because there was not a dent visible, the ground being
entirely free from any thing like it; but there were two delicate, yet
perfect _outlines_ of a moccasin. The hunter had stood a few moments on
this spot, and then stepped into deeper water. The tracks thus left by
his feet had gradually filled with the muddy sediment composing the
bottom of the creek, until, as we have said, there were no
_impressions_ left; but, completely around where they had once been,
ran a dark line, as if traced by the hand of an artist, a complete
outline of the hunter's foot. This faint, almost invisible, evidence of
his passage had entirely escaped the eyes of his pursuers.

"What I t'ought," said Oonamoo; "knowed dey'd t'ink he'd come out
dere--go in water agin--come out furder up-stream."

"By thunder," said O'Hara, in amazement, "you make me ashamed of
myself, Oonamoo. I believe you could track the gray eagle through air.
Come, now, where is Lew? you can tell, if you're a mind to."

This extravagant compliment was entirely lost upon the stolid Huron. He
appeared not to hear it. He merely repeated, "He come out furder up,"
and, springing lightly from the tree, continued his cautious ascent of
the creek, O'Hara following behind, and occasionally muttering his
unbounded admiration of the Indian's astonishing skill.

The opposite side of the stream was overhung almost entirely with the
heavy undergrowth so characteristic of the western forests. Beneath
this it would have been an easy matter for a foe to have concealed
himself and to fire upon the hunter and Indian; but the latter scarcely
deigned to look across, well knowing that no such a danger threatened
them. While the savages were searching for the trail of the fugitive,
Oonamoo was certain that, as yet, no one knew that any one was upon
theirs. Even had they known it, they would have cared but little, for
they were too formidable a body to fear the two men who were following
them.

All along the shore were numerous moccasin-tracks, showing how
persistently the Indians had kept up the pursuit. It struck O'Hara that
his leader must have walked pretty rapidly through the creek to keep
out of sight of the enemies, for they, being upon the land, had nothing
to retard their progress. The causes of his success in this matter were
twofold. In the first place, the extraordinary speed at which he had
run had placed him far in advance of his pursuers, upon reaching the
creek, so that he ha