e a near cut home, and s'pose I got here widout
knowing anyt'ing about it.".

"Well, Oonomoo, what's to be done with him?"

"Take him 'long--kill him if don't do what want to."

"You understand, Cato? We don't want you with us, but, there seems no
help for it now; so we shall have to take you. You must follow in our
steps, and in no case make any outcry."

The negro promised obedience, and, taking his position behind, they
continued their journey, the Huron leading the way. He proceeded some
distance until he reached a dense portion of the wood, when he halted
and turned around.

"Plenty time--sleep some."

These were pleasant words to the Lieutenant, who, in spite of his
impatience, felt the need of sleep and rest before proceeding further.
All stretched themselves upon the ground, where, in a few minutes, they
were wrapped in slumber. The negro, Cato, lay some distance from the
other two, and was the first to awake. Carefully raising his head and
discovering that the dreaded Huron was still unconscious, he silently
arose to his feet, and, retreating some distance with great care and
caution, he suddenly turned and ran at the top of his speed. His
motive for so doing will soon appear.

While our two friends are thus preparing themselves for the perilous
duty before them, we will return to our old acquaintance, Hans
Vanderbum, and his fair charge, in whom the reader, doubtless, feels a
lively interest.

* * * * * *

It will be remembered that Miss Prescott was consigned to the care of
the amiable Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, wife of Hans Vanderbum. The
reasons for this were several. In the first place, the Shawnees were
actuated in a small degree by their desire to lessen the sufferings of
their captive. This squaw had learned enough of the English language
from her husband to hold almost an intelligible conversation in it;
and; as quite an acquaintance had already been established between him
and the maiden, she would certainly feel more at home in their company
than among the others, who could not speak a word of her tongue. What
might be done with Miss Prescott in case she remained among the
Shawnees for several years, of course it would be impossible to say;
but it was certain they meditated no violence for the present, only
wishing to hold her simply as a prisoner. Was there danger of her
escape they would not have hesitated to kill her, it being considered
on