to appear, that I might take a leisurely survey of the country
beyond where we then were. Obed followed my example. We gazed through
the shades of night for some time.

"I'm main hungry, Dick," said Obed, "let us be going."

Still something kept me there. Just as I was getting up, I thought I
saw some dark shadows moving along over the white sheet of snow.

"Look, Obed," said I, "what are those out there?"

His eyes were even sharper generally than mine.

"Indjens, red-skins," whispered Obed. "It's time that we cut. They are
not far-off."

We first, before moving, satisfied ourselves that we were not mistaken;
there were a dozen or more people, probably the advance guard. We then
slipped down from our height, and began striding towards the camp as
fast as our legs and snowshoes would carry us. It was a satisfaction to
feel that there was a high mound between us and the Indians, or our
scalps would not have felt comfortable on our heads. We did not turn
our eyes to the right hand or the left, but looked straight on, keeping
our legs going with a curious movement, between sliding and running, and
skating and kicking. It was fatiguing, but we got on rapidly, and we
had an idea that our enemies were not advancing nearly so fast. It was
a race for life or death. Strange to say, I rather liked the
excitement.

I always prefer having an object when I walk; now I had got one. We
knew that if the Indians crossed our trail, they would instantly find us
out and give chase, but then it was a satisfaction to know that they
could not go faster than we were going. We had got almost within sight
of the camp, when we heard a shout from behind us. I was unwilling to
stop to look back, but if I did not stop, and attempted to look over my
shoulder, I should very likely, I knew, topple down on my head. On we
went again. There was another shout. We could just see the tops of the
huts. I turned my head round, and there I saw a dozen or more red-skin
warriors scampering like mad creatures over the snow, and flourishing
their tomahawks. Fast as we were going, they were going faster. Still
we might reach the camp before them, but it was necessary to warn our
friends. As I ran, I unslung my rifle, not to fire at them, for that
would have been useless, but to discharge it in the air as a signal. I
did so, but by some means, by this act, I lost my balance, and toppling
over, down I came at full length. I tried to rise