in a stooping position, a person would be invisible to any one
on the same bank, although he could be plainly seen from the opposite
shore. Oonomoo now commenced his descent of the river with the
intention of recovering his canoe. This was necessarily a tedious and
prolonged operation, as a single misstep, a slip or splash of the water
might betray him to his enemies. But, he was equal to the task, and
never hesitated for a moment except to listen for some sign of his
enemies.

The Shawnees, by the merest accident, had discovered the Huron's canoe
and examined it. Satisfied that it belonged to none of their tribe,
and most probably had been left there by some hostile scout, they
carefully allowed it to remain as they had found it, and endeavored to
restore everything around to its natural position, so as not to arouse
the suspicion of the owner upon his return. This done, they withdrew
and awaited with loaded rifles for his reappearance. We have shown how
a most trifling error in regard to the paddle placed the Huron on his
guard.

It was perhaps a half-hour after Oonomoo had commenced his descent of
the river, that the canoe, without any perceptible jar, slid an inch or
two down the bank. So quietly and cautiously was this effected, that,
had the Shawnees been looking directly at it, their suspicion would not
have been aroused.

Some ten or fifteen minutes later, the boat moved about the same
distance further. The expectant Shawnees, clutching their rifles, were
listening anxiously for some sound that might indicate the approach of
their foe, and paid little heed to the canoe itself. Ever and anon, it
retreated an inch or two down the bank in the same mysterious
manner--going short distances and so very slowly that no one but a
thoroughly suspicious Indian would have believed there was any human
agency connected with it.

The canoe was fully an hour and a half in moving a single foot, during
which time the Huron managed, by the most consummate skill, to sustain
it in such a manner that the shrubbery and undergrowth around appeared
to occupy relatively the same position that they did before it had been
disturbed. The river shore was only some twenty or thirty feet
distant, and from where Oonomoo lay, the way was almost entirely clear
to it, so that when he chose to make any sudden dash or movement, no
hindering cause could possibly offer itself.

One of the Shawnees chanced to glance at the canoe. At th