uld have suspected the
truth, as she had every reason to believe the Indians were friendly to
your family."

"They must have seen the illumination in the sky, and, knowing the
location of our home so well, they could but have their worst
apprehensions aroused."

"If such indeed be the case, let us congratulate ourselves that we are
so soon to undeceive them."

"I am glad that father cannot possibly hear of this until he is assured
of our safety."

"I am not so sure of that. When I left, the chances were that he might
follow me almost immediately on a visit to the block-house at the
settlement, and from what I heard I am pretty certain that if he has
not already been, he soon will be appointed to the command of the
garrison at that place. It is not at all impossible that he may be in
charge of it this very minute."

"We will reach there to-morrow, when, as you said, their anxiety will
be relieved, although it will be no trifling loss to father when he
finds his house and all his possessions destroyed by the savages."

"But, as nothing when weighed in the balance with his loved child."

"And then the poor servants! Oh! what an awful sight to see them
tomahawked when praying for mercy."

"And, I am told, by their only survivor, Cato there, that none implored
so earnestly for them as did you yourself, never once asking for your
own life, which was in such peril."

"I thought that I might accomplish something for them, but it was
useless. Cato only escaped, and it was Providence, alone, that saved
him."

"What ye 'scussin' ob my name for?" called out the negro, who had
caught a word or two of the last remark.

"Stop noise," commanded Oonomoo, peremptorily.

"Hebens, golly! ain't dem two talkin', and can't I frow in an
obserwashun once in a while, eh?"

"Dey love--talk sweet--you nigger and don't love!"

"Oh, dat's de difference, am it? Well, den, I forefwif proceeds all
for to cease making remarks. But before ceasing altogever, I will
obsarve that you are a pretty smart feller, Oonymoo, and I hain't see'd
de Shawnee Injine yet dat knows as much as your big toe. Hencefofe I
doesn't say noffin more;" and the negro held strict silence for a
considerable time.

Lieutenant Canfield and Miss Prescott conversed an hour or so longer,
in tones so low that they were but a mere murmur to the Huron, and then
as the forest grew more tangled and gloomy, their words became fewer in
number, until the conversation