turned round I observed how
quickly it obliterated over footsteps. I had carefully noted the
direction of the wood which commenced at the foot of the hill, and we
therefore reached it without difficulty. Making our way onwards, we
soon selected a spot for camping, and although it was still early in the
afternoon, I resolved to remain there, at all events, until the next
morning. While looking about for fire-wood we discovered a large hollow
tree, and as we had plenty of time, we cleaned it out, so that it would
serve as a comfortable abode for the night. We collected also a
quantity of dry leaves, with which we could cover ourselves up, should
the cold become as intense as on the previous night. We also searched
about for some slabs of bark, to line the rougher parts and to close up
the aperture. While I was arranging our intended abode for the night,
Dio, followed by Boxer, went off to catch, if he could, some small
animal or bird which he might kill for our supper; I had lost sight of
him, but felt very sure that he and his companion could find their way
back. Having made up the fire, I was on the point of lighting it, when
Dio appeared running towards me.

"Oh! Massa Mike!" he exclaimed, almost breathless, "I see de Indians on
top ob de hill!"

The snow, which blew in their faces, had, however, prevented them from
seeing him. What should we do?

"Fortunately, as the falling snow will have filled up our trail, they
will not know we are here," I observed; "the best thing we can do is to
creep into our hollow tree and remain quiet; perhaps they will choose
some other part of the forest to camp in, and if so, they will not
discover us. Were we now to try and escape through the forest, they
would nearly to a certainty fall on our trail and follow us up, whereas
we may hope that they will not enter it to camp, until they have got
further to the eastward; if, however, they do camp close to us, our only
safe course will be to walk boldly in among them, and tell them that we
wish to be friends, and that we will reward them for any assistance they
may give us."

"Den, massa, we hide in de tree," said Dio.

Had the snow not been falling, I knew that, should they pass within
fifty yards, they would discover our footsteps; but even in the thickest
part of the forest, it so quickly covered the ground, that I hoped they
might not see our trail.

Having scattered the sticks we had collected for our fire, we clambere