ey could buy a horse, they would rig up their cart
and carry their furs to Pittsburg. It would be a much shorter and safer
trip than to undertake to reach Detroit, and they would require no
assistance. There was some probability, too, that among their friends in
Pittsburg they might get some word concerning Tom Fish.

It was one night when they had returned from fishing, bringing in a great
string of rock bass, that the lads talked this over, and at last
concluded to go again to the Delaware town, even at the risk of having
more trouble with Big Buffalo.

It seemed like a holiday after their hard work when, next day, the boys
found themselves in their canoe, gliding over the river's rippling waters
on their way to Capt. Pipe's home. They carried the craft overland to the
lake and soon approached the Indian village.

But suddenly as they drew near, the noise of many voices was borne to
them by the breeze. First loud, then low, the sounds came across the
water. Ree's face grew grave, and John, who had been whistling, abruptly
paused.

"Ree," he exclaimed, "that is the song of the war dance!"

"It means that the Indians are going on the warpath, as surely as we hear
it," was the answer. "Be on your guard, John. We will soon find out just
what it means; for we won't turn back now, even if we see the whole tribe
in war paint."

CHAPTER XVII.

Danger.

As Ree spoke, a war whoop sounded clear and strong, instantly followed by
a weird, chanting song. In a minute or two this ceased, and then with
fiercer war whoops than before, broke out afresh. Quickly the young
pioneers floated nearer the scene of these warlike outbursts, and soon
ran the nose of their canoe upon the gravelly beach. With fast-beating
hearts they climbed the little bank which rose gradually a few feet back
from the shore.

The boys had approached so quietly, and the Indians were so intent on
the war dance that their coming had not been discovered. And well
might the lads pause in uncertainty as to the manner of the reception
they would receive; for now they came into full view of the assembled
savages--half-naked warriors in paint and fighting costume, forming a
circle and dancing and yelling like the wild barbarians they were, while
old men and young braves and squaws and children looked on in savage
rapture. Before either boy could speak Big Buffalo espied them and
leaped forward brandishing a tomahawk.

Instinctively Ree seized his rifle