
the creek would be extremely hard to follow. I felt almost at ease for
the present and satisfied to rest here for several hours.

Tim assisted me in unstrapping Eloise, and lifting her from the saddle,
and, as she made no effort to help herself, the two of us carried her to
a warm, sunny