shoot, when much to my surprise a man stepped forth from out of the
darkness.

Supposing him to be an Indian and that he might be followed by a number
of others with scalping-knives in their hands, I slowly retreated,
holding my gun ready for action.

"Do not fire, my friend," said a voice which I recognised as that of the
stranger we had met the previous day. "I come as I promised, to give
you warning should you be in danger. I have discovered that a party of
redskins are out on the war-path, and that you are certain to fall in
with them should you continue hunting. I would advise you forthwith to
saddle your horses and return to the fort."

I thanked the stranger for his information and instantly aroused my
companions; he repeated what he had said to Mr Tidey, advising him to
lose no time in starting.

"I will guide you by the shortest cut out of the wood," he said; "after
that you must push on as fast as your horses can go, and you may keep
ahead of the savages, who are now away to the westward, but will soon
discover your trail, and seeing that you are a small party, will be
certain to follow you up." The idea for a moment glanced across my mind
that perhaps the stranger wished to get rid of us, for the sake of
having all the sport to himself, but his frank air and the earnest tone
in which he spoke made me banish the suspicion. Without a moment's
delay all hands set to work to get ready for starting, our friend
energetically assisting us. Our pack-animals were soon ready and our
steeds saddled.

"Now we will be off," said the stranger, and going ahead he led the way,
winding in and out among the trees at so rapid a rate, that we could
with difficulty keep him in sight. Every now and then he turned,
however, to ascertain that we were following. He evidently seemed to
consider that not a moment was to be lost. At length the border of the
wood was gained.

"You can make your way now by yourselves," he said; "the dawn will soon
break, and the rising sun will serve to guide you. Keep slightly to the
right, and you will pass the confines of the next wood. The ground is
even for some miles, and if you press forward as fast as your horses can
go, I trust that you may keep ahead of your enemies. They are sure to
discover your trail, and therefore, although you may not see them, when
looking behind, you must not venture to halt. Whether they intend to
attack the fort, I cannot say, but it is as well that