t
dere," pointing to the zenith. "Shawnees know here?"

"Know me here? Guesses not; don't care if dey does, nor dey doesn't
care neider."

"Shawnees won't come here?"

"No, no, Oonomoo, you needn't be afraid--"

"Afraid who?" demanded the Huron, with quick fierceness. "Oonomoo
never run afore one--two--t'ree--dozen Shawnees. He only runs when dey
comes like de leaves in de woods."

"Dey won't come like de leaves. If dey does, why you can leave too,
and I t'inks you know how to use dem legs dat you've got tacked onto
you. I t'inks you run as fast as me."

"So I t'inks," replied the Indian, with a grin.

"Dere's no mistake but dem Shawnees would like to get your scalp,
Oonomoo."

"Two--t'ree--hundreds--all Shawnees like to git Oonomoo's scalp--nebber
git him--Oonomee die in his lodge--scalp on his head," said the Huron,
proudly.

"I hopes so; hopes I will, too."

The expression of the Indian's face was changed. It assumed a dark,
earnest appearance. He was done trifling, and wished to commence
business.

"See her dis mornin'?" he asked, in short, quick tones.

"See who?" asked Hans Vanderbum, in turn, completely at a loss to
understand him.

"De gal."

"De gal? Who you talking about--Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock?"

"De gal Shawnees got in de village."

The Dutchman's blank expression showed that he did not comprehend what
the Huron was referring to; so he added, by way of explanation:

"Shawnees kill women and children--deir warriors squaws--don't fight
men--burn houses toder day--run off wid gal--got her now in de
village--she gal of Oonomoo's friend--Oonomoo want to get her."

From these rather disconnected expressions, Hans Vanderbum understood
that a war-party of Shawnees had brought in a prisoner who was a friend
of the Huron's. It was for the purpose of learning something regarding
her that he had signaled the fisherman to leave his hook and line and
come to him. The captive having reached the village quite recently, he
had failed to be apprised of it, so that Oonomoo learned no more than
he already knew regarding her.

"When did dey took her?" asked Hans Vanderbum.

"When sun dere, yisterday," replied the Indian, pointing off in the
western horizon.

"Do you want to know 'bout her?"

"Yeh."

"Den I goes find out."

So saying, Hans Vanderbum strode away through the forest in the
direction of the Shawnee village.

CHAPTER II.

OTHER CHARACTERS.

"He joys t