yward was silent, until the Indians had cautiously
paddled the canoe some distance from the fort, and within the broad and
dark shadow that fell from the eastern mountain on the glassy surface of
the lake; then he demanded,--

"What need have we for this stolen and hurried departure?"

"If the blood of an Oneida could stain such a sheet of pure water as
this we float on," returned the scout, "your two eyes would answer your
own question. Have you forgotten the skulking rept_y_le that Uncas
slew?"

"By no means. But he was said to be alone, and dead men give no cause
for fear."

"Ay, he was alone in his deviltry! but an Indian whose tribe counts so
many warriors, need seldom fear his blood will run, without the
death-shriek coming speedily from some of his enemies."

"But our presence--the authority of Colonel Munro--would prove a
sufficient protection against the anger of our allies, especially in a
case where a wretch so well merited his fate. I trust in Heaven you have
not deviated a single foot from the direct line of our course, with so
slight a reason!"

"Do you think the bullet of that varlet's rifle would have turned aside,
though his majesty the king had stood in its path?" returned the
stubborn scout. "Why did not the grand Frencher, he who is
captain-general of the Canadas, bury the tomahawks of the Hurons, if a
word from a white can work so strongly on the natur' of an Indian?"

The reply of Heyward was interrupted by a groan from Munro; but after he
had paused a moment, in deference to the sorrow of his aged friend, he
resumed the subject.

"The Marquis of Montcalm can only settle that error with his God," said
the young man solemnly.

"Ay, ay; now there is reason in your words, for they are bottomed on
religion and honesty. There is a vast difference between throwing a
regiment of white coats atwixt the tribes and the prisoners, and coaxing
an angry savage to forget he carries a knife and a rifle, with words
that must begin with calling him your son. No, no," continued the scout,
looking back at the dim shore of William Henry, which was now fast
receding, and laughing in his own silent but heartfelt manner; "I have
put a trail of water atween us; and unless the imps can make friends
with the fishes, and hear who has paddled across their basin, this fine
morning, we shall throw the length of the Horican behind us, before they
have made up their minds which path to take."

"With foes in front, an