ream, we say, that
this very man was within a few rods of them--so close that he
recognized the features of every one of their number!

Several miles further, and Oonomoo spoke to Heigon. They were now in
the vicinity of the Shawnee village, and he wished to land. Heigon
instantly turned the prow of his canoe toward shore, and the others,
understanding the cause, followed. A moment later, Lieutenant Canfield
and the Huron stood upon _terra firma_. They were compelled again to
shake hands all around with their curiously-made friends, when they
separated--the latter to go down the river as brothers to the warlike
Shawnees, and the former to go to the same destination as their deadly
enemies!

[1] Meaning he became sick from some cause or other.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PLAN FOR THE RESCUE.

Oft did he stoop a listening ear,
Sweep round an anxious eye,
No bark or ax-blow could he hear,
No human trace descry.
His sinuous path, by blazes, wound
Among trunks grouped in myriads round;
Through naked boughs, between
Whose tangled architecture fraught
With many a shape grotesquely wrought,
The hemlock's spire was seen.--A. B. STREET.

By this time, daylight was at hand. A thin mist, rising from the
river, was passing off through the woods; for the half-hour preceding
the appearance of the sun, the darkness was more palpable than it had
been at any time through the night. The air, too, had a disagreeable
chilliness in it, which, however little it affected the Huron, made the
soldier, for the time being, exceedingly uncomfortable and impatient
for the full light of day.

The Shawnee village was about a mile distant, on the same bank of the
stream with that upon which our friends found themselves. As there was
not the least probability of Hans Vanderbum being astir for several
hours yet, they proceeded at a moderate walk through the wood. One of
the peculiar effects of this chilly morning air was to keep Lieutenant
Canfield constantly gaping; his movements were so languid and his mind
listless even to antipathy for conversation. He maintained his place
in silence beside Oonomoo. The Indian was as watchful and keen as ever.

As the young Lieutenant was yawning, and gazing around listlessly, he
caught a glimpse of some body, as it threw itself prostrate behind a
clump of bushes. He looked at the Huron and was startled to observe
upon his countenance no indication of having not