o his own
wants by cooking a supply of provisions for future use.

For two more nights and days was this strange and perilous journey
continued, until at daylight of the third day Donald felt that he must
be within a few miles of Presque Isle. The most critical moment of his
undertaking had now arrived. In spite of the rising sun he must push
on, for he was determined to reach the fort if possible before the
Indians, and warn Christie of their coming. At the same time he
realized that, as they had been able to travel much faster than he in
his big canoe, he could not be much if any past their camp of the night
just ended. Nor did he dare keep far out in the lake, for fear lest
they cut him off from the shore and so hold him at their mercy.

Wearied with his night's work, compelled to keep on, not daring to
land, and expecting each moment to hear the exulting yell or crack of a
rifle that should announce his discovery, Donald was thus obliged to
paddle doggedly forward within a hundred yards of the shore. His
suspense was well-nigh unbearable. Every nerve was strung to its
utmost tension. In each new indentation of the coast he expected to
see the waiting fleet of canoes, and with each fearful backward glance
he wondered at not finding them in pursuit.

At length, as he rounded a point, he thought he saw far down the lake,
against the blue of the sky and above the sombre forest, a flutter of
red. At the same moment be glanced behind him to see if he were still
free from pursuit. Alas! He was not. Two canoes, each urged by half
a dozen gleaming paddles, were following as swiftly and silently as
sharks that had scented blood, and they were not a quarter of a mile
away. As their occupants noted that they were discovered they uttered
yells of exultation that chilled the poor lad's blood in his veins and
caused him to feel faint with a despairing terror.

CHAPTER XXIII

DISCOVERED AND PURSUED BY SAVAGES

It was only for a moment that Donald was overcome by the chill despair
that, in presence of an imminent and overwhelming danger, often
paralyzes the most resolute. Then it passed as suddenly as it had
come. The hot blood surged through his veins, his heart was filled
with a fierce joy at the prospect of contest, and, under the vigorous
impulse of his stout young arms, the canoe bounded forward as though it
were animate and shared his feelings. Perhaps it was all owing to the
fact that, having round